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History of the New York Marathon Timeline

(1970 - Present)

The New York City Marathon, first held in 1970 as a small race around Central Park, has grown into the world's largest marathon. Organized by Fred Lebow and the New York Road Runners, it moved to a five-borough course in 1976 and now attracts over 50,000 finishers annually, held each November. Less

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Origins and Early Years

Original course measured with Calibrated Bicycle Method

Sep 8, 1970

The final measurements of the original New York City Marathon course, Manhattan's Central Park, were done the evening of September 8, 1970, after a work and training day, using the Calibrated Bicycle Method of Measuring. The initial course consisted of repeated laps around Central Park.

First New York City Marathon held in Central Park

Sep 13, 1970

The brainchild of George Spitz, the first New York City Marathon was organized by Fred Lebow and Vincent Chiappetta, then president of New York Road Runners. 127 competitors ran several loops around the Park Drive of Central Park. Gary Muhrcke won in 2:31:38. Nina Kuscsik was the only woman to participate; she did not feel well and dropped out without finishing.

AAU allows women to run the 1971 marathon

1971

For the second marathon in 1971, the AAU allowed women to participate if they started the race 10 minutes before or after the men, or if they ran a separate but equal course.

Women protest ten-minute head start rule

1972

In 1972, Nina Kuscsik, Pat Barrett, Lynn Blackstone, Liz Franceschini, Cathy Miller, and Jane Muhrke protested the Amateur Athletic Union rule that women marathoners had to start their race ten minutes before or after the men, which as implemented meant women had to start running ten minutes before the men. The ten-minute difference requirement was dropped later that year.

Image source: New York City Marathon

Women protest ten-minute head start rule

Fred Lebow diagnosed with brain cancer

1992 - 1994

Marathon co-founder Fred Lebow had been diagnosed with brain cancer and died two years later in 1994. Grete Waitz, the race's legendary women's champion, also died of cancer in 2011.

Image source: Fred Lebow

Fred Lebow diagnosed with brain cancer

Notable Races

Norbert Sander and Kathrine Switzer win as NYC residents

Sep 29, 1974

On September 29, 1974, Norbert Sander and Kathrine Switzer became the only New York City residents ever to win the New York City Marathon, with Sander winning in 2:26:30 and Switzer taking the women's division in 3:07:29.

Dick Traum completes marathon on prosthetic leg

1976

Dick Traum became the first person to complete a marathon with a prosthetic leg when he finished the 1976 New York City Marathon.

Bill Rodgers wins in course record 2:10:10

1976

Bill Rodgers, who finished 40th in the 1976 Olympic Games marathon in 2:25:14, came back to win the 1976 NYC Marathon in a course record 2:10:10, beating 1976 Olympic silver medalist Frank Shorter by more than three minutes; Shorter clocked 2:13:12.

Hottest race day on record at 80 degrees

Oct 21, 1979

The hottest year for the race was 1979, when the race day of October 21 reached 80 °F (27 °C). To date, 1979 remains the warmest NYC Marathon ever recorded.

Rosie Ruiz controversy resolved

1980 - 1985

New York Marathon chief Fred Lebow rescinded Rosie Ruiz's time after determining she had not finished the 1979 race, and officials in Boston quickly followed suit regarding her Boston finish. Her disqualification qualified her successor for the 1980 Boston Marathon. Salazar later remarked in 1985 that he believed he had run a full marathon given crowd control issues, suggesting measurement changes after the 1981 race contributed to course length discrepancies.

Alberto Salazar wins first of three straight titles

1980 - 1982

Alberto Salazar, an NCAA cross-country champion, won the 1980 New York City Marathon in 2:09:41. He defended his title in 1981 and 1982, becoming one of the race's dominant champions of the early 1980s.

Rod Dixon catches Geoff Smith to win

1983

England's Geoff Smith held a lead through the last half of the 1983 race but was caught at the 26-mile mark in Central Park by Rod Dixon of New Zealand, 1972 Olympic 1500 metres bronze medalist, who won by 9 seconds. It was the slowest winning time since 1976 when the marathon became a world class event.

