For Brooklynite Lauren Rutkowski, 34, the day of the TCS New York City Marathon is perhaps the most important on the calendar — one she starts early in the morning, carb-loading on bagels near her home in Cobble Hill before hopping the subway to where the action is.

But the marketing manager won’t be running the five-borough race.

Instead, she’s one of 2 million New Yorkers and out-of-town spectators expected to show up bright and early this Sunday to cheer on a record-breaking 55,000 runners from all over the world, shouting encouragement from behind police barricades.

It’s an experience, Rutkowski, whose favorite viewing spot is near Central Park, said she wouldn’t miss for the world — one of the few times each year when New Yorkers put their differences aside and come together for a

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