NYC Marathon

Race: TCS NYC Marathon

Runner: Austin Meyers

Race Date: 11/07/2021

Location: New York City, New York

Results: 3:12:54 (PR!)

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6226337150

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

• The course: The route is awesome. It starts on Staten Island and takes you through all 5 boroughs of New York City. I’ve been to the city numerous times for work as well as pleasure, and the race took me through neighborhoods I hadn’t seen before.
• The prestige: One of 7 World Marathon Majors. An opportunity to run in the same race as Olympic Medalists and World Record Holders. In a non-COVID year this is usually one of the largest races in the world with 50k+ runners, including the best runners from across the globe.
• The people: The only portion of the race where people weren’t lined up on the sidewalk screaming was on the bridges. The entire city comes out to scream and cheer on the runners, its an atmosphere I haven’t experienced anywhere else.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

• The course is hard towards the end! I wasn’t expecting the last few miles down 5th Avenue (uphill) to be as hard as they were, but my legs were zapped. And through Central Park, the winding and rolling hills got really hard for me. That’s more of a reflection on my state at that point than it is on the race.
• The waved starts were further apart this year, and I ended up running a lot of miles basically by myself. In smaller races I have been running the same pace as any number of folks and had the chance to chat during the early miles and work together. In this race I started with a big group but after mile 1 I was running pretty much solo. Then in the final 5k the course filled up with slow runners from previous waves, and I was fighting through people to reach the finish.
• Getting to the start sucked also. I had to get on a bus at 5:15am, only to sit on a sidewalk on Staten Island for over 3 hours. They could handle this a little better, I wish I had a chance to get more sleep and maybe stay warm.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

No one pees off of the Verrazzano Bridge, contrary to all the rumors. Trying to spectate the Central Park section is really hard, the whole park is fenced off.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Fueling went really well during the race for me. I was drinking water as frequently as I could, up until the 20mi mark, and taking a gel every 4-5mi. I was also able to keep a reign on my effort for the first 20mi, which left me with the legs to push the final 10k.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Don’t underestimate the final 3-4 miles of this course! The hills look tame on any other day, but after running 22+ miles they are a real challenge to push through.
It would be really easy to push yourself too hard in the first half of the race. Keep your body in check and wait until you are running on 5th Avenue to dig into your reserves.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

If you like cities, it definitely is pretty.

NYC Marathon Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Moderately tough. The difficulty comes in the last 5-8k which only adds to the fatigue you’re feeling at that point.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well organized for sure.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Arguably the strongest field in marathoning

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

There are lots of ways to get into this race; time qualifying, through the New York Road Runners organization, through charity, etc. Travel and hotel accommodations are simple enough, but can cost you if you wait until too close to race day.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Pretty standard aid stations. You can get water and gatorade every 2-3k.

NYC Weather and typical race conditions

This years race conditions were perfect! Sunny sky with cool air, little wind, no rain. It’s November in NYC so it can be cold. I’ve heard horror stories of the freezing rain in other years. More often than not it seems to be perfect fall running weather.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It is generally spectator friendly. Trying to get into Central Park for the last 5k takes time and effort. Other parts of the course are very easy to spectate.

How’s the Swag?

Swag is standard, a technical T and a medal.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

8/10

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Team RunRun coach Heather LeFriec shares her experience running the New York City Marathon for the second time. Read on for her tips on how to plan better for the course, whether to choose the poncho or the bag, and how she pushed through her mental wall at mile 19.

Race: New York City Marathon

Runner: Heather LeFriec

Race Date: 11/03/2019

Location: New York City

Results: 3:38

3 Bests – What aspects of the New York City Marathon did you like the most?

The crowd support, the spectators, besides Boston 2014, the loudest spectators I’ve experienced! This race takes you all over New York City and you get to experience all the boroughs.

Not so much – Aspects of the New York City Marathon that didn’t do it for you

The concrete was hard on my legs and I wore the wrong shoes–combined with the hills, this sent me into a really hard wall at mile 19.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about the New York City Marathon?

