The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon attracts distance runners from around the world, who put on a show of stamina and endurance for fans who line the streets of all five boroughs.
The first New York City Marathon, in 1970, consisted of running four-plus laps around Central Park. It had 55 finishers and a budget of $1,000. Forty-five years later, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, over 100,000 feet will pound the pavement through all five boroughs in a rite that is now as much identified with the Big Apple as the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. Two million people will cheer the runners who have trained for months, logged thousands of miles, and come from all corners of the globe.
Image: Martineric/Flickr
The 45th running of the marathon once again features a diverse array of athletes, including Olympians and world and national record-holders, as well as civilian runners ages 18 to 90. The race goes off the first Sunday in November.
The New York Road Runners Club, the world’s largest running organization, organizes the 26.2-mile journey from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island to Central Park in Manhattan. The Marathon provides the runners with stunning vistas as it crosses five bridges and winds through the five corners of the city, passing classic city landmarks, historical sites, and colorful ethnic neighborhoods.
From the start, the two-mile-long Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the world’s longest single suspension bridge, gives runners a spectacular view of the breathtaking southern Manhattan skyline. Runners then enter Brooklyn to run the next 12 miles of the race. The Pulaski Bridge, which separates Brooklyn from Queens, marks the halfway point of the race, but it is the Queens Borough/59th Street Bridge at Mile 15 that provides the more memorable crossing. The marathoners run north on First Avenue and cross through a corner of the Bronx at Mile 20. Re-entering Manhattan from the Madison Avenue Bridge, they pass through East Harlem down Fifth Avenue, and through the hilly southeast corner of Central Park. Turning right on Central Park South, they head back into the park at Columbus Circle for the triumphant final stretch.
The atmosphere is exciting for the spectators, who turn the marathon into 26.2-mile stadium. To see runners at their freshest, go to Brooklyn, along 4th Avenue. A quiet place to view the runners is in lower Queens, though it gets livelier at mile 15 in Long Island City. The race is most spectacular around mile 16 as the marathoners exit the Queensboro Bridge and enter Manhattan at 59th Street. The crowds are as big and as loud as they get, and they stay big and loud for the next 40 blocks along First Avenue.
By the 20-mile mark in the Bronx, the crowd is calmer. At mile 22, the marathoners are back in Manhattan at 122nd St., and the crowd is lively again for the next mile and a half along Fifth Avenue. At this point, the marathoners need all the cheering and encouragement they can get. At mile 24, the marathoners enter the park. Central Park and Central Park South are thrilling places to watch the race, but they’re crowded, so arrive early. The Marathon is an inspiring event, celebrating the triumph of the human spirit, and the possibilities of individual achievement.
Whether they finish the grueling race in just over two hours or more than six, all finishers are warmly greeted with medals to show off their accomplishment. Top winners share hundreds of thousands in prize money.
GEAR UP FOR THE 2015 TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
Whether you're running, training, or just spectating, Swiss legend Tissot has the ultimate accessory in the T-Race Touch Aluminum. The watch's synthetic strap will push you to go further thanks to its many tactile functions: measuring all times and laps with its chronograph (add/split/lap) options. If you need a little boost, just look at how fast you've been going with the logbook, which records all previous performances, accessed by a simple touch of a fingertip on the screen. You don't even have to worry about getting lost, thanks to the watch's built-in compass.
If you're looking for performance gear, including the latest footwear, check out legendary discount destination Century 21.
Show your NYC Marathon pride this weekend (Thursday 10/29 through Monday 11/2) at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Marlin Bar on Fifth Avenue and receive 15% off your food purchases! “Marathon Pride” includes NYC Marathon Gear, a 2015 Marathon Bib, or the 2015 Finisher’s Medal. Toast the runner in your life with Halloween-themed specialty cocktails, such as the Zombie, Dark N’ Stormy and Voodoo Punch, and enjoy delicious island-inspired fare in a warm and cozy setting.
For more on the marathon and its fascinating history, check out the Museum of the City of New York's brand-new exhibit, The New York City Marathon: The Great Race, which opened Oct. 20, 2015. Admission to the museum will be free on November 1st, Marathon Sunday!
