The 2024 New York City Marathon: What you need to know

The New York City Marathon has been a tradition since 1970.

Contested on the first Sunday in November, the course covers the traditional 26.2-mile marathon distance, and is run rain or shine winding through all five boroughs.

Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, which runs the marathon, said in an emailed statement that the group's mission is to "build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. That is true in the New York City Marathon.

"Where else can you stand shoulder to shoulder with 50,000 other runners?" Simmelkjaer said. "But also 2 million strangers while cheering on other strangers from all over the world." 

How many runners participate?

More than 50,000 are registered to run in 2024, with 51,453 having finished the course in 2023.

Categories include men, women, nonbinary runners, men and women representing the United States, wheelchair divisions for men and women, a handcycle division and a duo team category.

There are awards for top finishers for teams in age groups and boroughs, and other groups, including Mayor's Cup Awards for the top NYPD and FDNY participants.

Among the runners Sunday from New York City Hall: several deputy mayors to Eric Adams, including Maria Torres-Springer and Anne Williams-Isom, according to Adams spokesman Fabien Levy, who is also running.

How long does the race take?

The average finishing time for a marathon participant was 4:39:47 in 2023.

How many countries participate? 

Runners last year represented 148 countries.

Who won last year?

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia won the men's division in 2:04:58 — breaking the record of 2:05:06 set by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai in 2011. Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri won the women’s division, finishing in two hours, 27 minutes and 23 seconds.

How many people will watch the race?

An estimated two million will watch the race in person, millions more on TV.

When was the first New York City Marathon?

The first NYC Marathon was contested on Sept. 13, 1970. It had a field of 127 runners, who ran a loop around Central Park. An estimated crowd of about 100 watched.

American Gary Muhrcke won in 2:31:38. Only 55 runners finished.

What is the course layout?

Runners begin at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, race across the entrance to New York Harbor on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, then continue through Brooklyn, racing through Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Bay Ridge and Sunset Park, navigating Park Slope and Gowanus, before winding through Clinton Hill, Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City in Queens.

The race then crosses the Ed Koch Queensboro/59th Street Bridge into Manhattan and up First Avenue en route to crossing into the Bronx, then back down Fifth Avenue to East Drive in Central Park, traversing Central Park South and finishing along West Drive.

What's the weather forecast for race day?

This year the National Weather Service is predicting sunny skies and a high of 60 degrees Sunday.

The highest recorded temperature for the NYC Marathon was 80 degrees on Oct. 21, 1979. The coolest was 43 degrees — plus, biting wind chill conditions — on Nov. 12, 1995.

How can you watch the marathon?

New York Road Runners said the majority of the course is open to spectators between Mile 3 and Mile 26, though no viewing is available at the start or on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Recommended viewing locations to watch live include: Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn (Miles 2-4); Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue (Mile 8); Williamsburg and Greenpoint (Miles 10-13); First Avenue, Manhattan (Miles 16-18), East Harlem (Miles 18-20), the Charity Cheer Zone at First Avenue and 120th Street (Miles 19-20), Fifth Avenue between East 105th Street and 90th Street (Miles 23-24) and the United Airlines Zone on Columbus Circle.

There is no public viewing along the Pulaski Bridge at Mile 13.1 — and tickets are required for the grandstand seating access at the finish.

The NYPD and New York City Parks Department may also limit access in Central Park.

A host of local, national and international TV and radio coverage is available, as is live coverage on mobile devices and online. For more information on how to watch anywhere in the world, visit: nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/race-day/watch-the-race.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”