The NYC Marathon Takes Over the City This Sunday

Get ready, New York — Marathon Sunday is almost here! On November 2, the city’s streets will transform into a 26.2-mile celebration of grit, endurance, and pure NYC energy.

The TCS New York City Marathon isn’t just a race; it’s a global sporting event that unites runners from every corner of the world. More than 50,000 athletes from over 100 countries will lace up to conquer all five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Thousands of New Yorkers will line the streets to cheer them on.

Hosted by New York Road Runners in partnership with over 600 charity organizations including the American Red Cross, The Fresh Air Fund, and PAWS NY, the marathon is as much about heart as it is about hustle. It’s a living, breathing symbol of the city’s diversity, unity, and unstoppable drive.

Runners start strong on Staten Island, push through Brooklyn’s block parties, cruise across Queens, tackle the legendary Queensboro Bridge, and surge north into the Bronx before the home stretch: that triumphant final sprint through Central Park near the West 60s.

This weekend, the city runs on adrenaline.

Even before the starting gun, the Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal is buzzing, decked out in Nike’s motivational marathon takeover. One ad reads, “At least you don’t have to swim.” As a Staten Islander, that one hits home, and yes, I’ll be cheering safely from my couch, far from the road closures!

So whether you’re running, spectating, or simply trying to avoid the traffic, there’s no escaping it: the NYC Marathon is the heartbeat of the city this Sunday.