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The day has finally come.
NBC's Natalie Morales was up and at it early Monday morning just hours ahead of the 2014 Boston Marathon, which she called "the race of a lifetime." The "Today" co-host made it her goal to run the marathon to honor and raise money for the victims of last year's tragic bomb attacks.
Morales said there were "a lot of emotions" surrounding the area where the runners prepared to take off.
"Emotions and security are at all-time highs here," Morales told her co-host Matt Lauer on "Today." "I know it's going to be really emotional. It's going to be a hard 26.2 miles."
Morales was ready to go as early as 4 AM Monday morning, showing all her supporters that she'd be wearing bright orange during the race to represent the "Today" show Orange Room.
It hasn't all been easy for the morning show host. Just last week, Morales struggled with a running injury that she said caused her a lot of pain, but she seemed ready to go Monday as she told Lauer that she knows the "spirits" of the other runners will help motivate her to reach the finish line.
"I'm feeling good," Morales said on "Today." "I know that the crowd and the support along the way is going to get me through, and of course the emotions of today I think are just going to push me through that extra couple of miles at the end."
Morales was not the only journalist taking part in the 2014 Boston Marathon Monday. Poynter noted several other reporters gearing up and tweeting out some last minute thoughts before the big race ahead.
AP's New England bureau chief Bill Kole said he will be tweeting updates at each mile:
Lancaster Newspapers reporter Dan Nephin:
Google’s Matt Cutts:
WTSP 10News in Tampa's investigative reporter Noah Pransky:
Writer, Social Media Marketing Manager at The Boston Globe, Elizabeth Comeau: