ING New York City Marathon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Jennifer L.
New York, NY

  (11-16-2011)

"Second time around and this race was everything I remembered it to be! There really is nothing like running in New York. The expo was well organized, typical booths with the usual swag. One thing to note, they no longer use the shoe chips for timing - instead, it's now on the bibs which makes things easier because there is no need to return anything at the end.

Race day - The bus dropped us off right near the entrance to the participant area. I'd highly recommend using this option as passenger cars had to drop runners off about a mile away. This time around, I was lucky enough to have access to the United Tent which provided everything from heat to tables/chairs to a spread of drinks and food. However, without this, the buzz and excitement of the upcoming race is enough to make the time fly by. They had three waves and considering the 47,000+ participants it is well organized and moves fairly quickly. Before you know it, you're through the start line and onto the Verrazano Bridge.

Along the course, there are water/gatorade stations every mile beginning around mile 3 - and then you have the token PowerGel around 18 or 19. The crowd support along with the fantastic course through all the boroughs certainly do not disappoint.

Due to the popularity of the race, they are changing some of the qualification rules, but don't let this stop you from taking part in one of the best marathons around!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2011

T W.
ALAMEDA, CA

  (11-11-2011)

"The NYC Marathon is stellar -- this was my 3rd time in 12 years and the NYC Road Runners Club never ceases to amaze me. They increased the field from 45,000 in 2010 to 47,000+, and the 7 start times among the variously colored villages, starting times/waves & corrals were so impressively efficient and well organized. The ONLY downside I see is that, unless you can get in via qualifying time or as a NYCRRC member with sufficient race participation, US entry is via lottery (I didn't get in by lottery in 2009 & 2010). As long as you don't mind trying and paying the fees, you'll get in automatically after 3 lottery rejections (i.e., by the 4th consecutive year) AND you can defer indefinitely (no refunds on fees). Pricey but if you can afford it, it's worth the experience!

Crowd support can't be beat all throughout Brooklyn (most of first 16+ miles of course) and in Manhattan. With my first name on the front & back of my shirt, no less than 75 strangers cheered me on by name. Website and email updates provide lots of great info for friends & family, too.

Be sure to read your emails promptly -- once you get in, you can pick your method to the race start (shuttle bus or ferry), and some options fill up quickly.

The iPhone app to track runners was bonk -- you have to pay to get live updates, and it wasn't worth the $2.99 when my family just used Google Latitude for free. I did like the automatic race updates to my Facebook page, as did my "fans" from afar.

OK, one last thing ... I've been honest about my review, but really, shouldn't my strategy be to downplay all that NYC has to offer so that my chances in the lottery would be better? ;)

Top notch, world-class road race, in my opinion!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2011

Cristy N.
New York, NY

  (06-09-2011)

"This was my first tri ever.
The swim in the Hudson was far tougher than I expected.
The current helped, but I kept forgetting to breathe.
The course is amazing.
The ride up the West Side Highway is a blast.
They make you hit the hills in Central Park. "

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Angelie G.
Los Angeles, CA

  (09-19-2010)

"It's just fine when i first join the race.
I want to join again in the future."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2003

Sabrina M.
Chattanooga, TN

  (07-30-2010)

"Everything about this race is absolutely amazing! The race course, crowd, the city. I love it!!!! I can't wait to do it again! The finish in Central Park was amazing! The only thing I would change is a clearer map for spectators trying to follow you and the bottleneck after the finish. I didn't have stuff to pick up after the race and I still ended up having to go through the crowd that was getting their stuff.. a little frustrating when all you want to do is get back to the hotel."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2007

Tara M.
Walnut Creek, CA

  (02-10-2010)

"This is my FAVORITE marathon by far! Everything about this race is amazing. It gives you a huge sense of camaraderie and the support from the spectators is like no other! It's definitely one race ever runner must do at least once in there lifetime :)"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Chad T.
Brooklyn, NY

  (12-08-2009)

"2nd time running it.

