NEW YORK — The TCS New York City Marathon will return this Sunday, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
New York Road Runners anticipates more than 30,000 people will participate in the 50th running of the race, and traffic and transit disruptions are expected all day long.
Participants will make their way along a 26.2 mile course through all five boroughs, beginning in Staten Island and ending in Central Park.
Here’s everything you need to know about the event.
What Time Does The Marathon Start?
The marathon, happening on Sunday, Nov. 7, will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Staten Island. Different groups start at different times and the final “wave” of runners will take off at 12 p.m.
What’s The Route?
Runners start in Staten Island and head over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn. From there, runners head up Fourth Avenue, along the waterfront and then over the Pulaski Bridge into Queens. The groups will then take over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, head north into Harlem via First Avenue and cross the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx. In the Bronx, they will run back to Manhattan over the Madison Avenue Bridge, down Fifth Avenue and through Central Park to the finish line.
See a detailed course map here.
Where Can Viewers Watch?
There’s many ways to watch the marathon in person or at home.
Viewers can stand anywhere along the course, it’s free and open to all. But if you want to stand at the finish line, you will need a prepaid East Side Grandstand ticket.
If you’re looking to watch from home, watch on WABC-TV. Pre-race coverage from Fort Wadsworth will begin at 7 a.m. You can also stream anywhere on the ABC App and ABC7NY.com.
How Will Runners Participate Virtually?
Typically, over 50,000 people participate in the race. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, some runners will be participating virtually.
Virtual runners will record their race within the TCS New York City Marathon app. There, they can also listen to an audio guided experience celebrating 50 years running throughout their virtual race, and earn their digital finisher certificate.
Using augmented reality, virtual race participants can even celebrate their finish line moments and “wear” a virtual medal.
Details regarding the TCS New York City Marathon app are available here.
What Streets Are Closed?
Traffic closures will begin on Saturday and continue through Saturday.
Most importantly: The upper level of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic at 11 p.m. Saturday to prepare for the race. The bridge will then be closed to all traffic between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Pulaski Bridge, Queensboro Bridge, Pulaski Bridge, Willis Avenue and the Madison Avenue Bridge will also experience intermediate closures.
STREET CLOSURES:
Saturday, Nov. 6
East 47th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue
1st Avenue between East 50th Street and East 42nd Street
42nd Street between 1st Avenue and 6th Avenue
6th Avenue between West 42nd Street and West 59th Street
West 59th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and East Drive
East Drive between Grand Army Plaza and Center Drive
Center Drive between East Drive and West Drive
West Drive between Center Drive and 67th Street
Sunday, Nov. 7
Staten Island
Richmond Terrace between Jersey Street and Bay Street
Wall Street (aka Richmond County Ballpark Driveway) between Richmond Terrace and Bank Street
Jersey Street between Richmond Terrace and Victory Boulevard
Victory Boulevard between Jersey Street and Bay Street
Bay Street between Richmond Terrace and School Road
Fingerboard Road between Bay Street and Tompkins Avenue
Tompkins Avenue between Fingerboard Road and School Road
School Road between Bay Street and Staten Island Expressway
Lily Pond Avenue between Staten Island Expressway and Father Capodanno Boulevard
McClean Avenue between Lily Pond Avenue and New York Avenue
Hylan Boulevard between Bay Street and Olga Place
Steuben Street between Olga Place and West Fingerboard Road
West Fingerboard Road between Steuben Street and Hylan Boulevard
Sand Lane between Hylan Boulevard and Father Capodanno Boulevard
Father Capodanno Boulevard between Sand Lane and Lily Pond Avenue
Verrazano Bridge
Brooklyn
Dahlgren Place between Verrazano Bridge and 92nd Street (Northbound)
92nd Street between Dahlgren Place and 4th Avenue
Brooklyn Queens Expressway (Southbound) between Verrazano Bridge and 79th Street
Gatling Place/79th Street BQE Entrance Ramp between 83rd Street and 79th Street
7th Avenue (Southbound) between 79th Street and 74th Street
74th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
6th Avenue between 74th Street and 75th Street/Bay Ridge Parkway
75th Street/Bay Ridge Parkway between 7th Avenue and 4th Avenue
Fort Hamilton Parkway between 92nd Street and 94th Street
94th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 4th Avenue
4th Avenue between 94thStreet and Flatbush Avenue
Flatbush Avenue between 4th Avenue and Lafayette Avenue
Lafayette Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and Bedford Avenue
Bedford Avenue between Lafayette Avenue and Nassau Avenue
Nassau Avenue between Bedford Avenue/Lorimer Street and Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Avenue between Nassau Avenue and Greenpoint Avenue
Greenpoint Avenue between Manhattan Avenue and McGuinness Boulevard
McGuinness Boulevard (Southbound) between Greenpoint Avenue and Pulaski Bridge
Pulaski Bridge (Southbound)
Queens
11th Street between Pulaski Bridge and 48th Avenue
48th Avenue between 11th Street and Vernon Boulevard
Vernon Boulevard between 48th Avenue and 10th Street
10th Street between Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive
44th Drive between 10th Street and Hunter Street
Hunter Street between 44th Drive and Crescent Street
Crescent Street between Hunter Street and Queens Plaza South
Queens Plaza South between Crescent Street and 23rd Street
Queens Plaza North between Crescent Street and 23rd Street
23rd Street between Queens Plaza South and Queens Plaza North
Queensboro Bridge (Eastbound)
Queensboro Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Path
Manhattan
Queensboro Bridge (Vehicle Entrance Ramp Eastbound)
East 59th Street between 2nd Avenue and 1st Avenue
East 60th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue
1st Avenue between East 59th Street and Willis Avenue Bridge
Madison Avenue Bridge (Westbound)
142nd Street between Lenox Avenue and 5th Avenue
5th Avenue between 142nd Street and 124th Street
Madison Avenue (FDR Service Road) between East 135th Street and East 142nd Street
West 124th Street between 5th Avenue and Mount Morris Park West
Mount Morris Park West between West 124th Street and West 120th Street
West 120th Street between Mount Morris Park West and 5th Avenue
5th Avenue between 120th Street and 90th Street
90th Street between 5th Avenue and East Drive
East Drive between 90th Street and Grand Army Plaza
Grand Army Plaza between East Drive and West 59th Street
West 59th Street between 5th Avenue and Columbus Circle/8th Avenue/Central Park West
Columbus Circle between West 59th Street and Central Park Driveway
Central Park Driveway/8th Avenue Approach to West Drive
West Drive between 8th Avenue Approach and 85th Street Approach to West Drive
Terrace Drive between West Drive and East Drive
Center Drive between West Drive and East Drive
West 85th Street Approach to West Drive
West 81st Street Approach to West Drive
West 77th Street Approach to West Drive
West 67th Street Approach to West Drive
Bronx
Willis Avenue Bridge
East 135th Street between Willis Avenue and Alexander Avenue
Alexander Avenue between East 135th Street and East 138th Street
East 138th Street between Alexander Avenue and 3rd Avenue
3rd Avenue between East 138th Street and East 139th Street
Morris Avenue between East 139th Street and East 140th Street
East 140th Street between 3rd Avenue and Rider Avenue
Rider Avenue between East 140th Street and East 138th Street
East 138th Street between Rider Avenue and Madison Avenue Bridge
Manhattan (Run from Bronx to Central Park)
Central Park West between Columbus Circle and West 76th Street
West 61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway
West 62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
West 63rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
West 64th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
West 65th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
West 66th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
West 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 69th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 70th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 73rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
Columbus Avenue between West 74th Street and Broadway
Broadway between West 66th Street and Columbus Circle