New York City Marathon approaches 50th anniversary of five-borough course

The New York City Marathon is preparing for its upcoming edition, marking 50 years since the course expanded to cover all five boroughs in 1976. The event has grown from 55 finishers in its 1970 debut to nearly 60,000 runners from over 100 countries.

Former champions Abdi Nageeye and Germán Silva have shared insights on the course's difficulty, noting that the terrain can be more demanding than the Boston Marathon. Nageeye, an Olympic silver medalist, aims for a podium finish in his sixth appearance.

To celebrate the event, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York Road Runners have announced a giveaway of 350 free grandstand tickets for spectators to watch the final 200 meters of the race in Central Park. Entries for the drawing close on October 26, 2026.