Guide to the New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon (NYCM) is the largest in the world and in one of the most populated cities.  It occurs on the first Sunday in November and is the calendar year’s last Abbott World Marathon Major.  With so many logistics to plan and people to navigate, the race can be daunting for first-timers and out-of-towners.  While not from New York City (aka, the Big Apple, the City That Never Sleeps), I’ve finished the race five times!  Here are some resources I’ve found helpful over the years sprinkled with a little advice or opinion. I hope it will prove helpful when planning your race!

Registration	Baggage Check and Security
Seeding	Staging Village and Start Area
Travel and Lodging	The Course
Packet Pick-up and Expo	Strategy and Pacing
Race-related Events	Finish Line
Transportation to Fort Wadsworth	History
	Media

Registration

The race organizers offer multiple avenues for gaining entry.  (Runners with disabilities apply under a separate system.)  These are probably the most common ways of getting in:

• Winning the lottery drawing.  This is how about 12% of runners get into the race.  The lottery drawing occurs in early March.  “Maybe the odds be ever in your favor!”

• Raising money for charity.  Approximately 10,000 runners enter the race through over 400 charity partners.  Fundraising amounts vary, but charity runners raise over $40 million for their causes.  Some charities provide support during training and race weekend for their runners.
• Paying an international tour operator.  A popular option for international runners paying a company like  Marathon Tours  – one of the big players in this market – to provide them a bib and travel arrangements for a fee.
• Completing the New York Road Runners 9+1 Program.  This option is limited to NYRR runners who run nine qualified races during the calendar year and volunteer at one.
• Meeting the time qualifying standard.  Qualifying times for the full and half marathon are based on a person’s age.  The qualifying window is the previous calendar year.  The times are more stringent than the Boston Marathon, but the entry is guaranteed if a runner hits them at an NYRR event. Runners with guaranteed entry must claim the slot in mid-February.

For 2023, the fee for the race was $295.

Seeding

In early October, runners receive wave and corral information. There are five waves: 

• Wave 1 starts at 9:10 a.m.,
• Wave 2 at 9:45 a.m.,
• Wave 3 at 10:20 a.m., 
• Wave 4 at 10:50 a.m., and
• Wave 5 at 11:30 a.m. 

Each wave has six corrals.  (The professional women’s start is at 8:35 a.m. and professional men at 9:05 a.m.)

Travel and Lodging

For runners on the United States’s East Coast, taking an Amtrak train to Penn Station may be the most convenient and economical option.  Driving is also an option, however parking in Midtown Manhattan can be expensive.  For others, the city is served by two airports – John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

For lodging, staying in a hotel near the finish in Central Park is the kindest choice for post-marathon legs.  The headquarter hotels are the New York Hilton Midtown and Sheraton New York Times Square.  I’ve stayed in the Theater District near Times Square for the past few years because it’s on the same side of the Park as the marathon exit.  Some runners stay near the start in Staten Island or Lower Manhattan.  However, given the late morning start times and longer post-race commute, staying in either location isn’t much of an advantage.

Packet Pick-up and Expo

The Marathon Expo and Packet Pickup starts on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue at West 35th Street). Several nearby subway stations are also nearby.

The expo closes at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday but 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, which is the last day of packet pick-up.

Runners can enjoy the marathon expo after picking up a bib and long-sleeve shirt. New Balance is the official apparel sponsor for the New York City Marathon, but dozens of vendors are at the expo. For example, if a runner decides at the last minute that she wants her name on her shirt so spectators can cheer her on, a vendor usually sells t-shirts with custom printing.

New Balance NYCM branded wears are available online, at the expo, and at the marathon pavilion after the race. For the past few years, one of the jackets has been marketed as the “finisher jacket,” much like Adidas produces a “celebration jacket” for the Boston Marathon:

• 2024 New York City Marathon Women’s Windcheater Jacket
• 2024 New York City Marathon Men’s Windcheater Jacket

Race-related Events

There is so much to do in New York City! I won’t address sightseeing and dining because those activities depend on personal preferences. However, here are some great race-related events and experiences.

Friday

• Opening Ceremony.  On Friday, the race holds a Parade of Nations in Central Park south of the finish line.  I have not attended this event, but the pictures make me feel like it’s a lot of fun.  (Note: grandstand seating requires tickets.)

Saturday

• Dash to the Finish Line 5K.  This event, held the day before the marathon, attracts some elite runners.  Some marathoners use it as their “shake out” run before Sunday’s main event.  Others, like me, watch and cheer from the sidelines during their “shake out” run in the Park.

• Central Park “Shake-Out” Run. Central Park is a great location for a few easy miles before the race. Some elite marathoners also do their “shake out” in the Park, so the location is great for idol-spotting. The roads are closed to traffic, but there are a fair number of off-leash dogs.

