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The New York City Marathon is more than just a race. It’s an iconic event that brings runners, spectators, and city dwellers together. It’s three parts running and one part party. And it’s a grind, boasting a race course that many marathoners love, and others love to hate. There is no other running event quite like it.
This year, the race falls on Sunday, November 3. That morning, more than 50,000 runners will pour into the starting corrals. They will come from all 50 states and more than 150 countries. If you’re one of these runners, you probably already know that this is a tough race—some might argue the hardest of the World Marathon Majors. One thing is for sure though, participants who brave the bridges, tackle the elevation gains, and embrace the huge crowds can brag about that Central Park finish for a lifetime.
In this ultimate New York City Marathon guide, we go through everything you need to know about marathon weekend, including who to watch, how to navigate the race expo, marathon start and finish times, a preview of the course, where to spectate, and the most up-to-date weather forecast.
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Table of Contents
- Who to Watch
- The New York City Marathon Expo
- How to Gear Check a Bag
- Raceday Weather Forecast
- Who Will the Grand Marshal Be?
- What Time Does the New York City Marathon Start?
- Marathon Course
- Best Spectator Spots
- How to Watch From Home
Who to Watch
The 2024 New York City Marathon promises to serve up exciting races, with Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia defending the men’s title and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri defending the women’s. Last year, Tola, 33, broke a 12-year-old course record with a time of 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 58 seconds. He followed that effort up by winning the Paris Olympics marathon with yet another course record of 2:06:26, notably as a substitute for injured teammate Sisay Lemma. The 33-year-old Obiri, a three-time Olympic medalist and seven-time world championship winner who trains in Boulder, Colorado, has had a busy last few years. In 2023, she became the first woman in 34 years to win both the Boston and New York City Marathons in the same calendar year. This year, she won the Boston Marathon again in April and then took the bronze medal in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. Both defending champs will need to face some serious adversity to be dethroned from their first-place slots.
The challengers are abundant, starting with Somali-born Belgian runner Bashir Abdi, who took silver in last year’s New York City Marathon behind Tola. 2022 New York City Marathon champ Evans Chebet, of Kenya, suffered an achilles injury last year and withdrew from the 2023 race. This year, he’s healthy and coming off of a third-place finish in the 2024 Boston Marathon. America will showcase its top-tier talent with Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who are both making their New York City marathon debut after placing 8th and 9th in the Paris Olympic marathon, and CJ Albertson, who just set a new personal best of 2:08:17 in the Chicago Marathon on October 13.
Obiri faces several key competitors vying for the crown, like Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, who won the 2022 New York City Marathon and placed fourth at the Paris Olympics marathon. Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba will be returning to the marathon distance after four years, most recently finishing the 2018 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:18:55. But the fastest personal best in the women’s elite field is held by Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, who finished second at the 2023 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:17:49, about six seconds behind Tigist Assefa’s world record.
American Dakotah Popehn (nee Lindwurm) will also toe the line, having most recently placed 12th in the Paris Olympic marathon in 2:26:44, along with other top Americans Des Linden, Kellyn Taylor, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Jessica McClain, and Jenny Simpson.
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How to Pick Up Your Bib at the New York City Marathon Expo
As soon as you get into New York City, pick up your bib at the New York City Marathon Expo on the following dates and at this location:
Dates: October 31 – November 2
Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Halls 3B, 3D, and 3E, at 11th Avenue at West 36th Street
The NYRR site says you must reserve a time slot by logging into your NYRR account, navigating to the dashboard, and then selecting “My Registered Events.” You can schedule your bib pickup up to November 2 at 4 P.M. EST. When you go to grab your bib, make sure to bring photo ID.
If you’re going to gear check items to pick up at the end of the race (highly recommended), this is when you’ll get the bag you need.
How to Get to the Expo
The best way to get to the expo is via public transportation. The subway is the easiest way to get there. The closest station is 34th Street–Hudson Yards on the 7 train line. It’s about a half-mile walk to the Javits Center from the station. Or you can walk about a mile from 34th Street–Penn Station, which is served by the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E subway lines.
