About 5,000 runners laced-up at Central Park on Sunday for a 12 mile race hosted by New York Road Runners.

The atmosphere was more relaxed than usual with some runners wrapping up their 6th mile as others just got started.  

The competition was supposed to serve as the second of three in a progressive distance series.

The series is supposed to help runners gradually prepare for the full Marathon in November.

Sunday’s race ended up being the first in the training series after a heat wave forced organizers to cancel last month's 10 mile race.

The weather for the 12 mile race couldn't have been more different.

"It's just about 70 degrees. I mean it’s the middle of August, you couldn’t ask for much better," said Jim Heim, Race Director at New York Road Runners.

The weather presented ideal conditions for runners trying to gauge where they are in their training.

"I just focused and did it,” said one woman.

"Everything feels great. So, I’m hoping I stay injury free," said one man.

Organizers say the main reason the series brings in thousands, who might otherwise be training alone, is camaraderie and the spirit of competition.  

"He came up, passed me the last mile. That was great. That I don’t have when I run by myself. So this was a push that I would not have done normally," said another runner.

Next month will be the last race in the training series with a course length of 18 miles to be run in Central Park.

The full TCS New York City Marathon, a 26.2 mile trek, takes place in November.