Monday

•  Finisher Medal Engraving. On Monday, runners can get their medal engraved for a fee at the Marathon Pavilion (Central Park and West 67th Street). The lines are very long, so plan on spending at least an hour waiting.
• Finish Line Area in Central Park.  Many runners return to the finish line for pictures of themselves with their well-deserved medals.
• Coffee and the New York Times.  Monday’s print edition has a special section dedicated to the race, including the names and times of runners who finish under a certain time (roughly 4 hours and 45 minutes).
• MarathonFoto may have some pictures available online the next day.

Transportation to Fort Wadsworth

In mid-July, runners must select their transportation (and baggage) options.  For transportation, there are three options:

1. The Staten Island Ferry, 
2. a Midtown Manhattan bus that departs from the New York Public Library Schwarzman Building, or 
3. a bus that leaves from New Jersey.

Daylight savings time ends at 2 a.m. on race day, which means runners will get an extra hour of sleep!

For the Staten Island Ferry option to Fort Wadsworth:

• From Midtown Manhattan, it’s about a 30-minute subway ride to South Ferry Station. However, runners should check for construction delays.  Although the race assigns boarding times, agents at the terminal don’t check, and runners are herded onto the next ferry.
• The ferry ride is about 30 minutes and offers stirring views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. If nature calls, there are bathrooms on the ferries.
• Upon exiting the ferry, runners board buses to Fort Wadsworth, which take another 30 minutes to an hour depending on how backed up the buses and security gets.
• Runners disembark on the north side of the Athlete’s Village, closest to the Blue Wave starting area.

For the New York Public Library Schwarzman Building option to Fort Wadsworth:

• From Midtown Manhattan, it’s about an hour’s ride from the Library.  Again, although the race assigns boarding times, runners are led to buses waiting in front of the building.
• Sit on the bus’s left for views of the Brooklyn Bridge heading out of Manhattan.  The right side of the bus will have sights of Lower Manhattan.
• The buses let runners off near the start line on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Baggage Check and Security

Before leaving for Staten Island, runners should know that certain items are prohibited in the staging area at Fort Wadsworth and on the race course.  Some of them, like weapons and illegal substances, are obvious.  But there are some everyday items that runners should NOT bring with them:

For transporting personal effects:

• NO  backpacks or similar bags.

For keeping comfortable, warm, and dry:

• NO tents.
• NO folding chairs or camp chairs.
• NO sleeping bags, large blankets, or comforters.
• NO non-transparent trash bags.
• NO umbrellas.

For the race:

• NO hydration packs. (Fuel belts and hand-held water bottles are allowed.)

Upon exiting the bus at Fort Wadsworth, police officers wave a security wand around the runners and take any prohibited items.  The queue moves quickly, even with the occasional confiscation.

Staging Village and Start Area

Located at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, the staging area for the race start is divided into three areas depending on the color of the start: Blue, Orange, and starting in 2023 – Pink.  However, runners can roam around the village until it’s time to enter the corrals.

Don’t miss the Dunkin Donuts employees distributing fleece beanies to the runners. 

While they wait, runners can enjoy light refreshments — coffee, water, bagels, and sports bars. The few grassy areas, where runners can lay down an old post-race heat shield and sit on a soft surface, can be crowded. Two tents—one in the Blue area and one in the Orange area—are available if the weather is cold, windy, or rainy.

In July, runners also select their baggage option.  The choices are a post-race poncho or bag check.  If a runner checks a bag, she must hand it over to the United Parcel Service (UPS) truck that corresponds to her bib number before entering the corrals.

Corrals open about an hour before the wave starts and close about 30 minutes later.  Some marshals are strict and deny late runners entry into the corral, forcing them to start with the next wave.  The corrals are even more uncomfortable with asphalt roads and concrete curbs with no cover overhead.  The corrals have portable toilets in case runners need them during the wait.  New York Road Runner pacer team leaders are now available for questions.

Runners are walked to the starting line about 20 minutes before the wave starts.  The ropes separating the corrals come down as each corral is released, and if a runner walks quickly, she can sneak through the corrals towards the front of the wave if she expects a faster finishing time.

Runners in the Blue and Orange start running on the top deck of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Blue runs to the right and gets excellent river views, while Orange goes to the left and enjoys stunning city views.  Runners in the Pink Start go on the bottom deck under the Orange starters.

Smart runners keep their throw-away clothes on until five minutes before the start.  (In recent years, the temperature was in the 50s at the start.)

The race starts with:

• announcements from the President of the New York Road Runners (NYRR) (and other race-related or local notables),
• someone singing the National Anthem,
• the firing of a canon,
• and then finally, the sound of “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra

(Other New York City-themed songs on my playlist are: “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys, “New York Groove” by Ace Frehley, “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys.)