If you’re already in Midtown, the Javits Center is close enough to walk to. If the subway seems overwhelming, you can walk from Penn Station or, to be honest, almost anywhere in Manhattan. Of course, don’t spend too much time on your feet before race day. Cabs and rideshares are good options as well, but traffic is very heavy in Midtown, and it might take you a long time to travel a short distance.
What to Expect at the Expo
Once you have your bib and race swag in hand, make your way to the expo. Here, you can purchase more New York City Marathon branded gear, grab last minute necessities, and explore the latest and greatest running products on the market from all your favorite brands.
NYRR also provides course strategy sessions in English, Spanish, and ASL starting at 11 A.M. on October 31 through Saturday, November 2 at 4 P.M. Check here to see which session you can attend. On the Citizen’s Stage, there are interesting panels and discussions with your favorite running influencers, journalists, and elite runners both past and present.
How to Gear Check a Bag
If you choose to gear check warm clothing and comfortable shoes to change into after you cross the finish line, you will get the gear check bag at the race expo when you pick up your race bib. Once you pack your bag, you can drop it at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. on November 1-2.
What Will the Weather Be for the Race?
For the early waves, the weather forecast looks like marathon perfection with cloudy skies and temperatures hovering just above 50 degrees at 8 A.M. By 10 A.M, the temps will start rising into the upper 50s. Still, not too bad. By 11 A.M., it will be a little warmer and reach 60 degrees with a daily high of 63 degrees. The humidity is expected to hover around 70 percent, which is typical for New York this time of year. Right now, there is no chance of precipitation and calm winds up to 10 miles per hour.
Grand Marshal Energy
Who is kicking off the race this year? Five-time Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas will serve as this year’s New York City Marathon grand marshal and will make appearances at both the start and finish lines. You can also join or tune in to hear her at 3 P.M on October 31 at the Citizens Stage at the New York City Marathon Expo for a live recording of NYRR’s Set the Pace podcast.
What Time Does the New York City Marathon Start?
The race starts in waves, with the first athletes hitting the course at 8 A.M. Here’s the rundown:
8A.M. – Professional wheelchair division
8:22 A.M. – Handcycle athletes and select athletes with disabilities
8:40 A.M. – Professional women
9:05 A.M. – Professional men
9:10 A.M. – Wave 1
9:45 A.M. – Wave 2
10:20 A.M. – Wave 3
10:55 A.M. – Wave 4
11:30 A.M. – Wave 5
The New York City Marathon Course
The New York City Marathon is an epic journey through all five boroughs. It’s a battle thanks in part to its total elevation gain being about 900 feet. (Compare that to Chicago’s 310 feet!)
Miles 1-2: Staten Island
This marathon is unforgiving right from the start as you’ll face the notorious Verrazzano Bridge in the first mile.
“The Verrazzano-Narrows bridge on marathon day is more than a symbol. It’s a hill,” writes Roger Robinson in this tribute to the first mile of the marathon. “The highest point on the course lies at the end of a long uphill drag of almost a mile, and down again.”
Miles 3-8: Brooklyn Part 1
Get through a bit of drudgery on the long stretch that is Fourth Avenue. It’s about 4 miles of flat running and a good opportunity to chill in cruise control. The course will narrow in places here, so watch your footing.
Miles 8-12: Downtown Brooklyn
Once you hit Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the party begins. Lots of spectators, lots of energy, lots of NYC love. You might find yourself wrapped up in the vibe and speeding along, especially through Bedford-Stuyvesant. Try to soak it in without picking up your pace and mentally prepare for the 11th mile in Williamsburg, which will be comparatively quiet.
Miles 13-15: Queens
Cross the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, where it’s flat and fast. Oh, and halfway across that bridge means you are halfway into the race! The Queensboro Bridge is ahead, which will be a quiet ascent that some runners dread. Others, though, thrive in this moment as you head into Manhattan.
