Sometimes life gifts you a touch of magic — exactly what happened when Katharina and I had the chance to join for the in early November. In the video below, relive the race through our eyes, and in this article, we delve into why this marathon feels less like a race... and more like the world's biggest celebration of runners.
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A Start You Never Forget
The New York City Marathon is famous for two things: The race winds through the city's five boroughs , and it has more elevation than you think. The 246 meters make it the third toughest among World Marathon Majors, only surpassed by Boston (248 meters) and Sydney (317 meters). But don't be intimidated. The route is pure joy from start to finish, and it's exactly why you should try to run it at least once in your life.
Race day starts early. Very early. You board a bus or ferry long before sunrise and end up at the starting area next to Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Staten Island. Fun fact: Most runners spend more time waiting on Staten Island than they do in any of the other four boroughs — so pack some warm, old layers you're ready to donate as the start draws near.
Crossing Verrazzano Bridge is the perfect way to start: no spectators yet, just the sound of thousands of footsteps, Manhattan's skyline in the distance, and an immediate runner's high hits you as you already tackle a large portion of the race's elevation in those initial kilometers.
When you run down from the bridge, the route weaves towards Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn — and here the magic happens: The sight of an endless stream of runners ahead is utterly overwhelming. Thousands of people, all with the same goal, all caught in the same electric atmosphere. It is impossiblenot to smile.
Spectators – The City's Greatest Superpower
On Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, you first get a taste of how 2.5 million spectators can become the wind in your sails. The noise is constant (except for the brief silence in Williamsburg), and the energy is insane. I don't think I've ever had as much fun in a road race as I did here.
And the crowd just keeps going. The descent from Queensboro Bridge can feel brutal — with 25 km in your legs and a tough climb over the bridgethe steep concrete descent is a blunt reminder... yes, you still have knees. But as you hit Manhattan, the roar hits you like a wall. It’s so overwhelming and uplifting that all pain vanishes instantly, replaced by pure, fresh energy.
And then comes the finale: Central Park. It genuinely feels like the entire city has turned up here just to cheer you home. Even though you’re so tired that your legs are all you can feel, the crowd forces a smile, as you chase the final stretch and finish line.
An ending that sticks
The last five kilometers feel like an emotional rollercoaster at full speed — pure euphoria mixed with complete mental exhaustion. It's crazy how you can be utterly drained and yet completely uplifted, devoid of energy yet buzzing with the spectators’ cheers right to the finish line. Not even the notorious final hill into Central Park stops you at that point.
And I certainly wasn’t the only one feeling that way — all 59,226 finishers likely felt that same beautiful struggle, once again making the TCS New York City Marathon the world's largest marathon.
New York is an epic backdrop for a marathon — skyline, bridges, chaos, and character — but the truth is, it's the people who make it unforgettable. The crowd is the soul of the race.
After the race, I was completely spent: I was freezing and exhausted, a shell of a human wrapped in an orange poncho. Yet even on the subway home, New Yorkers made me feel like the coolest person. Everyone congratulated me. Someone offered me their seat. A little girl ran up to ask questions — all because of the solid medal hanging around my neck.
The city — and the food
I actually considered skipping this section, because everyone knows New York City is amazing. But if you have been living under a large rock and have never heard of the city, let me say this clearly: the city alone is reason enough to sign up for its marathon.
The people, skyscrapers, bridges, Central Park, avenues, the blinking billboards. There’s something new, tall, loud, or tasty around every corner.
And when we talk about tasty, for me, New York is primarily FOOD. You can get anything here — not just any version, but the best version.
Especially pizza, which is my love language.
We were busy with the New Balance program, but if I return next year, I’ll dedicate serious time just to eating. The world's best bagels, top-notch pizza, pasta that could make Italians shed a tear, and wild creations like the cronut (yes, we tried it — yes, it tasted like pure bliss and possibly a bit of elevated cholesterol, just watch the video).
The conclusion is: With just a bit of research, you can find world-class food from nearly every cuisine on the planet. For example, Katharina and I went to L’Industrie in West.BCX0">Village, and their burrata pizza was the best I've ever eaten. Period.
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Run it yourself!
While sitting at home on the couch scrolling through the article, maybe with legs trembling a bit with excitement, you might think: “How do I actually sign up for this amazing race?” And the answer is: it's far from certain to get a ticket. But one thing is certain—if you don't throw your name in the lottery, you've already lost. This has been my mantra for years, and that's why I've dragged my wife both to Nice in France and San Francisco to do “some crazy race”.
Although nearly 60,000 finish, the TCS New York City Marathon isn't easy to get into. In 2025, a total of 200,000 people applied, giving you about a 30% chance of getting a spot. If you want to join next time, you should enter the lottery in early spring. For 2026, this means between February 4th and 25th. You'll find all details on the New York Road Runners' website.
So come on: sign up, cross your fingers, toes, and maybe even your laces, and hope that New York says: “See you in November!”
No matter which race you sign up for, has the shoes that will give you the best experience.