Running through the Hasidic Jewish neighborhood on a Sunday, quite very quiet.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I felt great for the first 13 miles, hydrated and fueled well. When I hit my wall at mile 19, I stayed positive and let go of my finish time and instead focused on the awesome energy of the spectators and the city.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the New York City Marathon to help the next runner

Prepare for the hills! Wear a shoe with a little more cushion. I wore a “tempo” shoe, and my feet, ankles, and shins did not respond well to the concrete. Also, the last few miles through Central Park are hilly – let the crowd’s energy pull you through.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

This was my second time running the New York City marathon. I knew it was a hard course, and next time I won’t run a marathon 3 weeks beforehand. Bad idea and I paid for it!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the New York City Marathon

Starting line logistics are time consuming so prepare mentally & dress warm for waiting to get into corrals. You have to walk a long way to get out of Central Park – I’ve ran this race twice and chose the post race poncho option at finish this year over the bag check the first time I ran nyc! Choose the poncho – it’s warm and you get to it quicker, plus it makes a good race souvenir!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes – you get to see all 5 boroughs of NYC (Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx) and finishing in Central Park is beautiful.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yes!! Hilly and hard concrete.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes!! Very well oiled machine, especially getting to the start. It was smooth and easy!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes! Best in the world.

Logistics – Does the New York City Marathon require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Yes! I recommend qualifying! I qualified for guaranteed entry into the New York City Marathon. If you don’t qualify, you can enter the lottery and hope to get chosen!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Awesome race support! Everything you need and the volunteers were so positive.

Weather and typical race conditions

This year was sunny and 50, perfect! 2 years ago when I ran, it rained and was 45, so just depends – but typical fall-like weather.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Extra warm up gear to throw off and donate at the start! It’s cold, and you wait for a couple of hours before you start.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes! My friends said it was exciting to watch and an adventure to hop around on the subway to catch spectator spots.

How’s the Swag?

Great finishers shirt and an apple shaped medal!!! I also really like the finishers poncho.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

10/10

Runner Jonny reviews the New York City marathon route, logistics, and overall experience. Read why he was converted from a skeptic to a fan!

Review: New York City Marathon Route, Logistics, and Overall Experience

Race: New York City Marathon

Runner: Jonny

Date: 11/5/17

Location: New York, NY

Results: 3:39:48

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1263149499

3 Bests – What aspects of the New York City Marathon route and overall race did you like the most?

The crowds, the crowds and the crowds. They say 2 million people lined the course. It was utterly unbelievable. It was also so amazing to run through the different neighbourhoods and experience the cultural varieties New York offers.

Not so much – What about the New York City Marathon didn’t you like?

Running mostly trail and ultra races, I like the small-town feel of these races and the ability to walk up to the start line an hour before, collect your number and head off. This was totally different. There was a fair amount of standing around time. Getting up at 5:30am for a 10:15am start time felt a tad ridiculous. That said, when trying to get 50,000+ runners to a start line and on their way these are the sacrifices that need to be made.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Honestly, I was really skeptical about these mega-marathons. The logistics, the headache and planning all seemed so unnecessary. Going into it, I was so apathetic. Running the race turned that opinion around 180-degrees. The energy and excitement generated from running with thousands of other people, the inspiration of those with disabilities completing the race and the amazing crowds (as well as high-fiving Kevin Hart, who was running too) made the experience something truly special. The race itself was not the focus of my season so I went out to enjoy myself, not blow up and not run so hard I lost the next week of running to recovery; happily all that was achieved.

Lessons Learned – share your pro-tips on the New York City Marathon to help the next runner or yourself on the next time around:

Get into the planning details, I didn’t know enough about how to get to the start line and that song and dance that involved until the week before when registration for official services had closed. I recommend researching and understanding these options way earlier than I did.

What do runners need to know about the New York City marathon route?

There is a 2ish mile hill at mile 24, be prepared, I wasn’t. (Check out our overall NYC Marathon page for more course-specifics!)

Organized and well run – did the New York City Marathon feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

A well oiled machine doesn’t quite do justice to just how well this race is organized and run, especially when you consider the number of participants involved.

Logistics – Anything special regarding getting to/from the race, hotels around the course, registration…?

I mentioned getting to the race above, otherwise the rest is up to you. We went for an AirBnb in Park Slope which gave us easy subway access to Manhattan and an easy escape after the marathon but there are plenty of good options.

Weather and typical race conditions:

I don’t think conditions could have been better, in the 50s and overcast, made for a great day.

Is the New York City Marathon route friendly for spectators?

Very friendly for spectators and in many places the crowds are two or three deep. To see the finish line you do have to pay for tickets in the grandstand though. The organizers identify several key spots but really anywhere along the course is easily accessible to spectators, as you get into Manhattan it gets very busy though. I high-fived my wife and kids at around mile 8 as we passed through Park Slope which was great and then it was easy to find them after the race too.

How’s the swag?

The swag is pretty dope. You get a nice long sleeved New Balance shirt at bib pickup. You can buy plenty of other (heavily over-priced) goodies too. Post-race the poncho is unbelievably good. They also provide a bag with water, protein milk and snacks. The medal has some serious heft, and if you visit the expo on the Monday you can get it engraved with your name and finish time.

