NYC Marathon · Sun, Nov 1, 2026
Where to watch the NYC Marathon
A free race-day planner for the people cheering. Pick your corners, see when your runner passes each one, and the train that gets you to the next.
See them three times
After they pass each stop, you have at least 15 minutes to get to the next.
Times assume wave 3 and a 4:00 finish.
Be there by 11:14 AMPasses 11:29 AM
Side: depends on start colour
Wide avenue, early in the race, so the field is still close together.
The starts run on separate roadways up Fourth Avenue. Ask your runner their start colour.
Getting there
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr1 min walk234DNQR
Sunday service can change for the race. Check MTA’s notices before you go.
After they pass
Leave by 11:54 AM for First Avenue at 72nd, 42 min by Q.
Be there by 12:36 PMPasses 12:51 PM
Stand on the west side, on their left
The loudest stretch of the course. Pick a side and a cross street in advance.
72 St is on that side, so you won't have to cross the course for Central Park South.
Getting there
- 72 St5 min walkQ
Sunday service can change for the race. Check MTA’s notices before you go.
After they pass
Leave by 1:34 PM for Central Park South, 24 min by Q.
Be there by 1:58 PMPasses 2:13 PM
Stand on the south side, on their left
The last full mile. Crowded, so arrive early.
57 St is on that side, so you won't have to cross the course.
Getting there
- 57 St4 min walkF
- 5 Av/59 St5 min walkNR
Sunday service can change for the race. Check MTA’s notices before you go.
After the finish
- Finishes
- ~2:20 PM
- Out to meet you
- ~3:05 PM
Allow about 45 minutes from the line: medal, poncho, then the long walk out. Spectators leave the finish area through Columbus Circle. To cross to the east side of the park, use 86th Street or 59th Street.
Your runner
Their wave and colour are on their bib confirmation. Times are a plan, not tracking.
When they pass each spot
| Spot | Be there by | Stand on |
|---|---|---|
| 11:14 AMPasses 11:29 AM | Needs colour | |
| 11:18 AMPasses 11:33 AM | South side | |
| 11:48 AMPasses 12:03 PM | East side | |
| 12:08 PMPasses 12:23 PM | West side | |
| 12:36 PMPasses 12:51 PM | West side | |
| 12:47 PMPasses 1:02 PM | West side | |
| 1:31 PMPasses 1:46 PM | West side | |
| 1:41 PMPasses 1:56 PM | East side | |
| 1:58 PMPasses 2:13 PM | South side |
One link with this runner, these times and your spots. Nothing is saved anywhere else.
One link for your whole crew
One link with this runner, these times and your spots. Nothing is saved anywhere else.
The link carries your runner’s wave, start colour and goal, and any spots you added. Whoever opens it sees the same times, with nothing to set up.
A private page for your crew
Running it yourself? Layer is building a page your people pin themselves to, with a passcode, your kit photo and where to meet after. Leave your email and we’ll tell you when you can make one.
Layer is the running app that tells you what to wear for the weather at your start. Get Layer
The short answers
For three sightings by subway, stand at Fourth Avenue at Atlantic (mile 7.6), First Avenue at 72nd (mile 16.6), Central Park South (mile 25.5). Tap a spot to see it on the map with its live trains.
When is the 2026 NYC Marathon?
Sunday, November 1, 2026. Runners start in waves on Staten Island, so your runner's start time is the one on their own bib and confirmation, not the race's first start.
What time will my runner pass me?
Their start time plus their pace to your mile. A plan is close early on and drifts later, so plan around a window and switch to live tracking in the official app after mile 10.
How many times can I see my runner?
Two or three times is realistic by subway, if you leave each spot as soon as they pass. Brooklyn, First Avenue, and Fifth Avenue or Central Park South are the classic three.
Which side of the street should I stand on?
Agree on one side and one cross street with your runner before race day, and tell them what you'll wear or hold. Runners look for a spot they already know about.
Can I cross the course?
Only at marked crossing points, when marshals let you. Don't step onto the course, and expect crossings to take time.
Where do I meet my runner after the finish?
Agree on a meeting point outside Central Park before the race. Finishers walk a long way out of the park, so expect to wait a while after their finish time.
Sources
- NYRR: TCS New York City Marathon
- MTA service notices
- NYRR finish-area map (reunion area and runner exits)
- Wave times and Fourth Avenue roadways by start colour: NYC Marathon Guide, an independent guide
- Course GPX bundled with Layer
Layer is not affiliated with the race organizer. Check the official race-week notices for closures and train service before you go.