2023 New York City Marathon: Everything to know about this year's big race
Watch live coverage of the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon on Channel 7
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Tens of thousands of runners will put their skills to the test, running 26.2 miles throughout the five boroughs for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday.
RELATED | Watch live coverage of the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon on Channel 7!
The Professional Men and Women's Wheelchair Divisions will be the first to start, followed by the Professional Women and Men's Open Division. The rest of the thousands of runners will then begin their journey to the finish line.
More than 50,000 runners will participate in the race. The marathon draws nearly 100,000 applicants and over 2 million in-person spectators.
Their spending on hotels, restaurants and other activities helps the marathon generate an estimated $427 million in economic impact for the city, according to a 2021 report by Audience Research and Analysis
ACCUWEATHER
Rain that has washed out many weekends this fall should not be a concern come Sunday. The AccuWeather forecast is a good one with partly sunny skies and mild temperatures.
RACE TIMES
After the professional races begin, the remaining runners are divided into five waves based on their expected finish times.
8:00 a.m. Professional Wheelchair Division
8:22 a.m. Handcycle Category and Select Athletes with Disabilities
8:40 a.m. Professional Women's Open Division
9:05 a.m. Professional Men's Open Division
9:10 a.m. Wave 1
9:45 a.m. Wave 2
10:20 a.m. Wave 3
10:55 a.m. Wave 4
11:30 a.m. Wave 5
MARATHON ROUTE
The journey kicks off with a cannon blast on Staten Island but racers won't be here long.
The first mile takes runners across the majestic Verrazzano-Narrows bridge, where they confront the marathon's steepest incline.
Once they reach Brooklyn, runners are just setting their pace along Fourth and Bedford Avenues.
Neighborhoods converge at one of the marathon's liveliest spots around mile 8 and Barclays Center.
Racers are halfway to hugs and high-fives as they reach the midpoint on Pulaski Bridge.
They enter Queens with a beautiful view of Manhattan in their sights.
Two and a half miles later, it's from the quiet of the Queensboro Bridge to the thunderous roars of the Manhattan crowds for the first time.
Between miles 19 and 20 is when many are known to hit "the wall." Crowds gives runners the jolt they need as they head north into the Bronx.
Racers navigate a few quick turns, leading them back into Manhattan.
With four miles to go, they're greeted by the Harlem community at Marcus Garvey Park.
They'll need another surge of energy to make it through the last part of the race, down 5th Avenue into Central Park and then one final push to the finish line.
RELATED: 2023 TCS NYC Marathon By The Mile
BEST PLACES TO WATCH IN PERSON
Here are the recommended on-course viewing locations from the NYRR.
Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn (Miles 2-4): Catch runners as they exit the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and move along Fourth Avenue. Subway: R
Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue (Mile 8):Subway: B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, 5
Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn (Miles 10-13):Claim sidewalk space along streets lined with shops and restaurants and encourage runners as they head toward the Pulaski Bridge to cross into Queens. Subway: G, L, M, J
Pulaski Bridge (Mile 13.1):The Pulaski Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to Queens, is closed to spectators; many fans cheer on the Queens side, just past the race's halfway mark. Subway: 7, G, E
First Avenue, Manhattan (Miles 16-18):Spectators line the sidewalks and shout encouragement at this exciting part of the course. The avenue's many bars and restaurants contribute to the festive atmosphere. Subway: N, Q, R, 4, 5, 6, F
RELATED: 2023 TCS NYC Marathon By The Mile
East Harlem (Miles 18-20):Also known as Spanish Harlem, this neighborhood is home to a vibrant Latinx community. This is a perfect location to cheer and help keep the runners' motivation high. Subway: 6
Charity Cheer Zone, First Avenue and 120th Street (Miles 19-20): Help celebrate thousands of runners who have chosen to add meaning to their run by raising funds for one of NYRR's 500+ official charity partners. Subway: 6
Fifth Avenue, East 90th Street-East 105th Street (Miles 23-24):This stretch of Fifth Avenue is a cultural hub as well as a crucial spot to catch your runners before they enter Central Park. Subway: Q, 4, 5, 6
United Airlines Zone:Columbus Circle. Subway: A, C, D, 1
The TCS NYC Marathon finishes at 67th Street on West Drive. Spectators can access the final approach to the finish in two ways:
Grandstand Seating: Tickets are required and are available at Eventbrite prior to race day. Enter at West 62nd Street and Broadway with your Grandstand tickets.
