NYC Marathon Weekend Underway as City Finalizes Spectator Rules and Tracking Guidance

Overview

• Race-week anniversary programming and the Marathon Expo are running this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course and to give the public places to celebrate before Sunday.
• The city closed entries to its finish-line grandstand lottery on Oct. 26 and said winners will be notified after the drawing, a move meant to broaden access to paid seating at the Central Park finish.
• Organizers have finalized spectator rules and route notes that bar fans from viewing on the Verrazzano and Pulaski bridges and that reflect an updated Bronx routing through Mott Haven.
• Officials and guides advise using the NYRR app for live runner tracking and to screenshot wave start times and projected splits because heavy crowds can make cell service unreliable near First Avenue and the finish.
• The elite field includes defending champions and high-profile entrants such as Marcel Hug, Benson Kipruto, Hellen Obiri and U.S. record-holder Connor Mantz, giving spectators named athletes to follow on Sunday.