Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Runners from across the globe will gather at the start line in downtown Buffalo Sunday for this year's Buffalo Marathon.
The race begins Sunday morning at 6:30 on Delaware at W. Mohawk, weaving its way over 26 miles through the city before finishing in front of the Buffalo Convention Center on Franklin.
"This year we have almost fifteen-hundred marathoners which is about the same amount we have yearly. And then on the half-marathon we have close to 4,000 half-marathon runners this year," says Al Longo, Operations Manager for the Buffalo Marathon.
There's a full lineup of events beginning on Saturday leading up to Sunday's main event. The 5K begins at 8 a.m., followed by a kids race at 10:30 a.m. and the "Diaper Dash" at 11:30 a.m. Saturday's lineup wraps with the popular "Ruffalo Stampede" with more than 100 four-pawed participants.
Athletes are coming from all over. Longo says runners from all 50 states and 19 countries have signed up.
"The time of year is nice. You got a long weekend so you got an extra day of recovery. It's a great time to visit Buffalo," says Longo about what makes the race so appealing to travelers. "You get to see a lot of beautiful parts of Buffalo up around Delaware Park and the Frank Lloyd Wright House. And then obviously our beautiful Marina downtown."
An extended stretch of rain will finally subside by Sunday, creating ideal conditions for runners. "It is going to be a runner's delight this weekend. It's absolutely perfect for runners to go out there and have some great performances," Longo says. Temperatures at the start will be around 45-50 degrees.
The course map can be viewed here.
Road Closures
Roads along the route will be closed at different intervals from Friday-Sunday. Franklin St. from Court St. to W. Mohawk St. and Genesee St. from Niagara Square to Franklin St. will be closed from noon Friday to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Saturday
Pearl St., Franklin St., Barker St., Tupper St., Linwood Ave. and Delaware Ave. will be closed intermittently from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. Saturday during the 5K.
Sunday
Delaware Ave. (North to Niagara Square), Chapin and Lincoln Parkway, Niagara Square, Hertel Ave., Linwood Ave., Elmwood Ave. and Ring Road near Delaware Park will close at 4 a.m. with staggered reopenings from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