The Course

The New York City Marathon course touches all five boroughs.  It starts in Staten Island on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and goes north into Brooklyn. It continues into Queens after crossing the Pulaski Bridge.  The very steep Queensboro Bridge takes runners into Manhattan where roaring crowds await.  Then, the course heads north on First Avenue and enters the Bronx after covering the Willis Avenue Bridge.  After a mile, the route goes south over the Madison Avenue Bridge back into Manhattan.  A few miles later, runners enter Central Park for the finish.

Here are a few general tips:

• There is a blue line in the road that follows the course but does not help with running the tangent.
• Beginning at Mile 3, there are aid stations with water and Gatorade at every mile. On the route, there are also first aid stations and port-a-potties.
• There are clocks at every mile with the race’s gun time.

At the aid stations, there are tables on both sides of the street, so streaking from one side of the road to the other for a drink is unnecessary!

Here is the route:

This is the elevation profile:

The five bridges that serve as the hills for the course are:

1. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Mile 1)
2. The Pulaski Bridge (Mile 13)
3. The Queensboro Bridge (Mile 15)
4. The Willis Avenue Bridge (Mile 19)
5. The Madison Avenue Bridge (Mile 21)

The road also inclines slightly during Mile 23 and has two small rolling hills in Central Park.

Here is a course video:

Strategy and Pacing

Several experts provide race-specific pacing and strategy.

For pacing, the following websites offer race-specific pace bands.  (Note: I have not used these products.):

• MyMarathonPace.com, Greg Maclin. Pacing spreadsheets are accessible from the main menu. Runners can generate a pace ban by entering data on several variables, including goal time and pacing strategy.
• FindMyMarathon.  The page offers pace bands based on the course and a desired finish time.

For strategy, this article dissects the course and advises each segment:

• New York City Marathon Race Strategy: How to Crush the Five Burroughs, RunnersConnect.  The author, Jeff Gaudette, advised patience through most of the course, making up a little time on First Avenue, and then going to work after Mile 20.

I tend to go out too hard at this race so that I won’t offer any pacing advice.  However, this is how I break up the course and my description of what to expect:

Early Miles, Part I – Miles 0 to 8 (Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Brooklyn)

The race starts with a steep climb on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  After reaching the top, there’s an equally steep downhill glide into Brooklyn.

At the base of the bridge, runners take slightly different routes to Fourth Avenue, depending on their start color.  Runners in the Blue Start turn left at 92nd Street and meet up with Fourth Avenue after about a quarter mile.  (Orange Start runners take the left slightly sooner and meet up with the Blue Start runners at 92nd Street.)  Runners in the Pink Start continue straight off the Verrazano-Narrows for another mile on Interstate 278 before going up a ramp to 75th Street and merging with the Blue Start runners on Fourth Avenue after Mile 3.

From Mile 3, all three starts run up Fourth Avenue through Brooklyn.  The terrain is flat except a very slight incline from around Mile 4 to Mile 5.

Watch or listen for:

• Views of the New York City skyline, Statute of Liberty, and fireboats spouting red, white, and blue water from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
• The first water stop at Mile 3.
• Blue Start and Pink Start merge after Mile 3
• Dancing or cheering police officers during Mile 5 and Mile 6.
• The first photo opportunity from MarathonFoto at around Mile 7 in Park Slope.
• Orange Start merging with Blue and Pink at Mile 8.
• The Jumbotron at Mile 8 shows the front runners.

Early Miles, Part II – Miles 8 to 14 (Brooklyn)

On Lafayette Avenue, the course turns left onto Bedford Avenue.  The terrain is slightly uphill but not steep.  Next, it turns left onto Manhattan Avenue around Mile 12.2.  Right onto Greenpoint at Mile 12.5 and left onto McGuinness.  This section is flat except for the climb up the Pulaski Bridge.

Watch or listen for:

• Overflowing crowds in the Clinton Hill neighborhood.  It’s easy to get carried away by their enthusiasm.

• The Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsburg at around Mile 11 pretends the race isn’t happening.
• The half marathon marker, MarathonFoto photographers, and a view of the Empire State Building on the Pulaski Bridge.

Middle Miles, Part I – Miles 14 to 16 (Queens)

Yes, in my opinion, these two miles deserve their attention.  After passing Mile 14, the course turns right after two blocks, left after four, and went after another four onto the Queensboro Bridge at Mile 15.  What follows is a mile-long climb to the crest of the bridge.

Watch or listen for:

• The water stops before entering the Queensboro Bridge.  There won’t be another until the other side of the bridge.
• The relative silence on the bridge.
• The roar of the crowds along First Avenue.  There used to be a rush of sound coming off the Queensboro, comparable to the Wellesley “Scream Tunnel” at the Boston Marathon, but in recent years, people have migrated further up the course.

