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The TCS New York City Marathon is both an esteemed athletic event and a city-wide spectator sport that was founded in 1970 but had many earlier incarnations prior. The 2022 NYC Marathon will take place on November 6th, with competitors of all types coming from around world, hoping to complete the 26.2 mile course through the five boroughs of New York City. We consulted with former NYC Marathon runners to put together this unconventional guide to the NYC Marathon. Below is a full map of the route and read on for ten fun things to check out during the NYC Marathon, whether you’re a runner or a spectator.
Along most of the NYC Marathon route, crowds of strangers line up alongside to liven up the race by cheering and offering emotional and physical support. But there are a few key moments where the race can be eerily silent, apart from the sound of sneakers pattering the pavement. There are five bridges along the NYC Marathon route – the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the Pulaski Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge, the Willis Avenue Bridge, and the Madison Avenue Bridge.
According to Untapped Cities CEO Augustin Pasquet, who ran the NYC Marathon in 2015, the quietest moments for him were along the Queensboro Bridge due to the contrast with the rowdiness in Williamsburg and Greenpoint in miles 11 to 13. New York Congressional candidate Suraj Patel tells us that the Queensboro Bridge was also the “most miserable” portion of the marathon. “It’s pretty but you don’t realize how high the bridges go over the East River until you run over them. It’s a long, steady incline right around the 16-mile wall that everyone hits. And then there’s the bone-chilling wind. It’s the coldest part of the run.” Untapped Cities writer Jeff Reuben says “Other than a few volunteers, spectators are not allowed on the bridge, so it’s quiet and isolated, but soon after crossing the bridge onto 1st Avenue and being hit by a wall of sound and lots of people – it’s a really intense audio-visual experience.”
The Pulaski Bridge, between Brooklyn and Queens is quite short, as are the other bridges besides the initial Verrazano crossing, making the Queensboro Bridge section particularly notable.
Augustin and Brian Oh, who has been an annual participant in the NYC Marathon since 2013, also note that another distinctively quiet moment along the route is in South Williamsburg, around the Hasidic Jewish neighborhoods. Brian says, “One of the strangest, eeriest sections of the route is near Marcy Avenue, It suddenly becomes an absolute ghost town for about a mile or two, zero supporters along the sides.” Augustin says the community goes about their usual activities, with the marathon running through.
Among the tens of thousands of people who run the NYC Marathon, you might spot a famous face. Elite athletes, New York City officials (like former NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver who ran in 2018 and 2019), and even famous actors and singers have been known to lace up their running shoes and hit the streets.
The New York Times reports that this year, celebrity runners include first-timer Ashton Kutcher, actors Ellie Kemper, Claire Holt, and Lauren Ridloff. Celebrities making returning runs include New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, and Nev Schulman, producer and host of “Catfish: The TV Show” on MTV.
Miles 20 to 23 can be mentally and physically tough, with Central Park not quite in sight and fewer spectators in the Bronx and in Harlem. But that’s where the runners need the most support! The marathoners cross the Willis Avenue Bridge from East Harlem to the Port Morris waterfront in the Bronx. After about a mile, they cross back into Manhattan over the 135th Street Bridge.
Head to any of these areas to get the runners past that last hump. This year, luckily, the Charity Cheer Zone has moved northwards giving runners an extra bust before the Willis Avenue Bridge.
In Central Park, there is a life-sized bronze figure of Fred Lebow, who founded the New York City Marathon in 1970. A little known fact is that the 600-pound statue gets moved every year, just for the day of the NYC marathon from its usual home near 90th Street and East Drive to near the Finish Line further south in Central Park.
The statue, named Forever at the Finish Line, depicts Lebow wearing his legendary running suit and hat, glancing at his watch. Some runners rub the statue for good luck before the race or leave flowers at its base. In his lifetime, Lebow ran 69 marathons in 30 countries!
The spectators are one of the best things about the NYC Marathon. Some set up a stand or chairs and cheer all day, offering support, water, snacks, fruits, and high fives. Some make very creative signs. In 2015, we saw signs like, “If Trump can run for President, you can run 26.2 miles,” and “Hurry up, the Kenyans are Finishing Up All the Beers.”
Other signs are interactive, like “Hit here for Superpowers.” Some get even more creative, like the minions we saw handing out bananas. Marathoners are also known to dress in costume too – we’ve seen men in full suits, people in chicken costumes, superhero costumes, and more.
Waiting near the finish line in Central Park can be a tough battle, with the large crowds and media, but a good spot to watch is where the runners enter the park on 5th Avenue at Engineer’s Gate. There’s a family-friendly atmosphere up here, with a lot of spectators sitting on the ground on the side of the drive.
Check out Untapped New York’s guide to the best places to watch the marathon from! This list includes spots all along the route where you can beat the crowds and still get a great view of the runners passing by.
Even the NYPD officers on duty get into the spirit on race day. Augustin says at Engineer’s Gate, he saw four or five officers in a row and asked them for some high fives to get him through the last miles. The officers were more than happy to comply!
Along the route, you’ll also see officers giving thumbs up and shouts of support to the runners. The NYC Marathon is truly a citywide affair that brings people together from all walks of life.
The TCS NYC Marathon has official events along the route. In Manhattan, there’s the Charity Cheer Zone at East 120th Street where there will be cheer zones for select charities amongst New York Road Runners’ 380+ official charity partners, who are fundraising for their causes. Bananas, alkaline water, energy gels, and Gatorade will be handed out along the route. New this year are dedicated and private lactation tents for nursing mothers in the staging area, on course at miles 8, 16, and 22, and at the finish area in Central Park. Breast pumps and sets of individually wrapped, sanitized accessories will be provided by Babyation.
In the week leading up to the marathon, New Balance will host the TCS New York City Marathon Expo at the Javits Center. Runners can pick up their race essentials here and stop by The Running Lab to learn about strategies and tools for running the best race!
After putting their bodies through 26.2 miles of a grueling route, marathoners are often struggling to get back home. In 2014, the New York Times put out the above humorous but cringeworthy video about runners fighting “through fatigue and physical exhaustion on the streets of Manhattan.”
Subway steps can be exhausting on any regular day. Think about how your muscles ache after conquering a long flight, then imagine doing that after running 26.2 miles. Subway stairs are some of the most brutal, so help a marathoner down the stairs if you see one!
The NYC Marathon is one of the best ways to see New York City (after our own tours of course). Over the course of several hours, you get to traverse all five boroughs, take in the skyline of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn from the city’s bridges, experience the diversity of city’s neighborhoods and people, and experience the spirit that makes New York City one of the greatest cities in the world.
In fact, the Marathon route is so epic that for more than 10 years in a row now, folks we know have organized “Marathon Day,” which involves 26.2 drinks in bars all along the marathon route – all in one day in June. We’ve happily contributed bar suggestions for this event over the years. Participants usually attend for just a portion of the route (binge drinking not encouraged) and participants take mass transit, including the Staten Island Ferry.
Read more about the history of the previous 10 incarnations of the NYC Marathon and check out the 10 Best Spots to Watch the NYC Marathon.
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