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Råd og info om New York City Marathon
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N59°42´57" Ø10°9´54"
Høyde oh: 260m

 

Jeg har løpt New York City Marathon 39 ganger, hvert år siden 1978. Jeg vet at første gangs løpere har mange spørsmål, og jeg har samlet en del råd og informasjon basert på mine 39 løp (forløpig bare Engelsk):

This page is updated frequently when I have news. Several have asked me what is changed since the last version. So I will highlight changes and new text since the last update in RED. You always see the last update date at the bottom!

    General
  • First of all, ENJOY the race. It's a fantastic race with around 50,000 runners (51,278 starters / 50,773 finishers in 2017) and 2.5 million spectators. The crowds are really great, so are all the fantastic volunteers.
  • In 2011 the entrants secured a spot in the race via these sources:
    • 14%: Lottery entrants. 8-10% of those entering the lottery were lucky (14.9% in 2018).
    • 44%: Guaranteed entrants (including 9+1 (for people living in, or close to New York), 3 times not being picked in the lottery, qualified by time, completed 15+ NYC Marathons, sponsors, VIP).
    • 12%: People running for charity.
    • 30%: People buying a tour and licence from an ITP (International Travel Partner).
  • The 2018 New York City Marathon will take place November 4, 2018, starting at the toll plaza, Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island and ending at Tavern on the Green in Central Park, Manhattan.
  • For most of the runners the New York City Marthon is much more than a road race. It's about meeting people from all around the world, making new friends and having a great time. I have met people from all around the world who have become my lifelong friends. I have traveled all around USA, Canada and Australia to meet them. And several of them have visited me in Norway. I include two photos from 2016 to illustrate this. I call the one to the left "The Spirit of New York City Marathon". My good friend Lindsay from Canada caught me right after I left the Mile 18 aid station. She took my hand and gave me some inspirational words, and I did the same to her. And another friend, Rebecca, who volunteered at the aid station, was able to catch that moment. The photo to the right is from the day before the race where I met some of my friends from all around the world!
    Click on the photo to see a larger version.
  • Mile 18 - Lindsay and me
    Meeting friends

    Registration
  • General registration for the 2018 New York City Marathon opened January 15, 2018 12:00pm EST. It closed February 15, 2018 11:59pm EST.
  • There is no hurry to register when it is open:
    • If you enter the lottery your chances are the same if you enter the first or the last day.
    • If you have a guaranteed entry you can also register any time when registration is open.
    • The only reason to register right after it opens if you have a qualification time from a non-NYRR race. Then the spots are filled on a first-come, first-served bases!
    • Registration fee for 2018 is:
      • $295 for US residents
      • $255 for members of NYRR
      • $358 for international runners
      • The $11 non-refundable processing fee that has always been there, was removed from 2017.
  • Your credit card must be valid until April. If it is not valid at the time of charge, you will lose your spot!

  • How to enter
  • You can enter the race by one of these methods:
    • Enter the lottery. It will be a random drawing among all the entrants. The drawing was held February 28, 2018. The drawing is done in 3 groups: New York and surrounding, rest of USA and rest of the world. The same percentage is drawn from each group. In 2018 105,184 applied for the lottery. 15,640 were selected. That is 14.9%. In 2017 98,247 applied for the lottery. 16,211 were selected. That is 16.5%. From the 3 groups 5,145 were selected from the New York group, 6,748 from the USA group and 4,318 from the World group.
      The results from the lottery in 2018 was announced February 28, 2018!
      • Many runners wonder if there is a possibility to register for the lottery as a group, so all or none gets in. But that possibility does not exist for New York.
    • Guaranteed entry. That can be:
      • 9+1 and 9+$1K (mostly for people living in, or close to New York). You have to be a NYRR member to qualify for this option.
      • Runners who cancelled their entry to the 2016 NYC Marathon according to the guidlines.
      • Completed 15+ NYC Marathons.
      • Sponsors, VIP, elite runners.
    • Run for charity. A list of charities will be available at the NYCM web site. For most charities you have to raise at least $3,000.
    • Contact an International Travel partner. A list of those are on the NYCM web site. Usually you have to buy the flights and hotels at the same place. Most of them charge very high prices.
    • Qualify by time. Runners who have qualified throug certain NYRR races (2017 NYRR Fred Lebow Manhattan Half, 2017 United Airlines NYC Half, 2017 SHAPE Women's Half-Marathon, 2017 Airbnb Brooklyn Half, 2017 NYRR Staten Island Half, and 2017 TCS New York City Marathon) are automatically accepted. See the NYCM web site.
      A limited number of time-qualifier spots will be available to runners who meet the time standards in a non-NYRR race. These spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until the cap has been reached. If you meet the time standards in a non-NYRR race, you will be required to complete the non-guaranteed entry application, to indicate on the application that you are applying as a time qualifier, and to provide your finishing time and the name of the 2016 race. Results must be verifiable online.
      For the 2015 Marathon 3,541 runners got automatic entry based on qualification time.
      The qualifying time for the 2018 Marathon must be done January 1 2017 - December 31 2017. This is the current qualification standards:

