纽约

The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world by finisher count, and the only one that touches all five boroughs of the city. It starts on Staten Island and ends in Central Park, with roughly 59,000 runners finishing in a typical edition.

The course

The race opens with the climb onto the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the highest point of the day and the quietest kilometre of the race: the bridge deck is closed to spectators, so all you hear is footsteps and breathing. From Brooklyn the route runs north through Williamsburg, crosses the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, then takes the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan around the 25 km mark.

The Manhattan miles are the loudest. First Avenue is a canyon of spectators, and the course then swings north through the Bronx before turning back south into Harlem and down Fifth Avenue. The last 800 metres rise gently inside Central Park to the finish line.

Aid stations and the half split

Water stations are placed at short intervals in the real race, closer together than the major stations marked on the map. The half marathon split and timing mat sits on the Pulaski Bridge at 21.0975 km, which is also the point where the race crosses from Brooklyn into Queens. Energy gels are handed out in the second half, and medical tents cluster around the bridge crossings and the finish.

Use the layer switches on the map above to see the modelled stations for this course, or scroll to the aid station table for the full list.

What to watch for

• Bridge climbs. Verrazzano-Narrows, Pulaski and Queensboro all rise. Plan the effort, do not chase pace uphill.
• Wind and cold. November mornings on the bridge can be windy and raw.
• Crowding. Three-wave start with a long wait on Staten Island before the gun, so bring throwaway layers.
• Pacing. The first 5 km are downhill from the bridge. The temptation to bank time here is the classic New York mistake.

Records

Practical notes

• Race day: first Sunday of November. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 1 November 2026.
• Entry: lottery, plus guaranteed entry through a qualifying time, a charity place, or the 9+1 volunteer programme for local runners.
• Getting there: the start is on Staten Island, reached by official buses from Midtown or by the Staten Island Ferry plus a shuttle. Allow a long morning: most runners leave Manhattan before dawn.
• Weather: usually 5 to 12 °C at the start, with a chance of rain.