New York City Marathon

Founded in 1970, the New York City Marathon has been a fixture of the New York City sporting calendar for over 5 decades. What started as a modest local race has grown into an event that draws runners from around the world to United States's roads.

The New York City Marathon route is one of those courses where runners forget their pace and reach for their phones. The scenery through New York City and its surroundings has earned this race a reputation as one of the most photogenic in North America.

As one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, the New York City Marathon occupies a place in the sport's highest tier. Completing all six Majors earns the coveted Six Star Medal — and for thousands of runners, this race in New York City is either the beginning or the culmination of that pilgrimage.

Getting into the New York City Marathon is a race before the race. The entry lottery draws far more applicants than available spots, and the notification email — accepted or rejected — has become an annual ritual that defines the running calendars of thousands.

With over 51,000 finishers, race day transforms New York City into a celebration of human endurance. The streets fill with runners, spectators, and the electric hum of a city united by the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. It's less a sporting event than a civic holiday.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated New York days before the marathon. Mayor Bloomberg initially insisted the race would go on, but mounting public outrage — generators powering the finish line while neighborhoods sat in darkness — forced a cancellation just two days before the start. It remains the most controversial moment in the race's history.

The first NYC Marathon in 1970 was a modest affair — 127 runners looping Central Park, watched by a handful of spectators. Entry fee was $1. Only 55 finished. Fred Lebow's vision of a five-borough race through the city streets wouldn't materialize until 1976, when 2,090 runners crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge for the first time.

When Oprah Winfrey crossed the finish line in 4:29:20 in 1994, it wasn't just a personal achievement — it triggered a nationwide running boom. Her marathon journey, documented on her show, is credited with inspiring more first-time marathon runners than any single event in American history.