This Sunday marks the 40th running of the New York City Marathon, an annual rite of passage for New Yorkers and running fans around the globe. This year, an estimated 2 million people will join the nearly 40,000 running participants on and around the streets of New York.If you're not going to be one of those 2,040,000 persons, however, it's still possible to join in the fun remotely. Whether you want to cheer the progress of friends or family who are running (go Charlie & Margaret!) or just keep tabs on the competition from your couch, these tips will keep you in the middle of the action without risking a pulled hammy.Learn the history. From humble beginnings in 1970 when the course was a few laps around Central Park, the marathon has grown into an iconic, global event. Having a little context will make your viewing more rewarding, and you'll be able to drop some knowledge on your friends if you happen to be watching with them. Get the company line from the official website or the Web 2.0 version from Wikipedia.Get to know the course. Yes, it still runs through Central Park, but it also winds through the other four boroughs, starting in Staten Island and ending in Manhattan. Even though you may be strapped to your couch, it shouldn't preclude you from trying to visualize what the runners are experiencing. Here's a course map you can download and print, and here's a great video that takes you through the whole course in 7 minutes, marking the mileage along the way.Get the schedule. Here's the scoop - professional women kick-off the race at 9:10 a.m. EST, and subsequent waves keep going until 10:20 a.m. Eastern time. WNBC is broadcasting the event live in New York and Universal Sports will be airing it live on the Internet. NBC Sports will broadcast a 2 hour highlight package starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time.Track your friends (or favorite celebs). This alert tool will send you email updates on people you know as they cross checkpoints along the route. If you don't have any close friends you'd like to track, you can sign up for alerts from acquaintances like Ed Norton (bib #10612) or other celebs running this year.Show your support. Just because you won't be running doesn't mean you can't be inspiring. Make sure to reach out to people you know who are running - it's a grueling event and they will appreciate the support. Instead of calling or emailing, try posting a public note on Facebook or Twitter and maybe you'll start an avalanche of support messages. Don't know anyone personally to support? No sweat, you can sponsor a Maasai Warrior and race vicariously through them.Photo credit: flickr cc Martineric