Next Sunday, Melinda Martin, Christel Pargeter and Jacqueline Henderson will be on the start line for the 42-kilometre journey through the five boroughs of New York City.

It is the largest marathon in the world, with more than 50,000 finishing the race last year.

Martin said it had been a lot of hard work and a bit of luck to get into the field.

“It has been a lot of early mornings, a lot of kilometres and because the numbers are limited we weren’t sure whether we would all get into the race,” she said.

“But we are all fit and well, no niggles and really looking forward to the whole experience.

“We have all run in the City to Surf but this is something different again.

“There are tens of thousands of runners.

“Publicly all three of us are saying we just want to finish, but secretly I think we all want to improve, run a personal best.”

Martin, who along with her colleagues is one of Clive Vogel’s Vixens, said there might even be a chance for sightseeing.

“We asked Clive when we should begin to taper and he suggested the week before,” she said.

“That suits just fine — we’ll take some leisurely jogs through Central Park and perhaps take in some of the attractions.

“But come Sunday there will be only one focus — 42 kilometres and getting over the finishing line.”