Running a 26.2-mile marathon is not something that can be accomplished in one night. Racers train all year.

On Saturday, nearly 4,000 runners participated in a training series by New York Road Runners to get ready for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in 11 weeks.

“So you go out on a normal, long run on the weekends and you don’t have that same sort of excited anxiety that you have before a race where you hear the gun go off, the national anthem. That whole sort of thing. So this definitely prepares you more mentally for race day,” said runner Samantha Weinberg.

The course for Saturday's practice session was six miles around Central Park. Runners looped around the course twice.

“Any time you’re getting ready for a marathon, it’s really about all the work that you’re putting into it,” said runner David Yoo.

Yoo participated as a pacer during the training. Pacers led groups through the course, helping them maintain their momentum.

“What my goal really is, is to be that sort of leader and coach on the training run when I’m giving that opportunity to practice their strategy and let me do all the hard work,” Yoo said.

Organizers are excited for the marathon. This is the first year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that the New York City Marathon will be held at full capacity.

“Last year’s marathon was on Nov. 7. The borders opened up on Nov. 8,” said race director Ted Metellus. “So to have these athletes come in from all over the world to our cities is going to be tremendous from an experience end, but also the economic impact that will happen there.”

This year's marathon is on Nov. 6. Racers will have another opportunity to practice during a second training session on Oct. 2. That run will feature an extra loop around Central Park and total 18 miles.