Middle Miles, Part II – Miles 16 to 20 (Manhattan – First Avenue)

Coming off the Queensboro Bridge, the course cuts left for a block on East 59th Street and then left onto First Avenue.  The next four miles are straight ahead and flat.  Runners leave Manhattan through the Willis Avenue Bridge about a quarter mile before Mile 20.

Watch or listen for:

• The cheers from the crowds are almost overwhelming!
• The Jumbotron on First Avenue shows the race leaders.
• Sponges soaked with water at Mile 17.
• PowerBar PowerGels at Mile 18.
• MarathonFoto photographers on the Willis Avenue Bridge take pictures of runners just as they hit “The Wall”.

Later Miles, Part I – Miles 20 to 24 (The Bronx and Manhattan – Fifth Avenue)

Mile 20 comes after the Willis Avenue Bridge in The Bronx.  Then, the course takes seven turns over the next mile before crossing the Madison Avenue Bridge into Manhattan.  In Harlem, the course is straight on Fifth Avenue, except for a detour around Marcus Garvey Park.  The next mile and a half are slightly uphill before the course turns into Central Park.

Watch or listen for:

• The Jumbotron after Mile 20 shows the elites.
• New York Taiko Aiko Kai drum group before the Madison Avenue Bridge.
• Live bands and DJs in Harlem.
• Runners stopping abruptly.  Mile 23 is more challenging than most runners anticipate, and many will take a walk break.
• People who know exactly what a runner needs to hear during Mile 23.

Later Miles, Part II – Miles 24 to 26.2 (Central Park)

Just before Mile 24, the course enters Central Park and follows East Drive to Central Park South.  The course returns to the park at Columbus Circle and finishes at West 67th Street.

Watch or listen for:

• Descending “Cat Hill” after Mile 24 and letting the legs stretch out.
• MarathonFoto at multiple points in the Park.
• Banners featuring past champions and foreign flags line the final quarter mile before the finish line.

Finish Line

The race finishes in Central Park on West Drive just short of West 67th Street.

Immediately after crossing the finish line, runners receive a medal, heat shield, and a recovery bag containing water, Gatorade, pretzels, and, of course, an apple. MarathonFoto photographers also take post-race pictures of runners with their medals. (In 2023, the medal included braille on the back, providing the race details.)

All runners walk about a half mile before they’re separated into those who requested a poncho and those who checked their bags. Along the way, medics look for individuals in distress. Sitting down is not an option.

Runners who selected a poncho rather than checking a bag walk another quarter mile before exiting the Park at West 77th Street and getting their wrap on Central Park West.  (The ponchos are typically blue, but in 2023 they were orange.)

Runners who checked a bag continue up West Drive and exit at West 81st or West 85th. UPS trucks containing the bags for higher-numbered bibs are first, while lower-numbered trucks are further up the road.

The family reunion area is another half-mile walk towards Columbus Circle.

2016 NYCM March of the Ponchos

There is a subway stop on Central Park West at W 72nd Street serving the B Line and C Line.  Two long blocks towards Broadway is a station serving the 1 Line, 2 Line, and 3 Line.

Do not count on a free post-race subway ride.  Over the years, I might have been waved through the turnstile once or twice.

History

The race dates back to 1970.  The course was entirely within Central Park until 1976 when it traveled through all five boroughs.

Fred Lebow is considered the founder of the race, and its most prolific champions are Grete Waitz, who won nine titles, and Bill Rodgers, who won four consecutively.

The New York Road Runner’s History of the New York City Marathon page has more information on the race.

My History

My history with the race began in 2012 when, after having trained diligently for months, the race was canceled because of Superstorm Sandy. Inspired by Run Anyway, I ran 26.2 in Washington, D.C., with a pull-over that read “Run Anyway” and “I [heart] NY”.  The following year, I ran my first New York City Marathon in 3:22:56 (7:45 pace) – my current personal record.  I fell in love with the race and have returned every year since.  Here are links to my race reports on this site:

2013 New York City Marathon
2014 New York City Marathon
2015 New York City Marathon
2016 New York City Marathon
2017 New York City Marathon
2018 New York City Marathon
2019 New York City Marathon
2023 New York City Marathon

Media

There are several avenues for learning more about the race and receiving communications from the New York Road Runners (NYRR) organizers.

• New York City Marathon – Website.  Official information about the race is available on this website.
• New York City Marathon – Facebook. The race organizers upload inspirational pictures and videos throughout the year and post updates about the race during race weekend.
• New York City Marathon – Twitter.  Similar to the race’s Facebook page, the Twitter account is a source for motivation all year long.  Race organizers also retweet and share other race-related posts.
• New York City Marathon – 2022 Media Guide. This packet, compiled for members of the media, contains information about the current year’s race and statistics on it.
• Ali on the Run Show Episode 275: Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon. This is a long episode, but it delivers on the title – she covers almost everything you need to know about the race.

This page was initially published on October 20, 2018, and will be edited or updated as needed.