More than 38,000 runners took to the streets on a brisk and sunny Sunday for Sunday for the 39th annual New York City marathon.

Defending women's champion Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain became the second woman to win the event three times, posting an unofficial time of 2:23:55 in Sunday's city-wide event.

Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil came from behind in the stretch to win the men's race with an unofficial time of 2:08:43, notching his second victory in the last three years.

Radcliffe had previously won the race in 2004 and 2007. Norway's Grete Waitz won the event nine times between and 1978 and 1988.

Spectators lined the 26.2-mile route, cheering on the runners from their start on Staten Island, through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, before the finish in Manhattan's Central Park.

"It's wonderful," said one spectator. "It's just inspiring and everybody comes out and watches every year and it's really fun."

"It's great to see so many people supporting," said another. "I think it's almost more fun to be on the sidelines and watch everyone then it probably is to be racing."

The temperature peaked at about 50 degrees – perfect weather for some but a little chilly for others. Runners bundled up in layers and discarded their clothes along the way, to eventually be donated to charity.

Many ran to support a cause, including NY1 reporter Jessica Abo, who ran to raise money for a rare chromosomal disorder called Emanuel Syndrome, which affects the son of another NY1 staffer.

"I'm running in honor of Dylan Rabinovich, who's 2 1/2 years old," Abo said. "He has an extra chromosome that prevents him from walking and talking, and I just want to raise awareness about Chromosome 22 Central."

The annual marathon is sponsored by ING and organized by New York Road Runners, who this year provided 63,000 bottles of 32,000 gallons of Gatorade.

"You sort of start tiring a bit," said one runner, "so it makes a difference between getting to the point where you feel you can't go on to where suddenly you feel motivated to keep going."

Event organizers say they've already started planning for next year's race.