Fifty years ago, the New York City Marathon underwent a transformative change by moving its route from Central Park to a course spanning all five boroughs. Initially intended as a one-time event to mark the United States Bicentennial in 1976, the new five-borough course has since become a defining element of the race and a symbol of the city's resilience and diversity.
The inaugural five-borough marathon saw just over 2,000 participants, including 88 women, a significant increase from the race’s earlier years, which consisted of loops within Central Park and attracted far fewer runners. Bill Rodgers, who had won the Boston Marathon the year before, took the men’s title that year and remains the only man to have won the New York City race four times consecutively from 1976 to 1979. Rodgers reflected on the intensity and novelty of running across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the start, a marked contrast to the Central Park loops.
The route has evolved significantly over time but remains anchored in the city’s five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Organizers measure the course precisely to maintain the official marathon distance of 26.2 miles, a method pioneered by Ted Corbitt, considered a founding figure in modern road racing. Since 2006, the race has expanded further, transporting thousands of runners via the Staten Island Ferry to the start line, contributing to a current field size of about 60,000 runners. Women now represent nearly half of the participants, a major shift from the early years.
Sunday’s race is set to feature athletes from over 140 countries, including defending champions Benson Kipruto and Hellen Obiri of Kenya. Kipruto narrowly won last year by mere hundredths of a second in what he called a “movie-like” finish. Obiri, who set a new women’s course record in 2023, returns with intentions to defend her title. Both noted the added significance of competing in the race’s milestone anniversary.
The event’s growth paralleled changes in the city itself. Originally designed to uplift New York during a challenging period marked by economic hardship and high crime rates, the marathon now draws over two million spectators who line the streets and neighborhoods along the route. The organizers carefully selected neighborhoods to showcase the city’s ethnic and cultural diversity, reflecting the integrated roots of the New York Road Runners, the club that underpins the event. The course passes through vibrant communities such as Bedford-Stuyvesant, South Williamsburg, and Fort Greene, where cheering crowds and live music create a festive atmosphere.
Logistical adjustments have been made throughout the race’s history. For example, to reduce congestion in the Bronx at Mile 20, the 2024 course will feature a revised route that decreases the number of turns runners must navigate and minimizes some street closures.
The wheelchair division will have a compelling storyline as well. Susannah Scaroni, a two-time defending champion who gave birth to her first child just three months ago, aims for a third straight win. Fellow competitor Tatyana McFadden, a multiple-time winner herself, expressed admiration for the determination and resilience of Scaroni’s return to competition.
From its modest beginnings to the massive international event it is today, the New York City Marathon has grown into one of the world’s premier marathons, embodying both a sporting challenge and a broader celebration of community and inclusivity across the five boroughs.