The endurance-running spotlight remains focused on the United States’ soil, with New York taking over the baton from Chicago, which staged another highly successful marathon recently. All eyes are now on the Big Apple, which stages the final standout marathon of the calendar year, with participants from over 140 countries expected to compete. Millions around the world will also be tuning in with the race broadcast in 170 countries and territories.
The New York City Marathon, the world’s largest marathon, grew even bigger twelve months ago, as a record number of finishers, 55,646 to be exact, completed the route around the five boroughs of New York City. The iconic race has been held every year since 1970, aside from two (2012 - Hurricane Sandy and 2020 - COVID-19 pandemic), with more than a million people having run and finished the race in total. It’s grown in stature immensely since that inaugural edition.
Fast forward 50 years, and two million spectators now line the route that winds around the city and features famous landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Guggenheim Museum. All 26.2 miles of the 1970 race took place entirely within the constraints of Central Park, with only 55 runners completing the course.
Getty Images America’s Gary Muhrcke clocked 2:31:38 when winning the 1970 New York City Marathon. That time has tumbled over the years, unsurprisingly, with the men’s course record being lowered on nine different occasions. The latest of which occurred in 2023, when Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola took the honors.
Amazingly, though, in the women’s event, the current course record was set way back in 2003 by Margaret Okayo when she won her second New York City Marathon. She had also broken the course record when claiming her maiden success in 2001. However, Okayo’s fellow Kenyan, Mary Keitany, is the most honored woman runner in New York, following her four wins between 2014-2018.
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Kenyan dominance in the Big Apple has become even more apparent in recent years, with their athletes winning 17 of the last 22 events, men and women combined.
Key Information for the 2025 New York City Marathon
Let's cover the key information you need to know ahead of the New York City Marathon, including the race schedule and how you can watch or stream all the thrilling action.
MARATHON FOR DUMMIES
When is the New York City Marathon 2025?
The 54th running of the TCS New York City Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 2, 2025. The action gets underway at 8am local time (ET) with the wheelchair racers.
When: November 2, 2025
Time: 8:00 am ET
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Where: New York City, New York State
How to Watch the New York City Marathon 2025
🇺🇸 How to watch in the USA:
Athletics fans in the United States can watch the New York City Marathon live on ESPN2 and on the ESPN App from 8 am ET. It’s also being screened locally on ABC7/WABC-TV, with pre-coverage airing from 7 am ET.
Fubo is a top-quality streaming service that has ESPN included in all its packages, so it offers access to the New York City Marathon and a whole world of sports. Fubo offers multiple subscription plans, including the new 'Fubo Sports', which costs $45.99 for the first month and then $55.99 per month for subsequent months. It's streamlined and sports-focused with over 28 channels, including ESPN Unlimited, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, NFL Network, Tennis Channel, and local networks like ABC, CBS, and Fox. Other Fubo plans include the base 'Pro' package (around $85/month), the higher-tier 'Elite' (around $95/month), and there's also a 'Latino' package, which offers sports and entertainment channels in Spanish. Fubo offers a free 7-day trial to new subscribers for all of its plans, and the streaming service is a no-brainer for sports fans.
🌍 How to watch worldwide:
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You can watch the New York City Marathon live in many other countries globally, too. The table below provides an overview of the different broadcasters and the countries/regions they will air the race in:
| Country/Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Fox Sports Australia |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | TSN |
| 🇨🇳 China | SMG Sports |
| 🇪🇺 Mainland Europe | Eurosport |
| 🇫🇷 France | L'Equipe |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | RAI |
| 🌎 Latin America | ESPN International |
| 🌎 Middle East | Dubai Sports |
| 🌏 Southeast Asia | Eurosport |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | TVE |
| 🌍 Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport |
How to watch from anywhere with a VPN:
If the New York City Marathon 2025 isn't available to watch live in your area or if you're travelling, you can use a VPN to tune into the action from wherever you are. A VPN creates a secure connection that lets you bypass geographical restrictions and access your favorite streaming services from anywhere.
We recommend ExpressVPN if you're unsure which VPN to choose, but you can also check out our in-depth VPN guide to determine which one is best for you.
What is the New York City Marathon 2025 route?
