Everything you need to know about the 2024 New York City Marathon

For more perspective on its size and appeal, a total of 51,453 participants from 148 countries finished the New York City Marathon in 2023. Those are quite some figures.

When is the 2024 New York City marathon?

This year, the race will be held on Sunday 3 November.

Where and when can I pick up my bib?

You’ll need to collect your race bib in person from the New York City Marathon Expo, which will be held in the Jacob Javits Convention Center (Halls 3B, 3D, and 3E). This is located on 11th Avenue at West 36th Street in Manhattan.

You must select a date and time to pick up your race bib via your NYRR account – be sure to do so before 4pm ETC on Saturday 2 November. You can pick up your bib from the Expo at the following times:

• Thursday 31 October: 10am-8pm
• Friday 1 November: 10am-8pm
• Saturday 2 November: 9am-5pm

What time does the race start?

This year, wheelchair athletes will start at 8am, handcyclists and select athletes with disabilities at 8:22am, professional women at 8:40am and professional men at 9:05am.

As a runner in the mass participation race, you’ll be allocated to one of five waves, each of which contains six corrals. If this sounds confusing, don’t worry – your race bib will indicate your start wave and corral (or pen) and be one of three colours (blue, orange or pink) to help you find your way. The first wave sets off at 9:10am and each subsequent wave starts 35 minutes after the previous one. The last wave starts at 11:30am.

It’s worth noting that daylight-saving time ends at 2am on Sunday 3 November. Although your phone should automatically change the time, if you are staying in a hotel and relying on a clock, don’t forget to set it back by an hour (and perhaps ask for an alarm call just in case)!

Where is the marathon start line?

Runners will wait to start the race at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. The colour of your race bib will determine your start village here and, should you need help, there are plenty of signs and volunteers to guide you.

To get to Fort Wadsworth, you can take the Staten Island Ferry, the Midtown Bus or the New Jersey Bus. If you booked official race transportation to the start before the registration deadline (11:59pm ETC on Tuesday 10 September), you will find details of your booking in your NYCC account.

Although you’ll be waiting for a fair while in your start village on race day, there are plenty of toilets on site, as well as snacks, coffee, water and Gatorade.

Where can I drop off my bag before the race?

You can check in a bag before the race at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November, from 9am-5pm. (To do so, however, you must have registered for bag check in your NYRR account by 11:59pm ETC on Tuesday 10 September.) You can then retrieve this in the post-finish in Central Park West (between West 70th Street and West 71st Street) after the race.

Runners can’t check a bag at their start village on race day.

What is the New York City marathon route?

This iconic marathon passes through all five boroughs of New York City.

Starting on Staten Island, the route then takes runners over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and into Brooklyn. The next 11 miles or so weave north through the western side of the borough and up Fourth Avenue before heading to Queens, over the infamous Queensboro Bridge and then onto Manhattan. Then runners go north up First Avenue, dip into the Bronx and head back to Manhattan for the final stretch in Central Park.

You can download a map from the official race website here.

Runners must pass along the Queensboro Bridge – a particularly taxing part of the route

Will there be nutrition and water on the course?

There will be plenty of water and Gatorade stations along the course. These will be located at every mile from mile 3 to mile 25, except at miles 5, 7 and 9.

Science in Sport energy gels will also available at miles 12 and 18. Bananas will be available at mile 21, too.

Is there a race cut-off time?

Sweep buses will follow the marathon route at a 7-hour marathon pace – which equates roughly to 16 min/mile – after the final wave sets off at 11:30am. If you need to drop out of the race for any reason, buses will be nearby to transport you to the finish area. The race officially ends at 10pm.

How do I defer my place if I’m injured?

You can log in to your NYRR account and cancel your participation in this year’s race before midnight on Saturday 2 November. Although your fee is non-refundable, you are eligible for guaranteed entry the following year.

How do I enter the 2025 New York City Marathon?

The popularity of the New York City Marathon means that many places are allocated by a ballot. Details of the ballot for the 2025 race are not yet available, although it is likely to open in February or March next year.

Meeting a qualifying time is another one way to secure a place in next year’s race – you can find the qualifying standards here. Submitting a qualifying time does not guarantee an entry, though.

Other options include running the 2025 New York City Marathon for an official charity partner, or by registering for a place through an official international tour operator.

If you live in or near New York City, you can also earn a guaranteed place by participating in the 9+1 program. This involves registering for and completing nine NYRR qualifying races, and volunteering at one race, in a single calendar year.