NYC Marathon Guide 2025: The Route, Start Times and More

Date & Start Times

• Race day: Sunday, November 2, 2025. FloTrack+5marathontours.com+5New York Road Runners+5

• Official start times:

  • 8:00 a.m. ET — Professional wheelchair division begins. New York Road Runners+1

  • 8:35 a.m. ET — Professional women’s open division. New York Road Runners+1

  • 9:05 a.m. ET — Professional men’s open division. New York Road Runners+1

  • For amateur/wave runners, waves begin at 9:10 a.m. onward. New York Road Runners+1

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🗺️ The Course – 26.2 miles through all 5 boroughs

• The full course is 26.2 miles (42.195 km) traversing all five boroughs of New York City: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. New York Road Runners+2Wikipedia+2

• Key segments:

  • Start at Fort Wadsworth / Verrazzano‑Narrows Bridge on Staten Island. The Sun

  • Through Brooklyn (Fourth Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, Bedford Avenue) to Queens. The Sun

  • Entry into Manhattan via the Queensboro Bridge. Wikipedia+1

  • A brief loop through the Bronx via the Madison Avenue Bridge, and back into Manhattan. The Sun

  • Down First Avenue, then onto Fifth Avenue and finish inside Central Park. The Sun

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🎯 What to Expect & Tips for Runners

• Arrive early: With staggered waves and large crowds, being early helps with warm-up, gear check, and avoiding delays.

• Transportation: Official guidance recommends using public transit and taking only the transport time selected during registration. New York Road Runners

• Course challenges: Crossing bridges (Verrazzano & Queensboro) and the final stretches in Central Park can be mentally & physically tough — practice hill repeat and bridge inclines.

• Weather: Early November in NYC can be chilly at start (possibly ~5-10 °C/40-50 °F) and warmer later. Dress in layers and use discardable clothes at the start if needed.

• Cut-off policy: Make sure you are comfortable with the pace needed — many runners find the later waves have more pressure to maintain time.

• Spectator strategy: If you have friends/family watching, good viewing spots are Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, First Avenue in Manhattan, and the Central Park finish area. SELF

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👀 What to Expect & Tips for Spectators

• The race moves through many iconic neighborhoods — good photo & cheering opportunities.

• Arrive early to secure a good viewing spot, especially near popular zones like First Avenue or Central Park.

• Transportation: Some roads/subways will be closed/altered. Use subway/commuter rail and check service changes ahead of time.

• Plan meeting points: With tens of thousands of runners and large crowds, set a clear “runner meets spectator” point and time.

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✅ Summary

• Date: Sun Nov 2 2025

• Start: 8:00 a.m. ET (wheelchair); 8:35 a.m. (elite women); 9:05 a.m. (elite men); waves from ~9:10 a.m.

• Course: 26.2 miles, all five boroughs, culminating in Central Park.

• For runners: Arrive early, know your transport plan, be prepared for bridges/hills, and dress for variable weather.

• For spectators: Choose strategic viewing spots, arrive early, check transit/closures, pick a meeting point.