    • Men

      Age*

      Marathon

      1/2 Marathon

      18-34

      2:53:00

      1:21:00

      35-39

      2:55:00

      1:23:00

      40-44

      2:58:00

      1:25:00

      45-49

      3:05:00

      1:28:00

      50-54

      3:14:00

      1:32:00

      55-59

      3:23:00

      1:36:00

      60-64

      3:34:00

      1:41:00

      65-69

      3:45:00

      1:46:00

      70-74

      4:10:00

      1:57:00

      75-79

      4:30:00

      2:07:00

      80+

      4:55:00

      2:15:00

      Women

      Age*

      Marathon

      1/2 Marathon

      18-34

      3:13:00

      1:32:00

      35-39

      3:15:00

      1:34:00

      40-44

      3:26:00

      1:37:00

      45-49

      3:38:00

      1:42:00

      50-54

      3:51:00

      1:49:00

      55-59

      4:10:00

      1:54:00

      60-64

      4:27:00

      2:02:00

      65-69

      4:50:00

      2:12:00

      70-74

      5:30:00

      2:27:00

      75-79

      6:00:00

      2:40:00

      80+

      6:35:00

      2:50:00

      *Age on November 4, 2018.

  • If you have a guaranteed entry you must claim it by submitting your application between January 15, 2018 and February 15, 2018!
  • Cancellation: You can cancel online on your MYNYRR profile until November 3 and in person at the Expo November 1 to November 3. Then you have a guaranteed entry next year, but you have to register and pay again. No refund if you cancel.
    If you cancel your entry in consecutive years, you are no longer eligible for guaranteed entry after the second consecutive cancellation.
    You can not cancel after you have picked up your bib.

  • Historical weather
  • The weather:
    • Here are the minimum- and maximum temeperature for the race day for each of my New York City Marathons:
    • Date

      Min temp

      Max temp

      October 22, 1978

      51F/11C

      75F/24C

      October 21, 1979

      64F/18C

      80F/27C

      October 26, 1980

      43F/6C

      50F/10C

      October 25, 1981

      40F/4C

      54F/12C

      October 24, 1982

      42F/6C

      52F/11C

      October 23, 1983

      48F/9C

      59F/15C

      October 28, 1984

      62F/17C

      79F/26C

      October 27, 1985

      54F/12C

      72F/22C

      November 2, 1986

      43F/6C

      65F/18C

      November 1, 1987

      45F/7C

      64F/18C

      November 6, 1988

      53F/12C

      67F/19C

      November 5, 1989

      40F/4C

      56F/13C

      November 4, 1990

      58F/14C

      73F/23C

      November 3, 1991

      45F/7C

      57F/14C

      November 1, 1992

      40F/4C

      51F/11C

      November 14, 1993

      54F/12C

      72F/22C

      November 6, 1994

      61F/16C

      70F/21C

      November 12, 1995

      33F/1C

      62F/17C

      November 3, 1996

      35F/2C

      49F/9C

      November 2, 1997

      47F/8C

      61F/16C

      November 1, 1998

      43F/6C

      56F/13C

      November 7, 1999

      37F/3C

      51F/11C

      November 5, 2000

      45F/7C

      52F/11C

      November 4, 2001

      48F/9C

      61F/16C

      November 3, 2002

      36F/2C

      48F/9C

      November 2, 2003

      57F/14C

      68F/20C

      November 7, 2004

      49F/9C

      68F/20C

      November 6, 2005

      53F/12C

      69F/21C

      November 5, 2006

      37F/3C

      50F/10C

      November 4, 2007

      45F/7C

      56F/13C

      November 2, 2008

      38F/3C

      50F/10C

      November 1, 2009

      49F/9C

      58F/14C

      November 7, 2010

      36F/2C

      51F/11C

      November 6, 2011

      38F/3C

      54F/12C

      November 3, 2013

      37F/3C

      55F/13C

      November 2, 2014

      41F/5C

      48F/9C

      November 1, 2015

      54F/12C

      65F/18C

      November 6, 2016

      54F/12C

      59F/15C

      November 5, 2017

      51F/11C

      61F/16C


    • The average minimum these years is 46F/8C and the average maximum is 60F/16C.
    • The warmest I have had in my 35 runs in New York is 80F/27C and the coldest is 33F/1C.
    • The weather forecast will be more reliable the last week before the race, before that it's more "guessing".
  • Here is a graphical presentation of the maximum and minimum temperatures for each year. The graph on the left shows Celsius scale, and the graph on the right shows Fahrenheit scale
  • You can click each graph to get a larger graph. Click on the bottom right on the zoomed graph to go back to normal view.

