NYC Marathon hits 50 years with 60,000 runners

The New York City Marathon will start with approximately 60,000 athletes on Sunday, a figure that stands in stark contrast to the just over 2,000 competitors who began the first five-borough edition in 1976. This expansion marks a fundamental shift in the scale of the event, which has evolved from a local celebration into a global sporting spectacle over the last five decades.

The race originated in 1970 as a loop run entirely within Central Park. For its first six years, participants completed the distance by circling the park. In 1976, the course was altered to include all five boroughs, a change made to coincide with the U.S. Bicentennial and to provide a boost to the city’s morale during a period of economic strain. This structural change redefined the race for the modern era.

Bill Rodgers won the inaugural five-borough race in 1976, just one year after his first Boston Marathon victory. He went on to win the New York title three more times, securing championships in 1977, 1978, and 1979. Rodgers remains the only man to hold four titles in the event's history.

Rodgers described the 1976 experience as intense and distinct from his previous training environments. He noted that the runners were nervous about starting on the Verrazzano Bridge, a location unfamiliar to them compared to their usual routes in Central Park. He observed that while some aspects of the sport remain consistent, the competitive field has become increasingly global.

Sunday’s race will feature participants from more than 140 countries. The men’s race includes Benson Kipruto of Kenya, who is the defending champion. Kipruto won last year by a margin of three-hundredths of a second over Alexander Mutiso. He has reviewed the footage of that finish multiple times, noting that the closeness of the race was surprising even to him.

In the women’s division, two-time champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya is set to defend her title. She set the current women’s course record in 2023 with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds. This performance was nearly three minutes faster than the previous record of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 49 seconds, which was set by Margaret Okayo in 2003. Obiri stated that her primary objective on Sunday is to secure another victory.

The course will undergo a minor adjustment in the Bronx at mile 20. This is the first route change in 15 years. The modification reduces the number of turns in that section from seven to five, a logistical shift intended to simplify the running path and ease street closures for local residents and traffic.

The wheelchair category features a notable return. Susannah Scaroni, the two-time defending champion, will compete in her third straight attempt at the title. She is returning to the start line nearly three months after giving birth to her first child. Fellow racer Tatyana McFadden, who is seeking her sixth New York title and 25th overall marathon victory, expressed admiration for Scaroni’s return to competition so soon after childbirth.

The event draws a large crowd of spectators throughout the city. Dana Smolin, a New Yorker running for her fourth time, cited the energy of the onlookers as a key draw. She noted that seeing children cheer along the route reminds her of the inspiration she felt as a young fan. The 50th anniversary of the five-borough course adds a layer of historical significance to the Sunday event.

The race begins in Staten Island and concludes in Central Park, traversing all five boroughs along the way. The format established in 1976 has remained the standard structure for the event. Organizers expect the 60,000 runners to create a continuous stream of athletes on the course throughout the morning, a logistical undertaking that was impossible in the 2,000-person era of 1976.