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Spectators: Here’s Where You Should Watch the New York City Marathon

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Spectators: Here’s Where You Should Watch the New York City Marathon

Sure, the people running the New York City Marathon are great. But if we’re being honest, it’s you, the spectators, who really do most of the work. The runners just put shoes on and flit around the city on a clearly marked, predetermined path. Volunteers hand them food and water. They get a medal at the end.

But the spectators! You have to brave subway systems, blocked roads, and hordes of fans while traversing the five boroughs. No one is giving you food. No one is giving you a medal. Being a marathon spectator is a difficult and unsung task (especially in NYC), but I’m here to make it just a smidge easier. Here are all my tips, tricks, dos and don’ts for the New York City Marathon.

Where to stay during the New York City Marathon

The city is full of a nearly-infinite number of hotels and Airbnbs, so the world is your oyster—but here are a few thoughts.

If you’re staying with a runner, you’ll probably want to be near either the start or the finish so they’ve got a short commute in at least one direction. That means either the Financial District (which is close to the Staten Island Ferry, which gets runners to the start) or the Upper West Side or Hell’s Kitchen (near the finish). I personally suggest something in Lower Manhattan because it will be a little less chaotic post-race and calmer the night before. Staying near Times Square does not get you off to a zen beginning.

If you aren’t staying with a runner, that frees you up a bit. Downtown Brooklyn is a bit more out of the way but will make getting to your first viewing locale easier.

Because the race is on a Sunday, I’d suggest staying until at least Monday to avoid traveling post-race. But if you must leave Sunday after the race, most NYC hotels will store your bags for you in the lobby after checkout, so you don’t have to drag them with you on the course.

Where to spectate the New York City Marathon

This is the biggie. If you plan well, you can see your runners at least four times on the course. Here are the best spectator spots broken down by borough as the race goes on. Use the official New York City Marathon course map to follow along.

Staten Island

The race starts on the far end of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, but there are no spectators allowed in that area.

Brooklyn

Nearly the entire first half is in Brooklyn, so there are plenty of viewing options

  • Mile 4/5: Due to different paths coming off the bridge, I’d suggest planning your first viewing point around Mile 4 on Fourth Ave. Fourth is conveniently located on the R and N Subway lines (Bay Ridge Ave., 59th St., and 53rd St. are all good stops), so it’s easy to get to. Pro tip: Get there early and stand on the East side of the road, so you won’t have to try and cross over to get to the subway heading back into Manhattan.
  • Mile 8: If you’re quick, you can jump on either the R or N trains and take one to the Atlantic Ave stop to catch your runners again here. This area is a hub for a ton of subway lines, so it’s easy to transfer here.
  • Mile 12/13: Getting from south Brooklyn to north Brooklyn can be a bit of a thankless errand, but you can take the G train from Hoyt-Schermerhorn to the Nassau Ave or Greenpoint Ave stops to catch your runner as they head through Greenpoint.

Queens

Runners aren’t in Queens for very long as they cut through Long Island City, but you can catch them as they make the turn across the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan.

  • Mile 14: If you skip the north Brooklyn viewing area, you’ll probably have the time to take the N train (it’s express and runs faster than the R) into Manhattan and back out into Queens. Get off at the Queensboro Plaza stop, and then hop back on.

Manhattan Round One

This is the most densely packed part of the course, so if you want a good spot get there early.

  • Mile 16/17/18: The runners head up First Ave for several miles, so there are plenty of spots to watch from. If you’re coming from downtown Brooklyn, take the 4 train from Atlantic Ave to 59th Street, then transfer to the 6 train and get off at literally any stop between there and Harlem. If you’re heading in from north Brooklyn, you’ll have to walk to the L train at Bedford Ave, take it to Union Square and transfer to the 6. If you’re coming from Queen’s get back on the N or R, take that to Lexington Ave/59th Street, and transfer to the 6.

Bronx

Runners only spend a short stint in the Bronx, and it’s a bit out of the way for spectators. But fans are sparse up there, and it’s the hardest part of the course, so cheering is noticed and appreciated.

  • Mile 20: Take the 6 train to 3rd Ave/138th Street. Hop off. Cheer. Hop back on.

Manhattan Round Two

The marathon’s final five miles head back toward the Central Park finish, and you will not want to miss them.