     

  • Where to stay
  • I will absolutely advise you to stay in a hotel within walking distance of the finishing line. If you stay in Staten Island you will have a LOOONG way back, and that's not what you want after finishing a Marathon. The same if you stay by the ferry terminal. It's difficult to get a taxi. Subways are crowded. So staying within walking distance of the finish is the only thing that I will advise.
  • Here is a map where I have drawn the approximate area where I will advise you to stay. It's inside the red lines. "F" is the finishing line and "H" is the hotel where I use to stay, Hilton New York Midtown.

     

  • Preparations
  • When you leave for New York, bring clothes for all weather to be sure.
  • Bring warm clothes to the start. It MAY be cold and windy. You can send it back if you are checking baggage or you can just discard it before the start.
  • Bring something to sit on to the start. It can be a newspaper, a magazine etc. The ground can be cold and wet.
  • If it's raining or recently has been raining, bring some plastic bags to wear outside your shoes before start. It's mostly grass and it can me muddy in wet weather. It's even better if you have a pair of old running shoes that you don't use any more. Use them until you enter the corral, then change to your running shoes and leave the old ones behind.
  • Bring toilet paper to the start area. They have about 1,700 portable toilets, but sometimes they run out of paper temporarily before they can refill.
  • Don't do a lot of walking around sightseeing the last couple of days before the Marathon. It can be very hard on your legs. I have experienced it myself in 1978 waking up the night before the Marathon with cramps :)

  • Confirmation Form
  • Your Confirmation Form will be available in your MyNYRR profile mid October. Log in using same username and password that you used to apply to get your Confirmation Form, which includes your start corral, wave start, bib, and more. You must download and print your Confirmation Form or email it to yourself to show it at the Expo. You have to pick up your bib in person. All runners must show state or federal government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport. Non-U.S. residents do no longer have to show a valid passport.

  • The Expo
  • The Expo is held at the Javits Center (655 W 34th st). It is open Thursday and Friday 10:00am to 8:00pm and Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Bib pickup closes at 7:00pm Thursday and Friday.
    • There are FREE shuttle buses running fixed routes to and from the Expo. See the Handbook for details and routes.
    • The subway line 7 extension opened in September 2015. The new end station is at the Javits Center! That means that you can take the subway to the Expo. Check the MTA web site for the latest information and schedules.
    • If you plan to buy clothing and souvernirs at the Expo, you should go as early as possible. Items and sizes usually sells out after a while.
    • The main place to buy Finisher's gear is at Tavern on the Green that is at the Finishing Line Monday morning from 7:00am.

    Baggage / No Baggage
  • Baggage:
    • You will be given the option to select if you want to send baggage from the start to the finish or not. You select it on your MYNYRR profile. The days in 2017 was from July 11, 2017 12:00pm EDT. The latest date for selecting was August 22, 2017.
    • If you select NOT to send baggage you will have the earliest exit from Central Park and quickest access to Family Reunion. You will receive a waterproof, wind-resistant Marathon Finish Poncho to keep you warm and dry.
    • If you select to send baggage, you will be given a plastic bag where you have to place your baggage. You collect it after the finish.
    • You can NOT change the baggage option after July 31! Of course you can decide not to send the baggage even if you selected to send it. But you will NOT be allowed to exit at the no-baggage exit. And you will NOT receive a poncho!
    • It's impossible for me to give advice about selecting baggage or no-baggage. It's a personal pregerence. I always select baggage because I travel alone and want to have my own, dry clothes after finishing. If you have family / friends meeting you with dry clothes and / or you want the poncho, you should select no-baggage.

