"LOOP THE LAKE" The Great New York State Marathon Weekend 2026

On the first Sunday of November, the New York City Marathon covers a 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs. The race, currently branded as the TCS New York City Marathon, is organized by New York Road Runners and is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. It attracts professional runners, club runners, charity teams, and amateurs globally, with recent editions seeing over 59,000 finishers from more than 200,000 applications. Securing a spot is a challenge: most entries are awarded via lottery across New York metro, national, and international pools. Guaranteed entry is available through NYRR’s 9+1 program, charity fundraising, time qualifying, philanthropic membership, or by finishing the race 15 or more times previously. The event originated as a smaller race within Central Park, organized by Fred Lebow and Vincent Chiappetta, starting with 127 participants, approximately 100 spectators, and 55 finishers. Women were permitted from the outset, though their results were not initially official, and Nina Kuscsik was the sole female participant in that inaugural field.