New York City Marathon
New York, USA · First Sunday of November
The hardest of the majors to race fast: five bridges (no crowds, plenty of wind), rolling Central Park finish, and a Verrazzano opening kilometre that climbs 40 m. You run New York for the experience — or pace the bridges honestly and surprise yourself.
Course
Elevation gain
246 m
Net elevation
-5 m
Finishers
~57,000
Month
November
First Sunday of November
Race-day weather
Median start temp
11°C
Historical range
5–22°C
Hot-year risk
Low
Early November is reliably cool-ish (2022 started at 22°C, the outlier); wind on the Verrazzano and First Avenue is the bigger variable.
Getting in
Lottery. Lottery each spring; guaranteed entry via 9+1 NYRR program or time qualifiers. Official site ↗
Pacing plans for New York City Marathon
Course-adjusted splits for every common goal — not flat even splits, but pacing that matches where this course is fast and where it bites.
Frequently asked questions
Is the New York City Marathon a fast course?
It is not considered a PR course. The course has 246 m of total elevation gain. We rate it 4/10 for PR potential.
What is the weather usually like at the New York City Marathon?
The median start-line temperature is around 11°C, with a historical range of roughly 5–22°C. Early November is reliably cool-ish (2022 started at 22°C, the outlier); wind on the Verrazzano and First Avenue is the bigger variable.
How do you get into the New York City Marathon?
Lottery. Lottery each spring; guaranteed entry via 9+1 NYRR program or time qualifiers.
Is the New York City Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes — the New York City Marathon is a certified course accepted by the B.A.A. for Boston qualifying times. Note that it is not eligible for records due to its point-to-point or net-downhill layout, but that does not affect Boston qualifying.