  • Transportation to the start
  • Getting to the start:
    • You will be given the option to select the transportation. You select it on your MYNYRR profile. The days in 2017 was from July 11, 2017 12:00pm EDT. The latest date for selecting was August 22, 2017. If you don't select, you will be given transportation based upon availability. You can change transportation to any avaiable option until August 22, but most popular options will be gone. You can also change it by contacting the Runner Support Center at the Expo, but you can only change to an option that still have availability!
    • NYRR provides 3 alternatives for transportation to the start. They are all free for registered runners:
      • Staten Island Ferry. Departure location: Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan.
      • Midtown Manhattan Bus. Departure location: New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street.
      • New Jersey Bus. Departure location: Meadowlands Arena, Parking Lot 28, by the IZOD Center. No parking available, only drop-off!
    • I recommend the Staten Island ferry over the Midtown bus for most runners staying in Manhattan. Nothing wrong with the bus, it may work fine for many people. If you stay very close to the buses (42nd St. / 5th. Ave) it's easy to walk there. But the last bus leaves very early. You also have the possibility of getting stuck in traffic. That has happened to me a couple of times, and the bus ride took more than 2 hours.
    • It's easy to get to the ferry (Whitehall Ferry Terminal - south end of Manhattan) from most of Manhattan by subway. Subway from Times Square area takes less than 20 min. Check out the 1 and R subways if you are close to them. You can also take bus or taxi. The ferries run each 15 minute, they have plenty of space and many toilets. The ferry takes about 30 minutes and it's a beautiful trip passing the Statue of Liberty. At the Staten Island side there are a lot of buses waiting to take you the 3 miles to the starting area.
      • Check the MTA web site for up to date schedules.
      • If you take the subway to the ferry, I recommend you to buy a MetroCard the day before, or earlier. The lines for buying a ticket for the subway to the ferry on any subway station Sunday morning can be long, and it's absolutely possible that you will not catch your ferry. You can buy a MetroCard for pay-per-ride or unlimited 7 or 30 day MetroCard. MetroCard can be bought at subway stations and other places.
    • I advise you to take the ferry about 3 hours before your start.
    • I advise you to leave your mid-Manhattan hotel at least 3.5hours before your start.
    • If you are local and want to have somebody to drive you to the start, they can drop you off at Lily Pond Avenue, about half a mile from the start. But be aware that the Verrazano Bridge and the Staten Island Expressway closes for all private traffic at 6:45am!

    Start area / Start

     

  • Backpacks and bags (other than the clear plastic bag you will receive at the Expo) are not allowed into Fort Wadsworth or on the Verrazano-NarrowsBridge. You may run with a small waist pack, armband, wristband or fuel belt. A small waist fanny-pack is OK. Camelbak® are not longer allowed starting in 2013.
  • When you arrive at the starting area at Fort Wadsworth, go to the area corresponding to your start color (Blue, Orange or Green). Here is a map of the start area and a photo of how the start looks with the Blue, Orange and Green start. You get a larger version by clicking on the photos.

     

  • Then, get in line for toilet. The lines may be quite long.
  • A free breakfast consisting of tea, Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Gatorade Endurance products, bagels, PowerBars, and Dunkin' Donuts coffee will be available in the start villages.
  • The start consist of 4 different waves. Each wave with about 13,000 runners. It was only one wave until 2008. That year they started using 3 waves. And in 2013 it was increased to 4 waves.
  • The start times for the 4 waves are 9:50am, 10:15am, 10:40am, 11:00am (Elite women started at 9:20am). The following will be published to your mynyrr-profile: Bib number, wave, corral, color and starting time. It will be published mid-October.
  • You will not know your wave before you have to select transportation. They assign you a wave based on your pace. NYRR have never published that, but I have an idea after talking to people and heard where they were placed. These are NOT exact times, so don't trust it too much :) Also, the starting system is quite different starting in 2016. Previously every runner had to give a predicted finishing time when registering. That was the bases for the assigned start corral. From 2016 every runner who has run a NYRR race, including NYCM the last years, are automativally given a pace based on those races. That can not be edited by the runner. While those who have not run a previous NYRR race still have to give their predicted pace. That may make a difference to the times below!
    • Wave 1: -> about 3:20
    • Wave 2: -> about 3:55
    • Wave 3: -> about 4:25
    • Wave 4: -> rest
  • Each wave has 3 separate starting lines. Blue run on the right side of the upper deck of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Orange run on the left side on the upper deck. Green run on the left side of the lower deck. Blue and Green join about mile 3.2. Orange run on the other (left) side of 4th Ave until mile 8 where all join.
    • Orange and Blue both run on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn from mile 2.4 (and Green from mile 3.2). But be aware that Orange run on the LEFT side of the road until about mile 8 and Blue / Green run on the RIGHT side of the road. You are NOT ALLOWED TO CROSS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE until all join at mile 8!
    • It was 2 starts, Blue and Red, since I started running the race in 1978. Then they added the Green start on the lower level in 1988. When ING joind as a title sponsor in 2003, they changed the Red start to Orange to suit ING
    • I get a lot of emails from runners who discovers that they are in the Green start and they are disappointed. That's mainly because of two things: They think that the view from the lower deck is much worse than from the top and they have heard rumors that runners on the top deck stop to pee on the bridge, and every runner on the lower level gets wet. None of these are true! The view is exactly the same, except for right above your head. And you will NOT get peed on if you don't move over to the railing on the side and lean out. A proof of that is that I have started in Green the last 3 years even if I was in Orange. The reason is that it's less incline on the lower deck and it's less incline the first part after the bridge than Orange has.
    • I don't like the Orange start (see later). What I always do is that if I am assigned Blue start, I start there. If I'm assigned Orange or Green start, I start in Green.
    • Here is a comparison of the courses the first 3.2 miles / 5.2km:
      • Green has the least climb and it has four 90 degree turns.
      • Blue has about 30 feet / 9 meters more climb than Green. It has two 90 degree turns.
      • Orange has about 50 feet / 15 meters more climb than Green. It has four 90 degree turns.
  • Remember that Daylight Savings Times ends 2am November 4, 2018. That means that you have to set your watch 1 hour back and you get one hour extra sleep.:)
  • Each color has 6 corrals where you have to line up before you go out to the start. Your corral is printed on your registration card and on your bib.
    • There are toilets inside the corrals!
  • You can run together if you have different waves and corrals by going to the corral that corresponds to the highest bib number. The opposite is not allowed!
    • That means if you are assigned Blue start you can move to Orange and Green start in the same wave and any start in later waves. If you are assigned Orange start you can move to Green start in the same wave and and any start in later waves. If you are assigned Green start you can move to any start in later waves. (Wave 1 is a little different).
  • The entrance to the corrals close at 9:00am for wave 1, 9:40am for wave 2, 10:15am for wave 3 and 10:40am for wave 4. If you are not there, you are not allowed to start and you have to wait for the next wave! The corrals opens 8:20am for wave 1, 9:00am for wave 2, 9:40am for wave 3 and 10:15am for wave 4.
  • You have to pack your baggage and load it on the trucks before these times: Wave 1: 8:10am, wave 2: 8:50am, wave 3: 9:20am, wave 4: 10:00am.
  • Your finishing time is net time. That means that your clock starts running when you cross the starting line. It may take 5-10 minutes to cross the starting line for the last runners in each wave.