  • Mile 22/23: Wander over from First Ave to Fifth Ave to catch your runner as they push through the tough miles before the end.
  • Mile 24: If you enter Central Park from the east, you can watch the runners fairly close to the end without the crowds on Central Park South. This is my go-to spot for a final encouraging scream session.
  • Mile 25: Southern Central Park is the closest you can get to the finish as a member of the general public but this is extremely crowded, so if you want to watch from here, you need to arrive early.
  • The finish: Due to increased security, you can’t watch the finish unless you pay for grandstand seats, which can be hard to come by, but may be worth it to see the emotional conclusion of such a long journey.

How to get around NYC during the marathon

Traversing the city can be complicated. Here are your best options.

Subway

The easiest way to crisscross New York with minimal hassle is to take the Subway. I’ve outlined all the stops above; maps are readily available online and in each station; and thousands of New Yorkers go to the same viewing destinations, so you can probably just glom onto them.

Citi Bike

If you are looking to see your runner five, six, or seven-plus times, a bike is the way to go. They allow you to nimbly follow the marathon route, and if you don’t have your own, Citi Bikes are easy to rent, hop on, and hop off. However, you will have to contend with road closures.

Bus/Car

Avoid either of these options due to road closures and lack of parking, but if you’re just looking to get from Brooklyn to Queens, this could be your safest and easiest bet.

What to wear when spectating the New York City Marathon

Wear layers

New York weather in early November can vary a lot from year to year, so check your forecast. I’ve watched the race in many different conditions, from rain and wind to blazing sun to frigid cold. Wear plenty of layers that you can take off and put back on when needed.

Wear comfortable shoes

You’ll be walking and standing quite a bit, so put on your best pair of walking shoes.

Bright colors

Even if you don’t wear bright-colored clothing, you should tell your runner ahead of time what you’re wearing so you’re easy to pick out in a crowd.

Sunglasses

When you’re scanning the crowd for a runner, the glare from the sun can be brutal.

What to bring to spectate the NYC Marathon

Signs

The bigger and brighter the better. Think something encouraging, something funny, or even a giant fathead of your runner. Anything to lighten the mood and make it easy for them to see you.

A cowbell

Make some noise!

Snacks and water.

While there are certainly places along the course to buy these, it’s easier if you have them with you.

Where to meet up after the race

The finish area will be insanely busy. Trying to find someone in that crowd is pure chaos, especially if your runner doesn’t have a phone. Decide on a post-race meetup point before the start, and then be ready to wait there a bit for your runner to slowly hobble on over. A few blocks from the finish is usually a safe bet.

How to support your runner(s) during the New York City Marathon

Cheer loudly

It’s crazy how much your encouragement can lift your runner’s spirits, especially in the last few miles.

Grab their clothes

If it’s a cold morning, your runner may want to start the race with a hat, gloves, or an extra layer. New York Road Runners (NYRR) donates all clothing left on the course to a good cause—but if there’s a particular piece of gear your runner doesn’t want to toss, they can hand it off to you at an early viewing point.

Take pictures and videos

You are the documentarian of this incredible accomplishment. Take lots of pics and videos while they’re running and then offer to take plenty more post-race. We’re looking for some good Instagram content, and that means you need to get all the best angles—pre- and post-shower.

How to track your runner during the marathon

Download the New York City Marathon App ahead of time. You can then search for runners by name or bib number and follow along on race day.

On race day, the app will track when their bib crosses key mile markers, so you’ll be able to see where they are on the course. You can also sign up for notifications so you don’t miss a single split. However, the app isn’t a live tracker. It will only tell you where the runner should be based on their pace in the previous race segment. That means if they speed up, they’ll arrive sooner, and if they slow down, they’ll lag behind where the app tells you they will be.

If you want to track your runner’s actual location and they have their smartphone or smartwatch on them, use the real-time location feature on your smart device (Find My Friends for Apple, Google Trusted Contacts for Android). While this won’t give you the official results, it will let you know where they actually are.

Miscellaneous tips and tricks for the best spectating experience

Get a bagel

New York City has the best bagels in the world. You owe it to yourself to eat at least one while waiting for your runners to pass by.

Use your runner’s first and last name when cheering

You should cheer for everyone, not just your runner. But when you do cheer for your runner, call them by their first and last name. Many New York City Marathon runners put their first name on their shirt so spectators will shout for them along the entire course. To ensure your runner knows you’re cheering for them, use their last name too.

Stand by an entertainment station

Enjoy the music and fanfare of DJs, marching bands, folk choirs, and everything in between.

Book reservations ahead of time

After 26.2 miles, your runner will want to eat—but so will the other 50,000 runners. Don’t scramble for a table, reserve a prime location in advance.

Be inspired

Maybe you’ll be the one running next year, so take it all in!

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