Standing Spectator Area: Located inside Central Park from Columbus Circle to the south end of the grandstands, approximately 500 feet before the finish. NYPD, NYRR, and the NYC Parks Department may limit access at times, based on capacity. No chairs or seats are provided or allowed.
There is no spectator access north of the grandstands in Central Park. Spectators can enter at the following areas: Broadway at West 61st Street or West 62nd Street, or from the east side via the Central Park path by Heckscher Fields - Kickball Field #3. All entrances require screening.
You can find more information and guidelines for watching the race in person at NYRR.org.
FINISH LINE
Below are the expected estimated times when different groups will begin to cross the finish line.
9:30 a.m. Professional men's wheelchair athletes
9:40 a.m. Professional women's wheelchair athletes
11:05 a.m. Professional women
11:15 a.m. Professional men
11:55 a.m. Remaining runners
8:30 p.m. Final finishers
We will provide a live stream of the finish line throughout the day on Sunday.
To find your friend or family member or your own finish click for Find Your Finish on Demand after the race.
TRAFFIC CHANGES
Many streets and bridges will be closed for at least part of Sunday. The best way to get around as a spectator is to use mass transit. Visit the MTA website to plan your trip.
We have compiled a full list of street and bridge closures related to the NYC Marathon here.
HOW TO WATCH
Eyewitness News team coverage of the marathon kicks off at 7 a.m. in Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island with Ryan Field, Sam Ryan, Dani Beckstrom and Brittany Bell.
Nationally, the broadcast will air on ESPN2 and on the ESPN App from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Pre-race and continuing coverage will also be streamed live nationally on ESPN3 (accessible on the ESPN App and ESPN.com) from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ESPN3 and abc7ny.com will present a view of the finish line through 6 p.m.
A two-hour encore presentation of the race broadcast will air on ABC affiliates around the country from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A domestic, Spanish-language broadcast of the TCS New York City Marathon will air live on ESPN3 (accessible on the ESPN app and ESPN.com) from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Spanish-language broadcast will also re-air on Monday, November 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on ESPN Deportes.
More details about how to watch the New York City Marathon can be found here.
CELEBRITY RUNNERS
The list of notable runners in this year's marathon includes:
Matt James -The Bachelor; supporting ABC Food Tours
Zac Clark - The Bachelorette; supporting Release Recovery
Joe Amabile - The Bachelorette; supporting Release Recovery
Sheinelle Jones - TODAY correspondent
Nev Schulman - Host of MTV's Catfish: The TV Show; supporting Achilles International
Patina Miller - Grammy and Tony Award winning singer and actress; supporting Komera
Luke MacFarlane - Actor; supporting Beyond Type 1
Zdeno Chara - NHL legend; supporting Team New Balance
Steve Mesler - U.S. Olympic bobsled gold medalist; supporting Classroom Champions
Samantha Judge - Wife of MLB all-star Aaron Judge; supporting Kulture City
Emily Rizzo - Wife of MLB all-star Anthony Rizzo; supporting Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation
Amy Robach - Television personality
T.J. Holmes - Television personality
Casey Neistat - YouTube star filmmaker; supporting Project Healthy Minds
Laura Dreyfuss - Actress and singer; supporting Team New Balance
Harry Hudson - Singer/Songwriter; supporting Team New Balance
Tips for marathon runners from the NYRR
MORE MARATHON COVERAGE FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
Countdown to the Starting Line
Upper East Side native runs NYC Marathon with a cause close to heart
NYC marathon to be 4th race this year for woman with rare heart issue
2 Asian American journalists to run the marathon for a good cause
Brooklyn mom of 3 ready to take on TCS New York City Marathon
Dad runs NYC marathon in honor of high school staff that saved son
Sanitation worker recounts running NYC marathon after 12-hour shift
Top NYPD officials prepare for TCS NYC Marathon
'Running for Civil Rights' exhibit celebrates accomplishments of 2 extraordinary runners
South Bronx assistant principal is bringing his motivational story to the marathon
Discover more coverage of the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon here.
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