How do I enter the New York City Marathon?

Most runners enter through the general lottery, which opens in early February with results in early March. Guaranteed entry is available via NYRR time qualifying standards, the 9+1 program (9 NYRR races plus one volunteer shift in a calendar year), charity fundraising, or international tour packages.

What is the time limit for the NYC Marathon?

The race has an 8-hour time limit, which allows runners of a very wide range of abilities to participate and finish.

Is the NYC Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and accepted by the BAA for Boston qualifying times. Roughly 10% of finishers run a BQ, which reflects the difficulty of the course.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course gains about 523 feet and loses about 611 feet over 26.2 miles. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the start is the highest point at 260 feet. The major climbs are the Verrazzano at mile 1, the Queensboro Bridge around mile 15, and a gradual grind up Fifth Avenue near mile 22.

What is the typical race-day weather?

Early November in New York is usually cool, with temperatures in the low 40s at the start and rising into the mid-50s by midday. Conditions are generally dry with light winds, though cold fronts can push temperatures into the 30s.

How large is the field?

The NYC Marathon is the largest marathon in the world by finisher count. The 2025 edition set an all-time world record with 59,226 finishers.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes. The NYC Marathon course is USATF-certified, meaning performances count toward official records and toward Boston Marathon qualifying times.

Sun, Nov 1 · 2026New York, NYSince 1970

New York City Marathon

New York City Marathon crosses all five boroughs from Staten Island to Central Park, with five bridges and one long Fifth Avenue climb that test every mile of your preparation. The atmosphere is unlike anything else in the sport, and the course will let you know exactly where you stand.

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NEW YORK CITY · US

New York City

SUN, NOV 1

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1970

It starts on Staten Island and runs across the Verrazzano Bridge in the first mile, which sets the tone immediately. You climb right away, and the bridge is the highest point on the whole course. After that you drop into Brooklyn on wide avenues with crowds packed deep for miles. It feels easy. Don't go with it. The rolling terrain and five bridge crossings accumulate fatigue faster than your splits will suggest.

Around mile 16 you come off the Queensboro Bridge onto First Avenue and the crowd hits you. It's the moment everyone warns you about, and it is real. After First Avenue you do a quick lap through the Bronx, then come back into Manhattan for a long dragging climb up Fifth Avenue in the final miles. By then your legs already know about all those bridges. The rollers inside Central Park at the end are short but sharp, and the finish line is on a slight uphill. This is not a course you run for a time goal. Getting in is its own thing: the lottery is competitive, so many runners go through the 9+1 program, time qualify, or fundraise for a charity bib.

Field size

~59k

59,226 finishers

BQ rate

10%

Above national average

Time limit

8:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Lottery

Annual draw + charity

Course records

Men

2:04:58

Tamirat Tola

2023

Women

2:19:51

Hellen Obiri

2025

The Course

810 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑810 ft

Total descent

↓824 ft

Net elevation

↓14 ft

Highest point

260 ft

Lowest point

7 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

The NYC Marathon is a point-to-point course across all five boroughs, starting on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the highest point, 260 feet. The descent into Brooklyn is steep and fast. Miles 2 through 12 run mostly flat on wide Brooklyn roads with rolling undulations. The Pulaski Bridge into Queens is a brief mid-race climb, followed by the Queensboro Bridge, 120 feet of gain over less than a mile, arriving at mile 16 with legs already taxed. First Avenue is flat and deceptive. After a quick loop through the Bronx, the course hits Fifth Avenue near mile 22 for a long gradual grind, roughly 2% grade, that breaks many runners. The Central Park finish adds rolling hills. Net elevation is slightly downhill overall, but bridge placement and the late Fifth Avenue climb make fatigue accumulate faster than the grade suggests. Conservative pacing through Brooklyn is essential.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

44°F

High

58°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Early November in New York usually means a cool morning in the low-to-mid 40s at the start on Staten Island, warming into the upper 50s by the time you're grinding through the later miles. That's a solid window for running fast, but don't skip the throwaway layers in the corral. You'll stand around longer than you expect before the gun. Wind can be a factor on the bridges, especially the Verrazzano in the first mile. Most years the conditions cooperate, but New York in November is never a guarantee, so check the forecast the week of and have a plan B if it turns blustery.

Entry

LOTTERY · QUALIFIER · CHARITY

The primary entry path is an annual lottery (drawing) that opens in early February; results are announced in early March. Guaranteed entry is also available via NYRR's 9+1 program (run nine NYRR races and volunteer at one), time-qualifying standards, charity fundraising with an official charity partner, or an international tour operator package.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

LGA

8 mi

from the start

≈ 13 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into LGA, about 8 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 13-minute trip. Stay close to the start in New York, NY so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.