2011 ING New York City Marathon

The ING New York City Marathon is a race like no other. Runners hit the pavement through all five New York City boroughs and across five bridges, cheered on by more than two million spectators. Broadcast live on WNBC Channel 4, the 26.2-mile footrace is the United States' most watched one-day sporting event.

The New York Road Runners event started in 1970 with just 127 entrants and has grown into the world’s largest marathon (in 2004, 36,562 people crossed the finish line) and a New York City institution. Today, world-class athletes compete for $500,000 in prize money.

Marathon Schedule

When: Sunday, November 6, 2011

Official Starts

8:30 am -- Wheelchair Division
8:45 am -- Foot Locker 5-Borough Challenge
8:55 am -- Handcycle Category, Athletes with Disabilities
9:10 am -- Professional Women
9:40 am -- Wave Start 1
10:10 am -- Wave Start 2
10:40 am -- Wave Start 3

Prime Viewing Locations

The following spots offer prime viewing locations that are easily accessible by subway:

Mile 14: Take the E, G, V, or 7 train to 23rd Street in Queens and walk north to mile 14.5 of the course.

Mile 15: Take the 7, N, or W trains to Queensboro Plaza and walk west to the course along Crescent Street.

Miles 16-19: Take the 4, 5, or 6 uptown to East 86th Street and walk east to First Avenue to catch the runners on the First Avenue stretch. This area is always crowded with spectators lining the streets and spilling out of the bars and restaurants. Crowds tend to be slightly less dense above 96th Street.

The Big Finish: To see the actual finish, you’ll have to purchase VIP seating in the bleachers adjacent to the finish line in the park. VIP bleacher tickets are available for $75 each. It is recommended that ticketholders arrive by 11:30 for best viewing.

For $275 per person, you can hang in the Blue Line Lounge and enjoy the live race broadcast with food, beverages, and live commentary and special appearances.

Check the interactive ING New York City Marathon Course Map for more viewing locations and information.

Getting Around on Marathon Day

The New York City subway is your best bet. Check the New York City subway map for any marathon-day service advisories.

More Information

New York City Marathon Photo Gallery

New York City Marathon Course Map

New York City Marathon Traffic Advisories – Bridge and Street Closings

Start training for the 2012 New York City Marathon

Sign up for the New York Road Runners' official ING New York City Marathon e-Training program