'We'll Do It Live!' ESPN2 To Start Broadcasting New York City Marathon In 2012

If you can't get to the New York City Marathon through its lottery system -- a cruel reality many of us around Stride Nation have experienced in the past -- you'll now at least be able to watch it live as part of a five-year agreement reached between race organizers and ESPN.

Starting with 2012's race, the NYC Marathon, one of the top-five marathons in the world, will be shown live on national TV for the first time in almost 20 years. ESPN2 will handle the live coverage (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET) and ABC will air a two-hour recap after the conclusion of the race. Additionally, it will be streamed live online at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.

"The ING New York City Marathon is one of the greatest spectacles in all of sport, and today's announcement is a huge step forward in bringing all of the event's passion and excitement into homes, live, across the country," said Mary Wittenberg, the race director and president and CEO of the New York Road Runners.

In New York, the race will be carried on the local ABC affiliates, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Previously, the marathon was broadcast on NBC's Universal Sports.

The 2012 New York City Marathon is set for Nov. 12