Spike Lee Becomes First New Yorker To Serve As Grand Marshal At NYC Marathon

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- One of the celebrities taking part in the TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday will not be running the course, he'll be riding it as the race grand marshal.

As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, the New York City Marathon has had grand marashals, but Spike Lee is the first New Yorker to have the honor.

"He was blown away by the fact that we asked him to do it, and we are just equally blown away that he accepted it," said race director Peter Cha Cha.

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Lee is not a runner, but he is a spectator.

"I grew up in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and I would go to the corner of South Elliot Place and Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene," to watch the race, Lee said.

On Sunday, he'll ride the race in a convertible.

"I'm coming with an open mind, just going to enjoy, take pictures; my wife will be in the backseat, waving, taking pictures, taking it in," he said.

Lee also produced the opening video for this year's marathon broadcast.