COACHING RUNNERS The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the most iconic marathons in the world, with nearly 60,000 runners and more than two million spectators. The 2026 race is on Sunday, November 1st and marks a special milestone for the: the 50th anniversary of the marathon’s legendary five-borough course! The medal this year celebrates this special celebration!
As one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, part of the 6 Star Medal, the New York City Marathon is a bucket-list race for runners around the globe and is known for being incredibly difficult to get an entry into. The course takes runners across five boroughs, four bridges, and numerous neighborhoods, highlighting the energy, diversity, and spirit that make New York City so special of a celebration for 26.2 miles.
Whether NYC is your first marathon, a PR attempt, or another star in your Abbott World Marathon Majors journey, NYC is a magical experience. Our Pace of Me Coaches have all run NYC and are so excited for everyone preparing for their start line on November 1st! We have gathered our favorite tips, race-weekend information, course highlights, and advice to help you feel prepared for race day. If you have any questions about the marathon or race weekend in New York City, please reach out to us. We would love to help you make the most of this experience!
We welcome you to our Pace of Me Coaching Shakeout Run and Coffee on Saturday, October 31, the day before the marathon. We love this opportunity to celebrate the many miles and moments in training that are bringing you to that start line. Join us, meet other runners, settle any pre-race jitters and soak up the excitement of marathon weekend for a short run through Central Park followed by coffee and conversations.
Saturday, October 31, 2026
8:30 AM
Sip + Co. (41 WW 58th St. NYC)
All paces are welcome, and family members, friends, and runners who are not racing are invited to join us, too. This is all about connecting with the running community and starting race weekend feeling relaxed and excited. Follow us on Instagram @paceofmecoaching to follow along for more info.
The TCS NYC Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance will be held again at the Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between W 35th and W 236th Streets). Entrance into the expo is free and open to the public as there are many fitness-related merchandise and product exhibits. The subway will be the easiest way to get around throughout race weekend. Registered runners must select a time slot by Saturday, October 31st at 4pm ET in their NYRR dashboards to collect their race packets in person. Remember to bring your photo ID and confirmation info. The expo is open on:
Thursday, 10/29 10 AM to 8 PM (bib pickup closes at 7:30 pm)
Friday 10/30 10 AM to 8 PM (bib pickup closes at 7:30 pm)
Saturday 10/31 9 AM to 5 PM (bib pickup closes at 4:30 pm)
Pro tip: It’s very easy to spend more time than expected in the expo… wear comfortable shoes and avoid spending too much time on your feet right before your marathon!
The New York City Marathon course celebrates a combination of iconic landmarks, vibrant neighborhoods, and enthusiastic crowds. It’s a point-to-point journey through the city’s five boroughs, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan, with each section offering its own personality and challenges. The bridges and rolling terrain can challenge your legs, especially in the second half.
Getting to the start line feels like its own marathon! Depending on their assigned transportation option, runners typically take an official marathon ferry from Manhattan or a marathon bus from designated locations in Manhattan or New Jersey. Transportation assignments and departure times are provided by NYRR, so make sure to check your runner dashboard and race-week instructions carefully. Plan to leave plenty of extra time to get there and dress for potentially chilly conditions while waiting. Remember that race morning transportation is part of the adventure! This is a great time to meet other runners and stay calm before that start begins.
The New York City Marathon begins in Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. Before that start line on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, you’ll enter your assigned start village. This is one of the most memorable starts in distance running. Runners get a stunning view of New York Harbor and the city’s skyline from the start line.
Right from the start, be mindful of your pacing! This bridge can get the best of your excitement. There’s no spectators, so it’s just the pounding of feet with the skyline views to keep you in good company as you begin your journey of 26.2 miles. You might be tempted to run faster than planned… resist that urge! These first few miles should feel controlled and comfortable, even if the crowds and adrenaline make you feel ready to fly. Avoid trying to weave through runners in this beginning stretch, it isn’t worth expending too much energy right away.
After the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, runners enter Brooklyn, where the marathon energy really begins! There’s 11 miles of the course in Brooklyn, which takes runners through a variety of neighborhoods filled with local businesses, residential streets, music, and electric energy from the spectators. The crowds can be incredible, with people cheering for runners they know and complete strangers alike. If you want to really be cheered for, we recommend writing your name large somewhere on your bib or shirt! The energy here is one of the defining features of the New York City Marathon. It can also be easy to get carried away in this first section of the course because of that energy. Settle into your rhythm, find your planned effort, and don’t push too hard. Make sure to stick with your fluid and nutrition plan.
Runners are in Queens for about 2.5 miles, right from the half marathon mark to about mile 15.5. Runners hopefully have settled into the race, and it all feels really real that you are running a marathon. The Queensboro Bridge is one of the most significant moments of the course. It’s quiet because spectators are not permitted on the bridges, and after miles of cheering crowds, the change in noise can feel dramatic. This bridge is really where you want to focus on positive mental focus, relaxing your shoulders and keeping your effort controlled as you crest the bridge. The crowd noise comes right back as you enter Manhattan and turn onto First Avenue.
Runners enter Manhattan two times during the course, this first time being miles 16 to about 19.5 on First Avenue. The streets are lined with cheering crowds, and this atmosphere can make it feel as though the entire city is pulling you forward. Enjoy it! Take in the signs, high-five people and let yourself appreciate the moment. But remember that there’s still much more to go and these miles are when the fatigue can really start to sink in. As the miles accumulate, this is a great time to stay consistent with your fueling and hydration. Don’t wait until you feel tired or hungry to take in your planned nutrition.
After the long stretch through Manhattan, runners cross the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx. Even though there’s only just over a mile of the course in the Bronx, runners still get a burst of energy and excitement from the communities. This borough is where the course adjustment for 2026 is occurring- runners will follow a revised route before crossing the Madison Avenue Bridge back into Manhattan. According to NYRR, this chance is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the five-borough route and the first change to the course in 15 years. All those training runs, fueling practices, and mental strategies become important as the cumulative fatigue may really be kicking in.
After you leave the Bronx over the Madison Avenue Bridge, you’ll hit mile 21 and are in Manhattan again, and the crowds are wild. These are the miles where the magic of racing in New York City feels real, even if your race isn’t going to plan. Runners go south on Fifth Avenue (gradual uphill) before entering Central Park for the final miles. Fifth Avenue includes a gradual uphill section that can feel surprisingly difficult after more than 20 miles of running. Central Park is beautiful, but these final miles have their own inclines and challenges. Focus on relaxed breathing and taking one step at a time, and when you finally approach that finish line in Central Park, let yourself enjoy it!
This race is magical! One of the best and biggest parts about the NYC Marathon is the community and crowd support that shows up to cheer you on. Enjoy the experience and all of your hard work that got you here. Celebrate your achievement, and what an incredible thing that you will be a part of the 50th Anniversary running of the 5 boroughs! Whether you’re chasing a personal best, completing your first marathon, checking off another Abbott World Marathon Major, or simply soaking up every mile, we hope you have such an amazing time out there.
Best of luck to everyone running NYC on November 1. Trust your training, fuel well, stay patient, and enjoy every mile. You’ve got this!