Miles 16-19: Manhattan
Burst off the Queensboro Bridge onto First Avenue. There’s a three-mile stretch of spectators just going nuts supporting runners.
RELATED: Preview the New York City Marathon Course
Miles 20-21: The Bronx
Hit mile 20 in the Bronx, where you’ll jet across some short bridges. Local run clubs will cheer as you make a few quick turns. Then, you’ll cross your final bridge back into Manhattan.
Miles 22-24: Manhattan, Again
This stretch on Fifth Avenue is a grind, but when you enter Central Park at mile 24, the roar of the crowd will carry you.
Miles 25-26: The Finish
You’re almost there, but most runners say Central Park will likely feel like forever. Oh, and there’s a hill here to watch out for. Just get over it (haha) and you’ll be crossing the finish line.
Where Are the Best Places to Watch the Marathon?
The New York City Marathon is an excellent race for spectators. There are many spots that are more like a party than a race. Here are the fan favorites:
In Brooklyn, Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue near Barclays Center offer a fun atmosphere.
The Bronx is a good place to support runners who are nearing the 20-mile mark. That’s at 135th Street and Alexander Avenue.
You can’t beat Manhattan. To get the quintessential spectator experience, go to First Avenue from 59th to 96th Street. Bars open early if that’s your thing.
East Harlem at miles 18-20 is another great area to party and cheer at a pivotal moment of the race.
If you want to see your runner(s) three times, you could do a little bit of traveling yourself. Try this strategy:
Start between miles 6-8 in Brooklyn. Then dash to a subway stop and get on a train (N, Q, R, 5, 6, F) to the Upper East Side in Manhattan where you can see them between miles 18-19. Then walk from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue to help them at mile 22. (Also, anywhere north of 125th on Fifth Avenue in mile 21 is a great place as many runners say there aren’t too many spectators and it’s a real slog.)
If you’re looking for an underrated spectating spot, try the 90s on First Avenue. From there, walk a few blocks to Central Park East—at this point, the crowds are thinner and they could use the extra support before they head into the roar of Central Park South.
RRCA-certified running coach Meghan Kita offers a pro tip when it comes to the NYCM. “Wherever you choose, make sure any runners you want to see and who want to see you know the exact cross streets you’ll be on and which side of the street you’ll be on,” she says. “It’s impossible to see anyone without that level of planning.”
Don’t forget to download the marathon app to track your runner in real time.
Finally, to watch runners at the finish head toward 67th Street on West Drive.
If you purchase tickets in advance, you can gain access to Grandstand Seating. You can access this spot at West 62nd Street and Broadway with your Grandstand tickets, which you can purchase for $60 here.
There’s also standing spectator viewing areas inside Central Park from Columbus Circle to the south end of the grandstands that lead to the finish line. No chairs are allowed in this area. Note that the NYRR and NYPD might limit entrance to this area at times throughout the day based on how crowded it gets.
When Do Runners Finish?
The elites will finish by 11:15 A.M., but for some recreational runners, this is an all-day into the darkness of night affair. Here’s an estimate of when the races will end:
9:30 A.M. – Professional wheelchair athletes
11:05 A.M. – Professional women
11:15 A.M. – Professional men
11:55 A.M. and on – Remaining runners
Official finishers will be recognized until the course officially closes at 10 P.M.
How to Watch the New York City Marathon
National coverage of the New York City Marathon begins at 8 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. EST on ESPN2. You can also watch it on the ESPN App or and ESPN.com with video subscriptions from affiliated pay-TV providers.
Pre- and post-race coverage and coverage as well as a Spanish-language broadcast will be on ESPN3 (accessible on the ESPN App and ESPN.com). There will also be a two-hour special on ABC from 3:00 P.M.to 5:00 P.M. EST from the finish line airing race finishers including our favorite running celebrities.
Local coverage for the New York-metro area can be seen on WABC-TV Channel 7 beginning at 7:00 A.M. EST. You can get the livestream of this station here. For additional information about the coverage including who will be calling the race, go here.