  • The Race
  • Sunrise for the Marathon day is 6:29am and sunset is 4:48pm.
  • Put you name and / or the flag of your country on the shirt. The crowds will really cheer you on using it.
  • Don't use earphones. It is allowed, but you miss the cheering from the fantastic crowds all the way.
  • If you want to take a look at the whole course, I have made 2 course videos. One is a video made from Google Street View images. You see how the course looks from the street level. The other is a 16 minute video "flying" the whole New York City Marathon course in Google Earth. Both videos contain running altitude information along the course. Both also contains real New York music. I have put the videos with high quality on my website for download. You can watch them full screen on an iPad, its GREAT! Also, when you have downloaded them, you don't need to be connected to the Internet anymore to play them.
    • You download them by going to my web site (http://runarweb.com). You switch between Norwegian and English language by clicking the flags in the upper right. Click "New York City Marathon" in the left-hand menu. Then follow the instructions to download them.
    • I hope that you like them :) Please leave some comments on Facebook or in the guest book on the web site!
  • Here is a map of the first miles of the course where you see where you can see the different colors. You can click on the map to get a larger map. Click on the bottom right on the zoomed map to go back to normal view.
  •  

  • Don't be stressed if you think you are running slowly the first mile because of all the people. DO NOT start to run zigzag to pass people. You may gain 10 seconds doing that, but it may cost you 10 minutes in the end of the race because of the energy you waste in the start. It opens up after the first mile, so no stress!
  • As said earlier, the crowds are great. They want to greet you, take you in the hand, high 5 etc. That's great, but all experience show that it can take a lot of energy if you start doing that from the start. So be careful, don't overdo it.
  • Each mile is marked and they also have big clocks at each mile. The clocks start running from the start of wave 1.
  • Each 5 kilometer is marked and also has big clocks.
  • Half Marathon is marked and has a clock.
  • Water will be available at the start, at official fluid stations every mile beginning at mile 3 and after the finish.
  • Gatorade® G Series Pro Endurance Formula™ Lemon / Lime will be available at official fluid stations every mile beginning at mile 3.
  • Fluids will be dispensed in recyclable cups. There will be tables on both sides of the course.
  • Sponges will be located at mile 17 on First Avenue.
  • Assorted PowerGels (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry-Banana, Pomegranate Acai, Double Latte, Orange Dream) will be available at mile 18.
  • Fruit will be available at the fluid stations at miles 20–23.
  • Toilets are located at every mile from mile 3. The lines for the toilets are usually much longer in the beginning of the race, so wait if you can.
  • Drink at each drinking station. It's often too late to start drinking when you feel thirsty. On the other hand, it's not good to drink too much. That can cause hyponatremia. It can dilute the sodium content of blood to abnormally low levels. I drink a little at each station, never more than a cup, often less than full. I also use to mix Gatorade and water.
  • The tables are long. It's often most traffic at the very beginning of the table, so you can save a little time by stopping a little further down the table.
  • A sweep bus runs at 6:30h Marathon time after the last wave. After the bus passes the streets open for normal traffic. The aid stations will also start to close. You are allowed to finish using the sidewalk.
  • The official end of the Marathon is 7:30pm. You are allowed to finish after that. But you are not guaranteed to be timed and recorded as an official finisher. However, you can contact the NYRR Race Scoring team to request 9+1 New York City Marathon qualifying credit for the race.
  • Move over to the side before walking. If you just stop in the middle people may run into you.
    • Watch before moving over to the side. People are coming behind you!
  • Many people talk about the Wall. But remember that he wall is in only in your head. Of course you are getting very tired. But don't even think about dropping out. Tell yourself all the way that the only option is finishing! And this is very true: "The pain you are feeling is just temporary, but the pride of finishing last forever!"

