The Best Parts of the New York City Marathon

Running the New York City Marathon is a bucket list race for most runners. Getting into the NYC Marathon is hard and for most people it involves entering the lottery. If you are super fast you can check out the qualifying times to enter, but for most you will need to enter the lottery and cross your fingers. Click here to learn more and check out your odds of gaining entry to the New York City Marathon.

Wondering what all the fun is about? Here is a list of the best parts of the New York City Marathon:

The starting village- It’s like an evacuation center, but not. You all take transportation out and wait for hours in a make shift village. Bond, make new friends, and hopefully the weather won’t be horrible.
Hearing Frank Sinatra sing “New York, New York” at the starting line is magical, with all the runners singing along.
The race always starts with a cannon blast. Which is pretty awesome.
Running across the Verrazano Bridge for the start is an incredible feeling. Depending on which wave you are you may be on the upper deck or the lower deck of the bridge. This bridge is actually the longest and steepest climb of the whole race.
The spectators lining the course are electric. So many people cheering you on. Especially in Brooklyn!
Running through all 5 borough is a beautiful way to tour the city.
Running across the Queensboro, around mile 15-16 is tough, but also incredible because of the view. The incline and the fact that spectators aren’t allowed on the bridge make it a little bit quiet and it takes some self motivation to push through.
The finish line at Central Park is everything, plus more, of what you would imagine.
If you don’t check a bag you get this amazing poncho.
Taking pictures all over NYC with your medal is worth every painful mile.