The published reference course crosses all five boroughs and includes several bridges before Central Park. The 2027 date and final course are not confirmed here; detailed plans should stay provisional.
01 Know what you are taking on
What is the race like?
Save effort for the late bridges and Fifth Avenue
The 2026 reference route keeps asking for work after halfway: bridge approaches, the Manhattan return and the rolling park finish. Start with enough control to handle those later demands.
The course, section by section
Open a section for the terrain and a practical pacing cue.
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The bridge openingFort Wadsworth · Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
A major climb and descent immediately after the start.
How to approach it Keep the first climb comfortably controlled even if other runners pass. On the descent let stride turnover rise naturally without overstriding; there is no useful prize for an unusually fast first bridge split.
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Finding a rhythmFourth Avenue · Lafayette Avenue · Bedford Avenue
Long urban sections with crowd changes and turns.
How to approach it Run your own line safely and avoid surging whenever the cheering increases. Check fuel early. The event’s atmosphere is a reason to enjoy the effort, not keep revising your target upwards.
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The transition to ManhattanPulaski Bridge · Queensboro Bridge · First Avenue
Bridge gradients interrupt otherwise more regular road running.
How to approach it Use a slower climbing split without panic, keep shoulders relaxed and return to rhythm smoothly. The sudden crowd noise entering Manhattan can tempt you to accelerate before your breathing has recovered.
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The revised Bronx sectionEast 135th Street · Alexander Avenue · East 141st Street · Third Avenue · East 138th Street
Bridge approaches and several direction changes.
How to approach it Follow the published course for your edition, not an old memorised turn sequence. Keep movement predictable through corners and give yourself a simple next task, such as the next fuel or drink, rather than counting every street.
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The final Manhattan workFifth Avenue · Central Park · Columbus Circle
The late roads and park are still rolling.
How to approach it Save a little concentration for the park instead of deciding the marathon is complete when you reach it. Increase effort progressively only if you are still in control; run through the actual finish before stopping.
Official maps & course details
The following course details are from the edition shown. They help you understand the route while your edition’s final information is being prepared.
- Previous-edition map
- The available official 2026 map includes the East 141st Street Bronx revision.2026
The linked 2026 route is a planning reference. The 2027 course and race-day arrangements may change.
02 Choose your approach
Find your race strategy.
Choose your goal. These are our pacing suggestions, based on the published course, rather than organiser instructions.
My first finish
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Let the first bridge feel controlled even when runners pass you. The descent does not need a forced long stride.
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Settle through Brooklyn without matching every burst of cheering with a burst of pace.
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Carry your practised fuel and use the reference gel depots as a supplement, not a guarantee.
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Allow slower bridge splits. Return smoothly to your rhythm instead of sprinting to correct them.
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Keep something for the late Manhattan approach and the park; reaching Central Park does not mean you have finished.
A PB or time goal
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Use a course-aware target with slower climbing splits and controlled descents.
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Keep the opening patient; weaving and racing the first bridge spend effort you may want later.
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Treat the Queensboro crossing and the noise entering Manhattan as an effort check.
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Use official distance markers alongside the watch in built-up sections.
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Build the final push only when the remaining terrain and your condition support it.
If the weather or your pace changes
Prepare a flexible kit list rather than guessing the 2027 weather months in advance. Bridges can feel more exposed than neighbouring streets, so practise maintaining effort when wind changes without treating a slower split as failure. Wait for the actual alert system and permitted-items rules before final packing. A long start-area wait may require layers and food timing different from a local race. Keep travel and accommodation refundable where practical until the official date and entry are secure; a traditional calendar pattern is not a confirmed race announcement.
03 Know what is on the course
Drinks, fuel & toilets.
2026 course facilities. These are a planning reference, not a confirmed 2027 station plan.
| Where | What is listed | Plan around it |
|---|---|---|
| Miles 3–25, except 5, 7 and 9 | Water and lemon-lime Gatorade Endurance | Cups at tables on both sides. Carry your own practised fuel. |
| Miles 8, 14, 17, 20 and 23 | Self-service water refills | Use the official refill points for your own suitable bottle. |
| Miles 12 and 18 | Maurten Gel 100 and Gel 100 Caf 100 | Supplies are limited and not guaranteed. Caffeinated and non-caffeinated versions differ. |
| Mile 21 | Bananas | An option to rehearse before race day, rather than a reason to change a working fuel plan. |
| Every mile from mile 3 | Portable toilets, including accessible units | Locate your edition’s start and finish facilities separately. |
More published facilities and planning notes
2026 station information · Check the final 2027 guide for changes.
