NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- New York City’s marathon season is in full swing, with runners clocking miles in flashy gear from Central Park to Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Joggers are racking up more than just steps. They’re also spurring a growing economic impact by boosting New York’s labor income, tax revenue and business activity.
The city’s running boom generated an estimated $934 million for the local economy in the fiscal year through March, according to New York Road Runners, which puts on the TCS New York City Marathon and other races. That’s up 58% from the comparable period five years earlier, more than double the increase in consumer prices.
“What has happened with running in the last five years or so, since the pandemic especially, is now people are using running not just as a form of exercise, but it’s a form of therapy,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, the organization’s chief executive officer. “It’s just become a really big part of the social fabric of the city.”
Last year’s marathon alone generated $692 million, more than twice as much as in 2019. Driven in part by out-of-town visitors, the tally included $287 million spent on accommodations and dining and $19 million on local transportation. This year’s marathon is set for Nov. 2.
Businesses have rushed in to capitalize by offering runners accessories, training apps and group runs. There’s even a code for New York runners to wear clothing of a specific color to events to signal that they’re single and on the dating market. Sneakers are flying off the shelves.
Running is at “the center of a lot of people’s social lives, especially younger people who are joining these clubs that are increasingly growing and they’re meeting people through running,” Simmelkjaer said. “They’re meeting their friends and they’re meeting boyfriends and girlfriends through running as well.”
New York Road Runners hosted 34 races between April 2024 and March 2025, drawing more than 291,000 participants and over a million out-of-town runners, spectators and guests.
Training programs have also surged. New York Road Runners’ training, offered in partnership with Runna, a coaching app launched after Covid, now includes more than 4,000 participants through in-person sessions across five city parks. Another 6,000 use it virtually, a 94% increase from the previous year.
“The barrier to entry is so low,” Simmelkjaer said. “You just need a pair of running shoes, right?”