A deep dive into the NYC marathon

The inaugural New York City Marathon took place in September 1970 with just 127 (mostly male) participants running loops around Central Park in front of a modest crowd of 100 spectators. In 1976, to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial, the course was extended to cover all five boroughs, a tradition that continues today.

Since then, the marathon has grown significantly to become the biggest marathon globally, attracting around 50,000 participants annually and nearly 2 million on-site spectators. Taking on the challenge in the Big Apple.

Despite the initial ban by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) on female participation in marathons from 1961 to 1972, only one woman entered the first NYC Marathon in 1970.

Even after the ban was lifted, there were restrictions in NYC, with amateur women required to begin the race either 10 minutes before or after the men to ensure they weren’t competing head-to-head. Fragility at its finest.

In defiance of this unequal treatment, six women sat at the starting line for 10 minutes before joining the men in the race, prompting the AAU to abandon the separate start times shortly after.

Two years later, Kathrine Switzer, a friend of The GIST, won the event, seven years after becoming the first woman to officially compete in the Boston Marathon in 1967.

Thanks to these pioneers, more women are now participating in marathons than ever before, with over 44% of finishers being women last year. So much for being “fragile.”

Today’s course will challenge runners with lengthy bridges and steep hills. Here are some notable highlights to look out for along the renowned route:

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Mile 1: Starting at the very beginning, this is the first of five bridges on the course. The Verrazzano offers striking views but also requires strategic navigation as runners must resist the urge to push up and down the hill in their excitement, focusing instead on conserving energy for the ensuing ~25 miles.

Queensboro Bridge, Mile 15: This segment of the race is particularly tough due to the gradual incline on the bridge and the eerie absence of spectators — a stark difference from the lively cheering earlier on. Fortunately, a downhill stretch and enthusiastic crowd in Manhattan await on the other side…

Central Park, Mile 23: The final stretch. Runners enter the iconic park from the northeast, covering just over three miles within its bounds before reaching Tavern on the Green, the same landmark that marked the finish line of the original course.

Today’s elite field at the NYC Marathon is stacked with top-tier talent. Featuring an Olympic champion, past winners of the NYC Marathon, and numerous other speedsters, make sure to keep an eye on these contenders:

🇰🇪 Hellen Obiri, Kenya: Coming off a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics (despite falling twice and missing aid stations), Obiri is looking to defend her title after a thrilling sprint to victory in 2023, becoming the first woman in 34 years to conquer both the Boston and NYC Marathons in the same year.

There’s a chance for history to repeat itself, as Obiri already secured first place in Boston earlier in the year. Déjà vu, anyone?

🇰🇪 Sharon Lokedi, Kenya: Lokedi has a history of podium finishes in NYC — winning in 2022 (her debut marathon) and coming in third last year. With a personal best time of 2:23:14 and an Olympic fourth-place finish, expect to see her leading the pack once again today.

🇺🇸 Dakotah Popehn (née Lindwurm), USA: Following a strong 12th-place showing in Paris, Popehn is poised to represent America well in NYC. After a successful Olympic debut, anticipate another impressive performance on the New York streets.

🇪🇹 Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia: Tola wasn’t initially on the Ethiopian Olympic team, but he made a statement by setting a Games record as an injury replacement. Known for breaking records, Tola also holds the NYC course record from his win in 2023.

🇰🇪 Evans Chebet, Kenya: With the fastest personal best time in the field, Chebet returns to the course after missing the 2023 race due to an Achilles injury. He’s highly motivated following a close third-place finish at the 2024 Boston Marathon.

🇺🇸 Conner Mantz, USA: Making his NYC Marathon debut alongside Paris teammate Clayton Young, Mantz is set for his first race after finishing eighth in the Olympics. Can’t wait to see the Strava recap for this run.