- Drinks provision
- Water and lemon-lime Gatorade at miles 3–25, except miles 5, 7 and 9.
- Fuel provision
- Maurten gel depots at miles 12 and 18 and bananas at mile 21. NYRR advises carrying your own gels because supplies are limited.
- Toilet provision
- Toilets, including accessible units, and medical stations from mile 3, approximately every mile.
Turn the station list into your plan
Mark the stops you expect to use and the fuel you will carry. If you use a gel that needs water, pair it with a published water point. Practise the products and cup or bottle format before race day; you do not have to try every item offered.
04 Before the start
Your race morning.
Times are local to the event. Work back from your own wave, allowing for the walk, toilets and bag drop.
Your allocated start-wave time is not listed here. Use your entry email and final runner instructions for the time and assembly deadline.
Your allocated wave, event emails and final runner instructions take priority. Read the guide for your distance before travelling.
05 Make the day work together
Supporters & getting around.
Plan your support
Treat any Brooklyn/Manhattan viewing itinerary as a reference idea until the 2027 spectator plan is published. Confirm restricted bridges, subway access and the actual finish exit before promising repeat sightings.
The places below are viewing ideas from the linked route or spectator guide. Use your edition’s access map for barriers, permitted crossings and any crew restrictions.
Brooklyn public streets
The organiser’s 2026 guidance allows most course-side viewing from mile 3. Choose a permitted pavement on your edition’s map.
First Avenue / Fifth Avenue
Possible Manhattan viewing bases from the published course. Check crossings and finish-area restrictions before planning multiple sightings.
2026 spectator guidance; confirm your edition
Official spectator or route information
Make the cheer easy to find
Agree a named point, the side of the road and your likely arrival window. Share your bib number for official tracking. Pick a separate reunion beyond the finish exit and a backup if the phone signal is poor.
Getting there and getting home
- Transport to Staten Island
- Use your assigned NYRR transport. The published 2026 options are ferry or official buses; a ferry journey includes onward transport from St George to Fort Wadsworth. Confirm the arrangements for your edition.2026 transport reference
06 Before you book
Entry, fees & time limits.
The 2027 drawing and guaranteed-entry claim dates are still to be announced. Charity partners are due in spring 2027 and tour operators in early 2027.
What you need to enter
- Time qualification
- Eligible 2026 NYRR qualifying performances can earn guaranteed entry. Non-NYRR qualifying times have limited places and do not guarantee acceptance.
- 9+1 route
- NYRR members completing nine eligible races and one volunteer event in 2026 may claim non-complimentary 2027 entry; membership must be active by 31 December 2026.
- Other routes
- Published routes include 15+ finishes, qualifying 2026 cancellations, selected virtual guaranteed entry and philanthropic membership.
- Member second chance
- Eligible active NYRR members applying to the general drawing also enter the member second-chance drawing; dates remain unannounced.
Stay in the loop
Email me event updates.
Spend more time training and less time checking. Get the key updates for your race, straight to your inbox.
07 Make your training relevant
Practise for this course.
One thing to rehearse
Include suitable hills late in longer runs and practise carrying your own fuel. Keep edition-specific bookings flexible.
08 Put your plan together
Useful before race day.
Plan your pre-run fuel
Explore meals and snacks around the time you have before running.
Make race fuel feel familiar
Understand how to practise taking carbohydrate during longer runs.
Arrive ready, not worn out
Understand what changes in the final weeks before a marathon.
A plan that fits your life.
Running, strength or both, with feedback and adjustments as your training develops.
Official race information
Use the organiser’s information for current entry terms, the published route and your final runner instructions. Course resources show their edition where it is known. Pacing and training suggestions are The Runner’s Journal’s guidance and should fit your experience, health and conditions.