How many stars do you give the New York City Marathon and do you recommend that others run it?

10/10 – try to make sure you run this race!

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Runner Emily reviews her experience of the NYC Marathon in 2016. Read on for her advice on hills, booking your hotel, and more!

Race: NYC Marathon – http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/

Runner: Emily M

Date: 11/6/2016

Location: New York City

Results – 4:50:24 (PR)

3 Bests – What aspects of the NYC Marathon did you like the most?

• The spectators were amazing!
• Very well organized
• The course itself was really nice!  You got to run through so many different areas and never repeated a section

Not so much – What aspects of the NYC Marathon didn’t work for you?

It was a lot hillier then I expected and it was a long walk out of the chute.  Early start to get to the bus (5:45am), but a long wait until the actual race (10:40am)

Also, the expo was nice but packed!  I didn’t get my shirt size that I wanted because I got there on Saturday afternoon but it still worked out fine

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about the NYC Marathon?

Some of the spectator signs were pretty weird but kept me preoccupied which was nice

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I stayed steady and never really felt like I hit “the wall”.  I finished slower than I wanted to but I think that was because the NYC marathon course was so hilly.  I trained for the bridges but my knees started to hurt around mile 16 so I walked at the water stops after that.

After the Queensboro Bridge, runners were dropping like flies.  I actually stopped to help a man that fell to his knees, holding his chest and saying he was weak.  Another runner helped me get him safely to a medic and then we kept going.  I put this as a highlight because it felt good helping a fellow runner in need (I just hope he was ok!). The medics were everywhere and moved quickly.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the NYC Marathon to help the next runner

Opt for the race poncho instead of bag check for after the race.  It’s a long walk either way but shorter if you get the poncho (it’s a nice fabric one that you can keep!)

If you can get there on Thursday or Friday, I highly recommend it.  We didn’t get there until Saturday and it felt like everything moved so quickly

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Fundraising is hard!!  I’m proud of what I did and it was really fun to have people yelling “Go St. Jude!”, though.

Most important course-specific knowledge to know about the NYC Marathon

You have to pick transportation to the starting line so try to pick a hotel that is close to a subway if nothing else.  It’s a 60-90 min bus ride or there are other options as well.

Watch for aid stations!  They put several right after mile markers and people just randomly stopped so you have to pay close attention

Mile 23 is rough!!  Continuous incline which felt like it took forever!

Aesthetics – is the NYC Marathon a pretty course?

Portions were pretty.  I loved finishing in Central Park!  Running over the Verrazano Bridge and getting to see the city was awesome!

Difficulty – is the NYC Marathon a tough course?

I’m not used to hills so it was challenging for me.  None were really that steep so if you’re used to hills then you’ll probably be just fine.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Extremely well run.  The app kept runners and spectators in the loop and made things very easy from start to finish

Competition – is there a strong field?

I’m guessing so.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The NYC Marathon requires you to qualify by time, get in from the lottery, or fundraise for a charity to enter. I didn’t get in from the lottery so I chose to fundraise and run for St. Jude.  It was a lot of work raising money but the experience was something I’ll never forget!  I booked my hotel fairly early and took the train in from Philadelphia.  We were within a few blocks of pretty much everything-subway, expo, Times Square-so it was easy to get around throughout the weekend.

How were the aid stations?

More than enough!

Weather and typical race conditions

My NYC Marathon race-day was 50s, sunny, a little bit of wind but not too bad.  My ideal racing conditions

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

The security is pretty strict so make sure to read all the rules.  I had my headphones and a regular belt to hold my phone but that’s it.  You can’t have any sort of camelback/backpack while running but regular hydration belts are fine.  With all the aid stations, I opted not to carry the extra weight.  They give you a clear plastic bag at the expo for race morning but won’t let you take anything else in once you get to Staten Island to the Start.

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends?

My friends/family saw me 3 times.  They took the Subway and said it wasn’t bad.  You have to pay for a VIP pass to see the finish so no one was there to see me cross the line which kind of sucked.  There were still plenty of spectators and volunteers at the end, though

How were the awards/SWAG?

A really nice medal!!

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give the NYC Marathon and do you recommend that others run it

I highly recommend this race!  It’s expensive but totally worth the experience in my opinion.  The volunteers and spectators really helped to make it a great race!

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In this NYC Marathon race report, Matt Urbanski shares his experience running the 2016 marathon and what you need to know for your race!