See my mile by mile review of my race

at

http://wp.me/pC0HK-3f"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Katie P.
New York, NY

  (11-03-2009)

"I wasn't sure what to expect with the marathon, but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't even listen to my iPod once during the entire race. The first half flew by. The fans are what did it for me - they kept cheering me on by name (since I wrote it on my shirt), and I credit them with getting me to the finish line. Anyone can do this race if they just train, and it is completely worth the effort!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Christopher S.
New York, NY

  (11-02-2009)

"It's been said before, but it's worth repeating: if you are going to do only one marathon, do this one. The organizers have this race working like a finely tuned machine, and the city knows how to host it like no other event. Where else can you get a million people to stand for hours cheering on thousands of strangers? It is the one day of the year when New Yorkers really do come together and focus on one thing.

I have run this race nine times since 1999, and I have seen it grow considerably, both in size and in the level of professionalism shown by the organizers. In the past there have typically been one or two things that I would have tweaked, but this year I can think of absolutely nothing I would have told them to do differently. Even the (small) course changes they made were, if anything, an improvement. They (finally) have the bus transportation from the Staten Island Ferry to the start under control, and I didn't even see particularly long lines for the portapotties near the start. As noted in some other reviews, there is still too much waiting around to pick up bags at the finish, but I expect some of that is designed to keep us on our feet for therapeutic reasons.

Getting in can be difficult. I'm local, so it's easier with the NYRR's policy of allowing anyone who races nine times and volunteers once a guaranteed entry for the following year. But whatever it takes to get in is worth it to be part of one of the biggest events to take place each year in the biggest city in the country."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Erik N.
Hampton, NJ

  (10-19-2009)

"This was my first marathon ever. If you do one why not in New York? (little did I know I would run more) I ran here with my brother and we experienced the NY Marathon as one big adventure. It's big, it's huge, it's massive but in a way that you do not drown in it as a runner. I will return in 2009 to run my 10th marathon as part of Team LiveStrong and looking forward to it!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2002

Sandra .
San Francisco, CA

  (08-18-2009)

"In my opinion, NYC is the pinnacle of the big city marathon.

Awesome expo, awesome organization, awesome race!

The crowd support is second to none. The streets are lined 3 deep almost the entire race with people cheering you on like you are a rockstar. It almost gets exhausting.

The course is not easy. The bridges are all hills. There are long gradual uphill slogs up First Avenue and down Fifth. But I think it is a pretty nicely balanced marathon course.

My main grip about NYC was the finish area. There is a LONG walk after the finish which is very crowded. Then you get released into the mayhem which is check-bag pick-up. Another long walk down south towards the subway system. I'm not sure there is a way to improve this since there are so many runners, but be prepared to spend an hour after the race getting sorted out.

Definitely on my to-do list again!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2005

Jason C.
New York, NY

  (08-18-2009)

"A few years ago, a friend of mine flew down from Toronto to run the NYC Marathon and decided to cheer him on. We met up with him at around mile 18 or so for the obligatory high-fives and such but there was something special going on. I don\'t know what posessed me, but I jumped into the race and ran with him the last 8 miles. The crowds, spirit and camaraderie I experienced were like nothing else I had experienced before. At that point, I knew I wanted to train to do my first marathon.

I have to say, from a logistics perspective, I have yet to experience anything quite as marvelously organized as the NYC marathon. From the bus transportation to Staten Island to the aid stations along the way and the post-race meet-up area, you can tell there is a heck of a lot of planning and thought to make it a smooth and efficient experience. Here\'s a recap from my first NYC marathon back in 2005.

The Start
With the boom of a cannon and a roar from the crowd, 37,000 fellow runners started the 36th New York City Marathon. Months of tensions and sleepless nights suddenly released and we swarmed the Verazano Narrows Bridge. In the background, I could hear a familiar voice -- Frank Sinatra -- singing \"New York, New York\" over the loudspeakers, a marathon tradition and the perfect way to kick off the best way to see the City.

