Houston is bracing for one of its biggest sporting events of the year—the Chevron Houston Marathon. Come Sunday, downtown will be overrun with 34,000 runners, eager volunteers, and a cheering crowd that's expected to tally up at a staggering 300,000. An air of anticipation is crackling throughout the city, as the participants face not just the competition but the weather, which is geared up to be chilling to the bones.

The starting pistol is set to go off amidst a backdrop of closed roads and bustling activity. "We're really excited to cheer on our wives, our beautiful wives," Alex Roys told Click2Houston in the run-up to the race. Despite the cold, Houstonians and visitors alike are ready to envelop the city in a collective embrace of athletic endeavor. And Rick Bennett admitted that, "We're cold, but it's fun and hopefully, they run fast."

The 26.2-mile marathon isn't just a test of endurance—it's a mini-tour of Houston's most iconic neighborhoods. The marathon route slices through downtown into Montrose and River Oaks, loops around to the Galleria area, and dashes back to the grand finale downtown. However, it's not only marathon runners who are hitting the pavements; the Aramco Houston Half Marathon entrants are also lining up to strike their stride.

For those less thrilled about the marathon, it's primarily due to the extensive list of road closures. A lengthy stretch of streets, starting from Congress and Smith to the Avenida de las Americas will be off-limits, as detailed by FOX26 Houston. The half marathon prompts even further shutdowns, with thoroughfares such as Montrose from Bissonnet to Dallas and several major freeway exit ramps slated to be no-go zones.