7 little-known facts about the New York Marathon

1/ Average times are getting slower

• The New York Marathon record was broken in 2023 by Ethiopian runner Tamirat Tola. His time: 2 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds. For women, the record has belonged to Kenya’s Margaret Okayo since 2003, with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 31 seconds.
• The average finishing time is 4 hours 40 minutes, and it’s been climbing in recent years. Two factors explain this trend: more participants and the democratization of running.
• Unlike marathons in Berlin or Chicago, the New York course isn’t flat. If you run it, expect multiple bridge crossings, rolling hills, and a hilly finish through Central Park. Don’t count on setting a personal record!

2/ Over 2 million spectators line the route

• If there’s one race where you’ll feel the energy of the crowd, it’s this one. The New York Marathon is a genuine celebration for the city.
• The atmosphere starts right at the beginning with cannon fire and “New York, New York” blaring across the Verrazano Bridge!
• Throughout the race, the energy is electric. You’ll never forget the sea of people at mile 16, as you enter Manhattan just after the Queensboro Bridge, heading up First Avenue.

3/ The New York Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors

• The New York Marathon belongs to an elite group of six World Marathon Majors, alongside Tokyo, Boston, Chicago, Berlin and London.
• Here’s how it works: top finishers accumulate points across all six races, and at year’s end, the overall male and female champions each receive $500,000. For the New York Marathon alone, first place pays $100,000 for both men and women.
• Even if you don’t finish first, you can still earn the highly coveted medal awarded to runners who complete all six World Marathon Majors.

4/ Before 1976, the race looped through Central Park

• Though the New York Marathon celebrated its 50th edition in 2020, the original 1970 course was quite different—and far less interesting. Runners simply completed loops in Central Park. That first year, only 127 participants started, all men, and just 55 finished.
• The marathon took its current form in 1976, when it began crossing all five boroughs of New York, from Staten Island to Manhattan, passing through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

5/ An international and increasingly female race

• In recent years, the New York Marathon has grown to over 50,000 participants, making it the world’s largest marathon. Many runners come from abroad. Interestingly, France ranks second among foreign countries, just behind Italy!
• While there were no women in the early editions, times have changed dramatically: the New York Marathon is now one of the most female-friendly marathons in the world, with nearly 42% women participants. By comparison, the Paris Marathon has only 25% women.

6/ Your name in the New York Times

• When you cross the finish line of the New York Marathon, pick up the New York Times the next morning! You’ll see your name and finishing time printed in the special marathon section. A wonderful keepsake!

7/ Only a 15% chance of getting a spot through the lottery

• You didn’t get in for 2025, but thinking about next year? It’s not straightforward. Due to overwhelming demand, the New York Marathon uses a lottery system. Registration is free and runs for one month in mid-January. Results are announced in March.
• In 2018, there were 105,184 applicants and only 15,640 winners. If selected, you’ll need to pay for your race bib—and it’s not cheap: $358 for the race of a lifetime!
• If the lottery doesn’t work out, don’t give up. There are other ways to run. Check our guide on how to get into the New York Marathon.