Nervous Jitters
Even though I had gotten only 3 hours of sleep the night before, I was pretty anxious and full of pent-up energy. Every experienced marathoner I spoke to suggested taking the race easy and to think of the race in three parts: miles 1-10, miles 11-20 and miles 21-26.2. \"The first 10 miles should feel slower than normal and remember to save something for the last couple of miles at the end.\" Even though I had all that in mind, I still managed to screw it up and run at a quicker pace than I anticipated. By the 7th mile I was two minutes ahead of my 3:50 pace and by mile 10, nearly 4 minutes. I knew I had to slow down or else pay for it at the end. And boy did I ever. (more later)

26.2 miles of Fans
The hard part about the marathon is staying encouraged throughout the race. However, there\'s an easy solution -- simply write your name in big letters on your shirt. Whenever I felt low on energy, I simply ran towards the sides of the streets so people could shout out my name and say flattering things like, \"Looking strong Jason!\" even though I looked and felt like I was hungover. I can\'t remember how many people shouted out my name, but when you\'re hurtin\', hearing the crowd can be like manna from heaven.

The Wall
A lot of people talk about hitting a physical \"wall\" at around mile 20, where your body just wants to give up. At that point, the race becomes an exercise in pain management and more about mind over matter. Unfortunately for me, I hit the wall at around mile 18, when my left quads cramped up pretty bad and I wasn\'t sure if it was going to go away. I squeezed down a couple of PowerGels and more Gatorade in a desperate attempt to fight off the cramp and replace electrolytes. So with that, I kept plugging along through the Bronx, back down to Manhattan and up the impossibly long stretch from 125th to 96th. It\'s only a mile and a half, but it\'s uphill and man, to me was the hardest part of the day. At that point, there were just a few miles left, which were by far the longest miles I\'ve ever run.

Inspiration
I feel pretty lucky that I\'m able bodied and don\'t have any excuses not to run. The marathon brings out all kinds of people, many of whom serve as unnamed inspirations. As I was panting for breath at mile 25, I was passed by a small entourage of people helping a *blind* runner finish. Can you imagine running 26 miles and not know where you\'re going and relying on guides? I also saw scores of people with artificial legs, people in wheel chairs, walkers, you name it. I may have finished before them, but they had the endurance to run for 5, 6, 7 hours. Kudos!

Focusing on Finishing
Throughout the race, I had to keep thinking of one thing: crossing that damn finish line. At the start of the race it was, \"I think I can,\" which slowly turned to \"I know I can,\" and in the last stretch, \"I know I will.\" Turning the corner from 5th Ave to Central Park South was just awesome. I could see the Time Warner Center looming in the background as thousands of people cheered us on and even though I picked up the pace, it just didn\'t seem to get any bigger the harder I ran. Entering the Park again, I knew it was going to be a mad dash up the hill to the finish line and I gave it everything I had before jumping whole-heartedly onto the mat to make sure my time got stamped.

Without a doubt, my first marathon was a life-changing event for me. You really learn about yourself from both physical and psychological perspectives. You learn discipline during training, you learn to persevere through the pain and most importantly, to believe in yourself."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2008

elaine r.
Toronto, NY

  (08-12-2009)

"I love running in New York, I've run this marathon 3 times now. If you live outside of NY it's really hard to get accepted in the lottery. The organization is amazing including a full NYC marathon guideline book given to all participants. There are tons of spectators and entertainment along the course. Over the past few years this marathon has gotten more popular and the course has gotten a lot more packed of runners. Running across the Queensborough bridge is a killer when you are super tired. There is a chip mat on the bridge so make sure you are running ON the bridge path and not off to the side. Your race times might not be calculated. Around Mile 18 they give you power gels and sponges. Spectators hand out napkins, oranges, banana, water.... Great Marathon, must run.

