New York City Marathon: Date, start time, course, history & more

Runners from around the globe are set to come together for the annual staging of one of the most famous marathons in the world, the New York City Marathon.

New York City Marathon date

The 2025 New York Marathon will be held on Sunday 2nd November.

New York City Marathon start time

The New York City marathon has a staggered start to avoid overcrowding and ensure the professional runners are not hindered on their run.

The men's professional wheelchair division will begin proceedings at 08:00 local time, while the professional women's division will start at 08:35 and the professional men's division at 09:05.

New York City Marathon course

The 26.2 mile New York City marathon course runs through the five boroughs of the city.

Commencing in Staten Island, runners will cross Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn and run across Fourth Avenue, stretching from Bay Ridge to Downtown Brooklyn.

Runners will then head to the Pulaski Bridge where they will cross into Queens and then continue into Manhattan, running along First Avenue.

Participants will make their way into East Harlem, go past Columbus Circle and cross the finish line at 67th Street on West Drive.

New York City Marathon history

The inaugural New York City Marathon was held in 1970 and initially consisted of several laps through Manhattan's Central Park.

In 1970 there were only 127 participants, of which only 55 finished. To put into perspective the growth of the event, over 50,000 finishers are expected in 2024.

The course layout changed in 1976 to incorporate the five boroughs of New York City, with it starting in Staten Island and ending in Manhattan. The route has remained the same ever since.

Grete Waitz of Norway won the women’s New York City Marathon a record nine times, and American Bill Rogers holds the men’s record with four wins.

In 2023, Ethiopian Tamirat Tola broke a 12-year-old course record by setting a time of 2:04:58.

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