  • Details of the Course
  • I do NOT agree with the people who call the course "hilly". It's not the easiest Marathon course, but it's far from the hardest. Most of the course is very flat, with some exceptions:
    • Verrazano Narrows Bridge. That's the tallest of the bridges. It has a total elevation of about 160' (50m). The total uphill is about 0.9 miles (1.4km). The average incline is about 4.5%. But you really don't feel it much because you start at the bridge. Because of the crowds you are not able to run your own speed before you are on the top, so it's no problem at all!
    • Lafayette Avenue between mile 8 and 8.5. It has a total elevation of about 55' (17m). The total uphill is about 0.5 miles (0.8km). The average incline is about 2.5%.
    • Pulaski Bridge at the halfway point. It's short and no big deal. The total uphill is about 0.25 miles (0.4km). The average incline is about 3.8%.
    • Queensboro Bridge. That's in my opinion hard. It has a total elevation of about 80' (25m), but since it starts right before the 15 mile mark (24km) many people start feeling it. The total uphill is about 0.75 miles (1.2km). The average incline is about 3,0%.
    • Willis Avenue Bridge. It's very short, but right before the 20 mile mark. The total uphill is about 0.2 miles (0.3km). The average incline is about 3.2%.
    • The 24th mile up 5th Avenue. It has a total elevation of about 90' (30m). It's not steep at all. On a training run you would not bother about it, but after running that long it can be very hard. Many people (including me) think that is the hardest part. The total uphill is about 0.8 miles (1.3km). The average incline is about 2.7%.
    • The last 2 miles in Central Park. There are a few very short hills. But the steepest have an incline of about 4.2%.
    • Many have heard bad story about the last hill ending at the finishing line. There is no reason to worry. When you start it you see the finishing line, and you get plenty of energy from that. But some facts: It's 290 yards / 265m long. The total ascent is 9 feet / 3m. Like I said it's nothing at all.
    • The total incline on the whole course is 870' (265m)
    • But remember that most of the course is quite flat :)

