The New York City Marathon will go ahead this weekend and it will be dedicated to the victims of superstorm Sandy and their families.
Mary Wittenberg, chief executive of the race organisers, the New York Road Runners (NYRR), hopes that staging the race just days after the devastation will show the "vitality and spirit" of New York City.
The aim is to aid in recovery and show the city "will be back stronger than ever", she said.
At least 63 people were killed in Monday’s superstorm that brought destruction to the US east coast.
More than 47,000 people have registered for the race on November 4 but uncertainty remains over how many will be able to make it.
Crowds of more than a million spectators, in normal circumstances, flock to the streets of New York’s five boroughs to watch.
