TCS New York City Marathon Course Experience Video Series
This year, as New York Road Runners celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first 5-boro New York City Marathon, we’ve created a series of videos that highlight the iconic route from the start in Staten Island to the finish in Central Park.
The 5-boro marathon route was conceived in 1976 to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial. Up until that year (1970–1975), the New York City Marathon took place in Central Park, with a small band of hardy competitors—mostly locals—completing four-plus hilly loops.
The trailblazing founders of the 5-boro race created something entirely new, a course where, in the words of Ted Corbitt, “the city itself would be a participant.” That route has endured ever since, with very few changes—a testament to the founders’ vision.
This video series takes runners on a borough-by-borough journey that highlights the course’s extraordinary features—including five bridges, a dozen city parks, commercial thoroughfares, and quiet residential streets.
Each installment features borough-specific historical information, including interviews with some of those who helped build the course and ran that first year, and others—NYRR staff and volunteers, plus city agency partners—who have made each race subsequent happen and witnessed the fascinating evolution.
These riveting details are paired with expert advice from New York Road Runners coaches, providing viewers with insights and strategies to bolster their confidence for race day—including guidance on nutrition, pacing, mental toughness, running form, and more.
Check out the first episode below, and stay tuned for more episodes!