Here is the map that I have made for people watching the New York City Marathon. It should be easy to see the runners 2 times on the course, also 3 and 4 times is possible. Some explanations:

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.

The map to the right is an overview showing all the Marathon course. The map to the left is a blow-up of the red rectangle on the map to the right.

Spectator map Manhattan

Spectator map overview

• The red line is the marathon route.
• The only way to see the runners crossing the finishing line, is to buy Grandstand tickets. They usually cost $50 per person. But still, if you have a ticket, you can not meet the runners after they finish until they are out of the Runners Only Are (see below). They can NOT go back to the Grandstands.
• The blue line is the walk after the finish to get out of the park and get the baggage if you have checked it. It is packed and slow.
• This walk is ONLY for runners, no family will have access there.
• The runners exit the Park at 77th st.
• The runners exit the Runners Only area at one of the E (76th st., 74th st. or 69th st.). They can also follow Central Park West south to the Family Reunion Area and exit there.
• The Family Reunion Area is on Central Park West between 63rd st. and 66th.st. It usually takes 20-40 minutes from the runner cross the finishing line until they get to this point. Instead of meeting at the Family Reunion area (that can be crowded), you can also agree upon meeting at a street corner, a restaurant etc. outseide of the Runners Only Area that you pick before the race.
• S1 and S2 are two good points for family and friends to see the runners. They have plenty of time to walk from S1 to S2 while the runner is in the Bronx. The reason why I recommend to go north on 5th Avenue to S2 instead of just standing where you hit 5th Avenue is that there is an almost 1 mile long hill ending right after S2. Most runners find this the hardest point of the course and will be happy if you cheer them on there. S1 is around mile 17.5 and S2 is around mile 23.5
• I do NOT recommend to be in the start of First Avenue, between mile 16 and 17. The reason is that it's the most packed area on the course. You will have problems getting to the front seeing your runner.
• After seeing the runners at S2 they can followone of the 2 green routes to meet the runners after they finish.
• If you follow the green lines, you don't have to cross the Marathon course. You go under the route.
• You can also cross the Park using 79th st. Transverse.
• The blue striped area in the park and west to Columbus Avenue is a "runners-only" area. Non-runners cannot access that area.

There are SO many people out cheering, so it's important that the friends / family agrees with the runner before the race exactly where they will be to cheer. Otherwise, it may happen, that the runner don't see them. Also, agree which side of the street. It may help if the spectators carry a flag, a sign or something that's easy to see.

You also have the possibility to see the runners 1 or 2 times in Brooklyn before going to the points that I have described in Manhattan. Then you are able to see the runners 3 or 4 times on the course. There are several options, taxi, bicycle, subway and more. However, I will only describe how to use the subway.

The safest is to see the runners one time in Brooklyn. Then you don't have to change subways. You can take the 4-subway from Manhattan to Nevins St. in Brooklyn. Then you are right on the course at the 8 mile mark (corner of Flatbush Ave. and Lafayette Ave.). This is B1 on the right map. The subway from for example 59th St. in Manhattan takes about 20 minutes. After seeing the runners there, you take the 4-subway back to Manhattan to 86th. St. Then you see the runners at my point S1, at about 17.5 miles. You should have plenty of time to get there, the subway takes about 25 minutes.

If you want to see the runners twice in Brooklyn, you can leave early for Nevins St. There you change to the R-subway at DeKalb Ave. and take the R-subway to 77th. St / 4th. Ave. at mile 5 and see the runner some place between mile 3 and 5. That is B2 on the right map. Then you may have a problem getting back to mile 8 in time to see them again, so I don't recommend that.

In addition, you HAVE TO check the subway schedule the day before to see if there are any problems and make a note of the schedule. You can do that on the MTA web site.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I have run the New York City Marathon 43 times, so I should be able to answer many questions. Send me an email (runar.bg@gmail.com) if you have any comments or suggestions for improvements to the map.

GOOD LUCK!