-elaine
http://www.TrueRunning.com"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2008

Vickie L.
Cary, NC

  (06-10-2009)

"Having run five marathons, New York is by far the most fun! It is well organized and the crowds make the race the best. I'm a back of the pack runner and to see the crowds 3 and 4 deep was fantastic.The course is fairly flat. the smells from the different neighborhoods is wonderful (along with the ethnic food!). There is nothing like coming over the 92nd street bridge into Manhattan and hearing so many people yelling for you. Amazing."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2002

Kim C.
Boston, MA

  (06-04-2009)

"The ING NYC Marathon was my first marathon EVER. As a true Bostonian, many of my friends, family and coworkers were quite perplexed as to why I chose NYC as my first race. Don't get me wrong, I dream about the day I can run the Boston Marathon, but I knew I needed some seasoned training before that ever happened. I picked NYC for a variety of reasons and these were all reasons why I would 100%, in a heartbeat run it again. 1) the course is FLAT. Marathons are tough, why struggle with hills when you don't have to? Even though I live in Boston I run downtown and around the Charles River, so I really never encounter any of the epic hills that the Boston Mararhon is known for. 2) Training-Again, since I live in Boston training for an April marathon means training outside during torrid winter weather months. Since NYC is in the beginning of November I started training in the beginning of June and of course finished on race day. The summer was hot, but I would much rather be warm rather than get frostbite on a long run. 3) The CROWD. NYC is a densely packed city of people that love to go out and have a good time, of course they are going to hit the streets and cheer on the nation's largest marathon! 4) the scenery. I LOVED running through each of the boroughs and experiencing, albeit briefly, each neighborhood. Also, the views from the bridges are incredible. Many runners ran with small digital cameras. Not a bad idea if you are running as a part of a vacation or from another country.

Overall I LOVED this marathon. It was an awesome first marathon experience. I really have no complaints other than I wish I didn't have to wait through a lottery system to find out if I made it in :) "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008

libgyrl .
minneapolis, MN

  (05-21-2009)

"Sorry Boston and Athens (Greece), New York is my favorite marathon. It is a bit of a photo finish for the title, but in the end NYC eeks it out for a win.

New Yorkers can be a bit provincial and proud (with some just reason), so it is a true compliment to hear a couple say "wow, I can't believe you did that. I've never been in all the boroughs, let alone in one day on foot." Yes, that one is me, for the win.

The packet pick up was the most organized one I've seen. The expo was slick, though dominated by sponsor Paragon Sports (whom I like, but it just means a little mono-chromatic in the Jarvis Center). If you are into finisher's gear, plan to line up the morning after by Tavern on the Green. I went just to check things out and swear that it was Al Rocker working the gate entrance. It is NYC after all.

I challenge you to stay on Staten Island. It is the best way to get to the start without stress and many hours of sitting around. The Fort is set up well to accommodate the hoards, but it is still sitting around on a notoriously windy island point.

In 2007 there was a bit of a jam up, okay not a bit, a HUGE jam up in the bag drop area. I'm sure this has been fixed, but in case not consider bag dropping earlier than later to make sure you get in your proper starting corral.

The "fast" women's start section was a great bonus for we "fast" women. What a great view of the elite men starting!

A first mile all up hill is hard, but it is crowded and a good time to not go to fast so enjoy being on the Verazzano Bridge on foot. Sweet. Truly sweet. Once you make that first peak it is all down hill! (Well not literally)

The crowds are stellar all along the way. Churches had their bands and choirs out in Brooklyn. In the Bronx it looked to be a middle or high school band. Crossing into Manhattan over the Washington (?) Bridge was a long dark (you are on the lower level) haul... but whoop it up with your fellow runners cuz the amazing spin out on the off ramp into the City are a thrill not to be forgotten.

Finishing in Central Park is icing on this race cake. I only wish there had been some serious salt (pretzels or potato chips) in the food bag. Since there wasn't I had to hit up the medical tent, which means I can say they were very professional and nice too.

Sunday afternoon taking the subway and ferry back to Staten Island it was sorta special to spot so many other silver finisher wrap cape wearers hobbling around with the supporters toting drop bags and extra water bottles.

