Spectator Guide
Be a Part of It: A Mile-by-Mile Guide for Marathon Fans
“I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!” These words will send 47,000 pairs of vagabond shoes across the starting line of the ING New York City Marathon. Their 26.2-mile journey will carry them “right through the very heart of it.” But you don’t have to lace up your sneakers “to be a part of it.” Anyone can experience the magic of this great race.
If you’re traveling to the ING New York City Marathon from elsewhere, you’re in luck: The race brings out the very best our city has to offer. You’ll see New York united, excited, and energized for the big day. New Yorkers from all five boroughs and beyond come out to cheer and volunteer, making Marathon Sunday one of the most thrilling days to be in New York—don’t be surprised if you find yourself vowing to run the ING New York City Marathon yourself one day!
Anyone who’s ever run a marathon will tell you that it’s one of the most rewarding—and exhausting—experiences a person can have, and they just couldn’t do it without the full-throated enthusiasm of fans like you. What follows is a definitive guide to viewing the ING New York City Marathon. It’s everything you need to know to be the ultimate spectator!
Perfect a Plan
Anyone can watch the Marathon, but making a day of it requires advance planning. First, determine where you want to watch from (bearing in mind that you don’t have to pick just one spot). Once you’ve chosen your vantage point, map a route from your hotel to each destination. The subway will be the best way to get around on Marathon Sunday, since many streets are closed to accommodate the race. Load up your MetroCard the day before, advises Sarah Lorge Butler, contributing editor at Runner’s World and author of Run Your Butt Off. Websites like mta.info and hopstop.com can help you find your way if you’re unfamiliar with the New York City subway system.
Where to Watch
The racecourse is 26.2 miles long, and fans crowd almost every inch of it (the Verazzano-Narrows and Queensboro Bridges are closed to spectators). If you’re trying to see a friend or loved one in the pack, you may want to choose spots along one of the less densely crowded parts of the route. To catch your runner multiple times, you might start out in Brooklyn or Queens, then take the subway to see your pal uptown on First Avenue, and again on Fifth Avenue above 90th Street.
Find a Face in the Crowd
If you’ve been specific about where you’ll be waiting, your loved one may catch sight of you first. Make it easy by wearing or carrying something that a tired runner can easily see. Sighting runners can be hard, and it’s important to be patient. “People get held up for reasons that you don’t anticipate,” says Lorge Butler, “When you think that you must have missed them, wait. When you think they can’t possibly still be coming, wait five minutes more.” If you miss your runner at your first location, you may want to skip the middle spots on your route and head to the last one, to avoid missing your loved one altogether.
Be a Cheerleader
Encourage everyone you meet to come out and cheer—loudly! “Runners really feed off the spectators, and they really appreciate the fact that you are there. Cheer as much as you can,” says Steve Lastoe, founder of NYCRuns.com and the Brooklyn Marathon. Look at runners’ t-shirts to find their names, charities and home countries, and use that information in your cheering. “Make it as personal as possible, even for total strangers,” advises Jennifer Giasone, membership lead for the Black Sheep Runners. “You never know—you just might give someone a lift when they need it most!”
Outfit Yourself
The weather for first weekend in November can vary, so plan to dress for a range of temperatures. You should also have waterproof rain gear, just in case—an inexpensive poncho and a baseball cap can make a big difference. Comfortable shoes are a must when you’ll be standing on your feet for multiple hours, and sunscreen, a hat, and gloves may also come in handy.
THE MARATHON: BOROUGH-BY-BOROUGH
Staten Island
While the race begins on Staten Island, runners quickly leave the borough via the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge. Spectators are not allowed at the start, but you can catch the action by tuning into NBC4 New York.
Brooklyn
Kings County claims the most miles of any borough on the ING New York City Marathon course, stretching from Mile 2 to Mile 13. The route travels through a diverse range of neighborhoods from Bay Ridge, through the Hasidic Jewish neighborhood of Williamsburg, to Greenpoint, home to a vibrant Polish community. Most of the Brooklyn miles will have crowds, but they’ll be thinner than the ones on the lower stretches of 1st Avenue.
Queens
Runners cross into Queens via the Pulaski Bridge and exit the borough two miles later on the Queensboro Bridge. While it’s just a couple of miles, the Queens section of the course tends not to be overly crowded, and the 7 train offers easy access back into Manhattan to catch the 1st and 5th Avenue portions of the race.
Manhattan
After a hilly mile-long stretch with no spectators across the Queensboro Bridge, runners arrive in Manhattan at First Avenue and 59th Street: Mile 16. This is by far the most densely crowded part of the racecourse with spectators lined up, often five people deep. The atmosphere is electric, but if you want to be absolutely certain you catch a runner, head north on First Avenue. Crowds are thinner north of 96th Street, and you’ll find plenty of room to watch.
Bronx
The Marathon route takes a quick trip into the Bronx between Mile 19 and Mile 21, which is when many runners hit “the wall.” If you make the journey this far north, you’ll find lively spectators, and marathoners who will greatly appreciate your support at this difficult point in the race.
Manhattan (Again)
Runners return to Manhattan for the final stretch of the marathon. Miles 21 to 24 flow from Harlem, down Fifth Avenue, with crowds building as the race moves south. The route turns into Central Park at 90th Street. From here, it’s just about two miles until the finish: Crowds will be thick in the Park, and energy will be high.
CHEER LIKE A LOCAL
Many New York City residents come out to watch the ING New York City Marathon every year. Let these seasoned spectators tell you how to cheer on the runners like a native New Yorker:
Get up early. “I always enjoy cheering on the wheelchair racers, and then seeing the elite folks fly by,” says Olivia Valentine, who likes to catch the beginning of the race in Bay Ridge.
Give a goofy cheer. “My favorite thing to do is start a slow-clap for random runners (one syllable names are ideal), especially near the end of the race around Mile 25,” says Kristin Altorfer of Manhattan. “Nine out of ten times, I get a smile.”
Keep on cheering. “I like to go to Central Park late in the day to cheer for the back of the pack,” says Brooklynite Kate Smith. “They’ve been at it for hours, and there are so few spectators left to cheer them on. I like underdogs!”
Throw a party! “An amazing number of friends came over early in the morning to watch the runners come down Lafayette Avenue,” says Lola Serrano of Clinton Hill, who hosted a Marathon watching party to celebrate her birthday last year.
Make eye contact. “Look runners in the eye,” suggests Jen Giasone, of the Black Sheep Runners, “It snaps them out of their own minds for a second.”
Compliment fast fashionistas. Giasone also looks for runners wearing t-shirts and singlets from past marathons, and congratulates them on their previous accomplishments.
SECRET SPOTS
Four special places to watch the race and experience the excitement of New York City on Marathon Sunday.
The corner of Bay Ridge Parkway and Fourth Avenue where the different starts merge has always been a favorite of expat New Yorker Olivia Valentine.
John Bedard likes the intersection of Hall Street and Lafayette Avenue in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. “There’s a church on the corner that always has a chorus outside on Marathon Sunday!”
Sarah Lorge Butler says 111th Street and Fifth Avenue is an ideal locale because you can walk one block west to Lenox Avenue to catch the express train to 72nd Street, which will put you just a couple blocks from the area where you can congratulate your sweaty loved one.
Robin Redford likes to stake out a spot on Bedford Avenue, noting “[The runners] are usually still feeling okay at that point.”