Since 1976, the New York City Marathon course has passed through all five boroughs of the Big Apple. The race begins on Staten Island, in Fort Wadsworth and after descending the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the course winds through Brooklyn, mostly along Fourth Avenue and Bedford Avenue, for approximately the next 11 miles. At the 13-mile stage, runners cross the Pulaski Bridge, marking the halfway point of the race and the entrance into Long Island City in Queens. After about 15 miles, runners exit Queens and cross the East River via the lower level of the Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge into Manhattan. The race then proceeds north on First Avenue and crosses into The Bronx via the Willis Avenue Bridge. The race is only in The Bronx for one mile before returning to Manhattan as the course follows East 138th St. before crossing the Madison Avenue Bridge and entering Central Park, marking the beginning of the final 10K.
Who’s competing at the New York City Marathon 2025?
In the New York City Marathon men's race, Abdi Negeye of the Netherlands returns to defend his title. He had produced good performances in NYC before winning last year, so he will be confident of being in the mix once again. Negeye will join an illustrious list of former champions, which includes Geoffrey Mutai (2013), John Kagwe (1998), German Silva (1995), Orlando Pizzolato (1985), Alberto Salazar (1982), and Bill Rodgers (1979), who have gone back-to-back in New York, if he is successful again.
Last year’s other podium finishers, Kenya’s Evans Chebet and Albert Korir, are also back for another crack at glory. Both Chebet and Korir are former winners, too, having been victorious in New York in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Other Kenyan dangermen include Benson Kipruto, Abel Kipchumba, Alexander Mutiso, and Eliud Kipchoge. Kipruto has finished on the podium in his last six World Marathon Majors appearances, while Kipchoge, who has recorded the 2nd and 4th fastest times in Marathon history, is making his New York debut. Fifth on the all-time quickest list in the sport sits Kenenisa Bekele. The Ethiopian is dripping with gold from his past athletic exploits, and his late entry is a huge plus for race organizers.
A couple of American runners who will be guaranteed a warm reception on the New York streets are Joe Klecker and Hillary Bor, who will both be making their marathon debuts.
The New York City Marathon women’s race is also filled with some stellar names in the sport. All three previous Kenyan winners of the event, Sheila Chepkirui (2024), Hellen Obiri (2023), and Sharon Lokedi (2022), return for the 2025 edition. Siffan Hassan from the Netherlands will be flying the flag for Europe, as a runner from that continent hasn't been successful in New York since Paula Radcliffe clinched her third victory in 2008.
Predictions for the 2025 New York Marathon
The 2025 New York Marathon is the final World Marathon major of the year, and picking my predictions for both races was tough.
Men's Race
Kipochoge may be the best male marathoner of all time! He won gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and has won a staggering 11 World Marathon Majors. Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, four times in London, and once each in Tokyo and Chicago. However, the 40-year-old is making his debut in New York, so he has never run the course in an official marathon. That could put him disadvantaged.
Korir won this race in 2021, and finished second in 2019 and 2023, so he knows his way around the streets of New York. At 31, Korir should still have the legs to compete in this race. The Somali-Dutch marathoner holds a slew of records in his country, but he finally broke through in the Big Apple last year!
On the men’s side, my New York Marathon prediction is Albert Korir!
Women's Race
Chepkirui won here in 2024 with a time of 2:24:35 for her first WMM victory. The 34-year-old will aim to go back-to-back in New York, which hasn’t been done by another woman since countrywoman Mary Keitany won three straight from 2014 to 2016.
Lokedi has won two WMM races, in 2022 in New York and earlier this year in Boston. She also finished third at the 2023 New York Marathon. The 34-year-old Kenyan finished ninth here last year, and would like to avenge that effort. She’ll have to do a better job of navigating the course, but Lokedi has the experience to do it. Lokedi will try to keep close to her rival, Obiri.
The two have already gone head-to-head this year, with Obiri losing to Lokedi by 19 seconds in Boston. The 35-year-old Kenyan won here in 2023, while also winning in Boston in 2023 and 2024. Obiri also finished second to Chepkirui here last year, so she has plenty of motivation.
For the women, I’m going to take Sharon Lokedi for the Kenyan sweep! I picked her last year, and I’m rolling with her again.
The New York Marathon odds for 2025 should be available at Bovada, one of the few online sportsbooks that covers marathons, a day or two before the event.
The weather for the New York Marathon on Sunday, November 2 will start off chilly in the morning when the women start at 8:35 AM ET. The men start at 9:05 AM ET. The top runners won’t get to feel the high of 52 degrees in the afternoon.
The New York Marathon route features more elevation changes than most marathons, for example, the relatively flat Chicago Marathon.
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