  • Here is a description of every mile of the course!
    • 1st mile. Start altitude 33m / 110 feet.
    • Start at the Verrazano Toll Plaza on Staten Island. There are 3 separate starts, Blue, Orange and Green. Blue start on the right side of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, upper deck. Orange start on the left side, upper deck. Green start on the left side, lower deck. The first mile is the hardest in the race with a total elevation of 50m / 160 feet for Blue and Orange. But it doesn't feel like that since it's quite crowded in the start.
    • 2nd mile. Start altitude 78m / 255 feet for Blue and Orange - 70m / 227 feet for Green.
    • The 1 mile mark is at the top of the bridge. From there it is downhill most of the mile. At the end of the mile we reach Brooklyn.
    • 3rd mile BLUE. Start altitude 17m / 57 feet.
    • A small uphill. Then left on 92nd st. Another small uphill before we take right on 4th Avenue. That's where the Orange start joins, but Blue runs on the right side and Orange on the left side until the 8 mile mark. The rest of the mile is flat. And we reach the first aid station.
    • 3rd mile ORANGE. Start altitude 17m / 57 feet.
    • A small uphill. Then left on 92nd st. And shortly after left again at Fort Hamilton Pkwy. Downhill to 95th st where we take right. Then right at 4th Avenue and an uphill to 92nd st where Blue start joins. I don't like this extra Orange loop. Blue runs on the right side and Orange on the left side until the 8 mile mark. The rest of the mile is flat. And we reach the first aid station.
    • 3rd mile GREEN. Start altitude 17m / 57 feet.
    • Continue on the Gowanus Expressway. Quite flat. Then exit at 7th Avenue and a short uphill to Bay Ridge Pkwy. Flat to 74th st where we take left. Then left on 6th Avenue. Here is the first aid station..
    • 4th mile BLUE AND ORANGE. Start altitude 25m / 81 feet.
    • Flat on 4th Avenue until almost to the end of the mile. There we get a small uphill. The Green start joins Blue in the first part of the mile.
    • 4th mile GREEN. Start altitude 25m / 81 feet.
    • Take right on Bay Ridge Pkwy. Flat to 4th Avenue where we take right. The Green start joins Blue here. Flat on 4th Avenue until almost to the end of the mile. There we get a small uphill.
    • 5th mile. Start altitude 25m / 83 feet.
    • It starts with a small uphill. Then a very flat mile on 4th Avenue. A small downhill starts right before the end of the mile.
    • 6th mile. Start altitude 22m / 71 feet.
    • A downhill in the start and a small uphill at the end. Otherwise flat on 4th Avenue.
    • 7th mile. Start altitude 12m / 41 feet.
    • Quite flat on 4th Avenue with a small downhill midway on the mile.
    • 8th mile. Start altitude 8m / 25 feet.
    • Flat start before a small uphill at the end of 4th Avenue. That's where all 3 starts join. Take left on Flatbush Avenue and right on Lafayette Avenue. There is the end of this mile.
    • 9th mile. Start altitude 12m / 40 feet.
    • The mile starts with an uphill, about 17m / 55 feet elevation. Then the rest is downhill. All on Lafayette Avenue.
    • 10th mile. Start altitude 20m / 67 feet.
    • We take left on Bedford Avenue. It's flat for a while. Then downhill to the 10 mile mark.
    • 11th mile. Start altitude 5m / 16 feet.
    • The mile starts with an uphill. Then a small downhill and flat before a small uphill to the end of the mile.
    • 12th mile. Start altitude 17m / 55 feet.
    • Downhill the first part of the mile, then flat the rest. At the end of the mile turn right on Nassau Avenue.
    • 13th mile. Start altitude 3m / 11 feet.
    • Turn left on Manhattan Avenue. Slight uphill and flat until we turn right on Greenpoint Avenue. A short downhill (8m / 24 feet) and we turn left on McGuinnes Blvd. Flat the rest of the mile.
    • 14th mile. Start altitude 3m / 9 feet.
    • The mile starts flat. Then the Pulaski Bridge. Halfway is little over half up the bridge.
    • Halfway: Start altitude 7m / 23 feet.
    • Continue to the top of the bridge. A total elevation of 13m / 45 feet for the Pulaski Bridge. That's the end of Brooklyn and start of Queens. The rest of the mile is flat. Take left on 48th Avenue, right on Vernon Blvd., right on 10th st and right on 44th Dr.
    • 15th mile. Start altitude 3m / 9 feet.
    • The first part is flat on 44th Dr. Then left on Hunter st and left on Cresent st At the end of Cresent st a small uphill to the lower deck of the Queensboro Bridge where we take left. The 15 mile mark is a little up the bridge.
    • 16th mile. Start altitude 25m / 82 feet.
    • Continue up the Queensboro Bridge. Goodbye to Queens and hello to Manhattan. The last part of the mile is down to Manhattan. The total elevation of Queensboro Bridge is 25m / 80 feet.
    • 17th mile. Start altitude 24m / 79 feet.
    • Down from the bridge, left on 59th st, left on First Avenue. The next part is the place with the most spectators and most noise. The mile is quite flat, except from the start.
    • 18th mile. Start altitude 10m / 32 feet.
    • First avenue. Starts with an uphill, then down and flat the rest of the mile.
    • 19th mile. Start altitude 2m / 7 feet.
    • First Avenue. Flat.
    • 20th mile. Start altitude 4m / 13 feet.
    • First avenue. The first part is flat. Then up Willis Avenue Bridge that leads from Manhattan to Bronx. A total elevation of 12m / 39 feet. Left on E. 135th st to the end of the mile.
    • 21st mile. Start altitude 10m / 33 feet.
    • Take right on Alexander Avenue and a small uphill there. Then left on E. 138th st. Then they added a loop a few years ago to have the runners longer in Bronx. I don't like it. 4 90 degree turns and zero spectators. Right on Lincoln Avenue, continue on Morris Avenue, left on E. 140th st, left on Rider Avenue and right on E. 138th st. Then it's Madison Avenue Bridge. 5m / 18 feet incline. And that's the end of Bronx and we are back in Manhattan for the rest of the race. Take left on Fifth Avenue.
    • 22nd mile. Start altitude 8m / 26 feet.
    • Fifth Avenue. Quite flat. In the end right on E. 124th st and left on Mt. Morris Park W.
    • 23rd mile. Start altitude 9m / 30 feet.
    • Starts with left on W. 120th st, then right on Fifth Avenue. Flat until close to the end when an incline starts.
    • 24th mile. Start altitude 12m / 39 feet.
    • Fifth Avenue. Uphill to the Central Park entrance. By many concidered the hardest part of the Marathon since it comes so late. Total elevation of the hill is 30m / 90 feet. At the end the course enters Central Park at E. 90th st and follows East Drive. It's quite flat the rest of the mile.
    • 25th mile. Start altitude 33m / 108 feet.
    • Central Park. Up and down most of the way. Not much flat. Short hills, but can be hard.
    • 26th mile. Start altitude 24m / 78 feet.
    • Downhill out of the park to 59th st. Then right and 59th st up to Columbus Circle. 9m / 29 feet elevation on 59th st. Turn right into Central Park for the last time. A small downhill to the end of the mile.
    • 27th mile. Start altitude 21m / 70 feet.
    • Flat start on West Drive, then uphill the last 200m. It flattens a little in the end. The last hill has just 3m / 12 feet elevation. Nothing to bother about when you see the finishing line in front of you.
    • Finish. Altitude 24m / 80 feet.
  • Here is a zoomable course map that I have made in Google Maps. You can zoom in to the closest details.
  • You can see the official course map here.
  • And here is the elevation map.