2016 NYC Marathon Race Report

Race: NYC Marathon – http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/

Runner: Matt U

Date: 11/6/2016

Location: New York City

Results – 313th place out of 51,390 finishers; 2:49.27

3 Bests – what aspects of the NYC Marathon did you like the most?

• Great spectators and energy on the course. This is a one of a kind marathon.
• The weather was near perfect. Cool and crisp autumn day with sunshine.
• It felt “big time”. There were nearly 52,000 runners in this race. Everything from the expo to the start area, to the finish were all huge. What an experience!

Not so much – what aspects of the NYC Marathon didn’t do it for you?

• The slow going to get to the start area nearly had Dave and me locked out of our front start corral. Granted, we should have taken an earlier ferry to Staten Island, but based on some info we received at the expo, we thought we were fine, until the lines at the ferry terminal, which lead to lines for the bus at Staten Island, which lead to standstill traffic bussing to the start….we finally got the bus driver to let us off the bus and we ran to the start area, arriving just as our corral was being closed.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about the NYC Marathon?

• Not an easy question for me to answer, but as I think about it, it seems odd that they have us start on Staten Island. It feels like such a pain to get over there for the start, whereas a start that was near the finish in Central Park may be way easier logistically. What do I know? I have to believe someone is thinking about this and there is a good reason for starting on SI, but what a hassle!

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

• I smiled a lot and kept it relatively under control throughout. I faded in the final 10k but not horribly so. I ran to my fitness, though I would have liked my fitness to have been better!

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the NYC Marathon to help the next runner

• Wear warm clothes that you can donate at the start area. There was so much standing around prior to the start. Be ready for it with food, drink, and warm clothes. We had a nice year with sunny weather. If it were rainy and cold, the long wait times for the start could be awful and totally throw off your race.
• It’d be easy to get too excited on this course. I started in the front corral and I somehow still managed to be dodging people left and right for nearly 5 miles, wondering the entire time how most of the people I was passing ever got in front of me in the first place. I tried to remember to not waste energy at this point, but it was tough because the course was so packed and the crowds so loud.

Lessons you learned about the NYC Marathon that will help you next time around

• Start my journey to start earlier. Bring more warm clothes. Bring water. Also, have a specific plan for what you’re doing when the race is over. The big lessons to learn from this race revolve less around the race itself and more around the pre and post-race logistical issues. With a race this big, it is a mad house to get anywhere. We had to walk more than a half mile just to get out of the shoot after the race was over. It was more walking after that to get anywhere one would need to go. Be ready for this and have a plan – it’ll make your day much better.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the NYC Marathon

• If you don’t run hills, then this course can be challenging. Be ready for the hills. Even with some hill training, I found the bridge during mile 15-16 to be challenging. Be ready for this. Know when the hills are too, it’ll help you be mentally ready, and will remind you to keep your legs under you for the running around Central Park near the end.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

• It’s a city, so if you don’t find cities pretty, this one won’t be pretty. However, it’s a classic city marathon that takes you through unique parts of NYC, with different things highlighting each section of the race. It was extra pretty this year due to the nice fall weather.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

• Yes and no. Rolling hills throughout, but people still run 2:07 on this course.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

• It’s organized really well. We had to decide back in July what our transportation to the start was going to be and if we wanted a checked bag or not. Everything was coded on our bibs and machine-like. That said, it was still a little crazy seeing so many people being herded along from the SI ferries to the buses.

Competition – is there a strong field?

• World class

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

• Hotels are expensive. Logistics can be challenging. Food in NY is expensive. This is not a cheap race in any way. The entry fee was even pricey relative to other races. There is a lottery for most to get into so it’s tough in that way too. There is also an auto-entry process based on previous fast times. However, everything is spelled out clearly regarding logistics and lodging and start times, etc. It just takes a bit more work on the front end to actually have a smooth, hassle-free experience on race weekend.

Aid Stations

• Lots. Water and Gatorade. There were some gels at some spots too; I don’t remember what kind.

Weather and typical race conditions 

• Excellent. However, it’s the east coast in November – it could also be awful!

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

• Nothing special. Normal road racing gear. I didn’t need to carry anything extra, apart from a few extra gels. Aid stations were sufficient.

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends?

• Wow! Spectators galore. That being said, I remember being a spectator here a decade ago and it was tough to find a spot to cheer over in Manhattan because there were so many fans lining the streets.

How are the awards/SWAG?

• A finisher’s medal. Money for the elites. And a sweet warm rain poncho if you selected the poncho option (opposed to the check bag option). That was probably the coolest thing I’ve gotten at a race lately!

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give the NYC Marathon and do you recommend that others run it

• 5 out of 5. If you can run it, do it. It may very well not be your fastest, but you’ll remember it. You’ll remember all the excitement, the huge crowds, and the overall unique life experience you’ll get by running the New York Marathon.

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