On a clear September morning in New York City, James Gusmer, director of timing and competition management at New York Road Runners, undertook the critical task of measuring the 26.2-mile course for this year’s New York City Marathon. Using a bicycle equipped with a Jones counter, a mechanical device designed specifically for precise distance measurement, Gusmer and his team carefully navigated the route to ensure its accuracy ahead of the 55th edition of the event scheduled for November 1.
The New York City Marathon has evolved significantly since its inception in 1970, when just 55 runners completed four loops around Central Park plus a short additional distance. By 1976, the race expanded to cover all five boroughs, growing rapidly in popularity. Last year, the event attracted more than 59,000 participants, all equipped with electronic chips to record finishing times.
Despite advances in technology, the marathon course is still measured with the Jones counter, introduced by Alan Jones in 1971. The device attaches to the bicycle’s wheel and counts wheel revolutions with remarkable precision. Gusmer explained that unlike GPS devices—which can be affected by obstructions such as buildings or trees—the Jones counter captures the actual road surface undulations runners experience. This low-tech but reliable method remains the gold standard worldwide for certifying race distances.
Course measurement is a complex and challenging process, often requiring re-measurement after any minor course adjustments or every five to ten years to maintain certification from national and international athletic organizations. Gusmer and his team cycled the route in reverse over two days, starting from the fixed finish line in Central Park and proceeding to Staten Island. This approach facilitates adjustments to the start line while keeping the finish constant.
Navigating the city streets on a bicycle involved contending with traffic, potholes, double-parked cars, pedestrian congestion, debris, and barriers. Riders often had to ride against traffic, hug curbs, or lift their bikes over obstacles to prevent false distance readings. Police escorts were provided for bridge crossings, including a midnight ride on the upper level of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the course’s longest span.
Over the years, the course has seen modifications, both to enhance the experience and to accommodate the city’s changing landscape. The route now passes through neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Harlem, showcasing New York’s transformation from industrial zones to vibrant residential and commercial areas. Several course points reflect decades of adjustment, such as rerouting to First Avenue to allow more spectator engagement, and inclusion of more of the South Bronx after local officials raised concerns.
The marathon has also become increasingly inclusive, with divisions for wheelchair and handcycle athletes and accommodations for runners with disabilities. The legacy of athletes like Dick Traum, the first person with a prosthetic leg to complete a marathon, lives on through organizations like Achilles International, which has nearly 200 registered runners in this year’s race.
In recent years, the event has expanded its support for slower runners who finish later in the day, ensuring aid stations and volunteers remain available along the course as city streets reopen. This emphasis on broad participation has turned the marathon into a widescale city celebration, combining elite competition with a community event embraced by runners of all abilities and paces.
As race day approaches, final touches include painting the blue stripe that designates the official course through New York’s five boroughs. For Gusmer, whose background includes high school track and cross-country but not yet a marathon finish, the work is both a technical challenge and a contribution to a storied event that continues to evolve while maintaining its traditional standards of precision and integrity.