So many runners from so many countries. So much excitement. And the best darn post-marathon eating city there is.

And you can then say you've been in all the boroughs in one day and on foot.
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2007

Merrill F.
San Francisco, CA

  (05-11-2009)

"Pointing out anything negative about the New York Marathon is like criticizing "War and Peace." The points might be valid but you sound like a moron. So I'll try and be a moron and give top 3 highlights and low lights.

The good
1. The crowd - no other race has the supportive, enthusiastic number of people watching. Highlight is coming off the 59th Street Bridge and making the turn into Manhattan. Closest I'll ever come to feeling like an Olympian. The crowds in the park are also incredible but I was too exhausted to appreciate it.

2. The course is amazing as you go through different cultures - orthodox Jewish to Latino to Yuppie.

3. Prestige - this is the New York Yankees of marathons.

Bad and ugly

1. The START No matter how much you try and discuss the camraderie of the start, sitting on hard, cold cement in Staten Island for four hours stinks. I have no solution but it still stinks.

2. THE FINISH You finish in the park exhausted and then must walk amile uptown and downtown just to get your sweats and get out of the park. It's chaos that 30 years of hosting should have been solved.

3. THE COST It now costs $180 to enter. I understand organizing the race is expensive and they have no shortage of people who will pay, but this is getting price prohibitive.
"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2007

Raymond L.
Glen Rock, NJ

  (04-27-2009)

"I have run the New York City Marathon four times and have a special spot in my heart for it for a number of reasons, not the least of which is having run it once with my son and another time with my daughter. Well, at least I started each one with them. It was also my first marathon and definitely a life altering experience.

As far as the race is concerned, it is impossible to put into words the size, excitement and enthusiasm of the crowds. Although not the easiest of marathons, it is a perfect “first” marathon since the crowds and the amazing city energizes you making failure almost impossible. It is well organized and supported. The only caution I will mention is the start which can be chaotic if you are not prepared for it. If you get the chance (harder now because it is essentially by lottery only) do your homework so you are not disappointed due to a misunderstanding. If you are visiting from afar, be sure to allot extra time to enjoy the city. During the time surrounding the race, the flavor and buzz of New York incredibly changes to reflect the thousands of runners in town to do the race. Without a doubt, an unforgettable experience. Finally, if you are lucky to have family or friends with you, they will enjoy the visit almost as much as you will.

See you in New York any November."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2004

Jennifer L.
New York, NY

  (04-23-2009)

"Hands down my favorite marathon to date! Definitely want to do it again. The course rocks (how awesome is it to be able to run through all five boroughs of NY) and the energy of the crowd is unbelievable (they line the streets from start to finish).

Obviously I'm not the only one who thinks highly of it b/c the secret is out and most people have to enter through a lottery since it is such a popular race. However, if you live close to NYC, you can run 9 NYRR qualifying races throughout the year to guarantee entry for the following year's marathon. Or you can cross your fingers and try your luck!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2004

Bea C.
New York, NY

  (04-23-2009)

"One of the best experiences of my life. The crowds in each borough were amazing."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008

Gregory L.
San Francisco, CA

  (04-23-2009)

"This was my first marathon ever, and man did NYC live up to its hype. Dad came out of running "retirement" to run it too, which was even cooler. The race is often described as a "sea of humanity" and it did not disappoint.

The start of the race is chaos but once that gun goes off everyone starts moving in the same direction. Crossing the bridge for the first 2 miles was amazing! Though if you're trying to go for time, you might get bogged down at the start because of the 30,000 people running. I remember it taking me till about mile 5 to get into my normal running stride. The crowd in NYC is like no other race. Streets literally lined w/ people, offering cheers, food, music, you name it. The race went great till around mile 24, somewhere in Central Park I got a nasty cramp in the left hammy. Then I just told me self one step at a time, and before I knew it I had crossed the finish line!!!

Pretty much a perfect first time marathon experience if you ask me :)."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 1999