  • Finish

     

  • Click on the map above to enlarge it.
  • The red line is the last 2.3 miles of the Marathon course. The green line is the walk to get the Poncho. The blue lines is the continued walk for those who checks baggage. The yellow area is the Family Reunion area.
  • After the finish there is a long, slow walk until you get out of the park. It used to take 30-50 minutes before you were out of the park and was able to meet friends and family. In 2013, with the new "no-baggage" option and one more wave, it took much less time. For me it took only 22 minutes from I crossed the finishing line until I had picked up my baggage, changed clothes and was out of the park at 81st. st! In 2015 it took me 23 minutes. The exits from the park to Central Park West are:
    • The 77th st. exit for those with no baggage.
    • The 81th st. exit and 85th st. exits for those with baggage.
  • Please keep moving forward after crossing the finishing line. Otherwise everything stops up.
  • Shortly after the finish you get your finisher medal. You can also have your photo taken with the medal.
  • Then all runners get a thermal blanket wrapped around them. This is for both those who have checked baggage and not.
  • The next is that you get a goodie bag with some food and drink. Dont stop at the first who gives out the bags. If you walk 20 yards more you will get your goodie bag much faster.
  • For those of you checking a bag, the baggage trucks are linded up along West Drive. If you are lucky you get your bag at the first truck about 0.3 miles (0.5km) after the finish. If yor bag is on the last truck you have to walk about 0.8 miles (1.2km) before you get it. The bagggage trucks are ordered according to bib color and bib number.
  • If you have checked baggage and you exit at 81st st. it's about 0.8 miles (1.2km) before you are out of the park. If your exit is 85th st. it's about 1.0 miles (1.6km) before you are out of the park.
  • If you have selected the poncho it's about 0.6 miles (0.9km) before you are out of the park. Then you have to walk south on Central Park West before you get the poncho. A total walk of about 0.7 miles (1.1km) to get the poncho.
  • Many people say that the subway after the race is FREE for all finishers. That is NOT true! So bring money, credit card or Metro-card. The reason that many say it's free is probably that they were able to ride free themselves. Security some times open the gates when the lines are getting too long. But this is an EXCEPTION, not the rule.

  • Family and Friends
  • I have made a map showing where family and friends can see you 2-4 times along the course and then meet you after the finish. You find it here.

  • Other things
  • If you want to LISTEN to a lot of my best tips for New York City Marathon, an interview with me was published October 15, 2015 as a Podcast. You can get it on iTunes (search for "Running Lifestyle") or listen to it here.
  • Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You can contact me on Facebook (Runar B. Gundersen) or send an e-mail to runar.bg@gmail.com
  • I would also like you to contact me if you have other advice that I should include in this document. It will gradually be updated :)
  • If you would like to stay in touch with other New York City Marathon runners, find friends, exchange ideas, get advice, I have just created my own Facebook Help Group. The name is "New York City Marathon 2018 Help Group".
    The link is New York City Marathon 2018 Help Group
    For the moment it's a closed group. That means that all can apply, but I have to approve. WELCOME!
  • At last: Good Luck with the New York City Marathon for all of you! You will have an experience that you will never forget :) And please talk to me if you see me in New York, in the city, at the Expo, on the way to Staten Island, at fort Wadsworth, during the Marathon or after the finish!

Runar B. Gundersen, Updated: March 3, 2018

runar.bg@gmail.com