New York Marathon

New York City Marathon: the race of legends

The New York City Marathon is a legendary race with 54 years of history, with more than 50,000 participants at each edition, 315 million TV viewers and 2 million people from all over the world lining the cheering zones. Not to mention the participation of the world’s best runners. Enough to put it at the top of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the list of the most prestigious marathons on the planet. The start traditionally takes place on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, linking Staten Island to Brooklyn.

Participants then follow 4th Avenue toward Queens, before reaching Manhattan, the city’s beating heart with its many restaurants and art galleries. For the next 17 kilometers, runners head down the legendary First Avenue. This impressive thoroughfare, famous for its width that allows for plenty of room to move, captures the very essence of New York: modern skyscrapers stand alongside typical red-brick buildings, local shops, and a uniquely cosmopolitan atmosphere!

At the end of the avenue, the route heads toward the Bronx and the Harlem River. There are then only 2 kilometers left before entering Central Park via 86th Street. At this stage of the race, fatigue is very real, but the park’s energy feels like a lifeline. The course winds through tree-lined paths with ever-changing scenery, carrying an atmosphere that’s both peaceful and electric thanks to the crowd’s cheers. Still, watch out for the false flats and bumps over these final hectometers!

This iconic race leaves an indelible mark on the minds of its participants. Between its settings worthy of On the Town (Un jour à New York) with Frank Sinatra, and its ultra-supportive atmosphere, the New York City Marathon, however tough it may be, is a true balm for the soul. And that’s beyond dispute! The marathon has witnessed many precious moments, such as marriage proposals, pregnancy announcements, or tribute runs for loved ones lost too soon. In 1992, none other than Fred Lebow, aged 60, was diagnosed with cancer. He still wanted to run his last New York City Marathon. A moving moment he shared with devoted runners, but also with his loyal friend with 9 victories: the Norwegian Grete Waitz, also aged 60. They ran the marathon in 5h32min 34s. Two years later, at the 24th edition, Fred’s death was announced. More than 3,000 people paid tribute to him in the heart of Central Park.

New York City Marathon: the race of legends

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