Orlando Pizzolato wins again

1985

Orlando Pizzolato won the 1985 New York City Marathon in easier fashion than his 1984 victory, clocking 2:11:34.

Douglas Wakiihuri wins with second-slowest time since 1976

1987

Douglas Wakiihuri of Kenya won the 1987 event in 2:12:39, the second-slowest winning time since 1976 when the marathon became a world class event.

Germán Silva recovers from wrong turn to win

1994

During the 1994 event, Germán Silva recovered from a wrong turn seven-tenths of a mile before the finish that put him temporarily in second place 40 yards behind Benjamín Paredes. Both male and female winners repeated their victories in 1995.

Coldest NYC Marathon ever

Nov 12, 1995

The coldest race was in 1995, when the November 12 race day only reached 43 °F (6 °C), with an intense wind chill. To date, this event remains the coldest NYC Marathon ever.

Course and Format Changes

Race expands to all five boroughs for bicentennial

1976

For the United States bicentennial in 1976, Ted Corbitt proposed that the race traverse all five boroughs. After being run entirely in Central Park from 1970 to 1975, this edition of the marathon crossed all five boroughs for the first time, and it has done so since.

Race moved from Central Park to late October schedule

1976 - 1986

Beginning in 1976, the race was run in late October and continued to be held in late October until 1986, when the race day was moved to November. The earliest race day was the marathon's first in September 1970; the latest date in the season was November 14, 1993.

Wheelchair and handcycle divisions introduced

2000

An official wheelchair and handcycle division was introduced in 2000. The 2000 NYC Marathon included the wheelchair division for men and women for the first time.

Elite women given 35-minute head start

2002

Starting in 2002, the elite women are given a 35-minute head start before the elite men and the rest of the field.

Wave start introduced amid tragedy

Nov 2, 2008

In 2008, the race initiated a wave start. The 2008 edition also saw the deaths of three marathon participants.

Image source: New York City Marathon

Wave start introduced amid tragedy

Spanish-language broadcasts begin on ESPN Deportes

2022

Before 2013, the marathon was broadcast live in the New York area on WNBC and nationally on Universal Sports; in 2013, WABC-TV and ESPN began broadcasting the race. Since 2022, the marathon has also been aired in Spanish via ESPN Deportes.

Modern Era

Post-September 11 race with new course record

Nov 4, 2001

The 2001 NYC Marathon took place less than two months after the September 11 attacks. Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia set a new course record of 2:07:43, which stood until Geoffrey Mutai broke it in 2011. Prize money was added in 2001.

Mary Wittenberg becomes first woman director of a Major

2005

The 2005 event was administered by new NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg, the first woman director of an international Major marathon.

Image source: New York Road Runners

Mary Wittenberg becomes first woman director of a Major

Lance Armstrong and Mike Huckabee run the race

Nov 5, 2006

Former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong ran the 2006 race, finishing 868th in 2:59:36. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee also completed the race in 5:33:43, wearing bib #110 signifying the 110 pounds lost during his weight loss campaign.

Martin Lel and Paula Radcliffe headline World Marathon Majors finale

Nov 4, 2007

The 2007 race concluded the 2006–2007 World Marathon Majors series. Martin Lel of Kenya won the men's race in 2:09:04, completing a London–New York double, while world record holder Paula Radcliffe won the women's race in 2:23:09. Few elite Americans ran because many had competed the day before at the 2008 USA Men's Olympic Marathon Trials, held in conjunction on some of the same course.

Meb Keflezighi becomes first American winner since 1982

Nov 1, 2009

Meb Keflezighi of the United States won the men's race — the first American winner since Alberto Salazar in 1982 — in 2:09:15, while Ethiopian Derartu Tulu took the women's crown in 2:28:52, the first Ethiopian woman to do so. It was the first marathon in history with more than 40,000 official finishers, as 43,660 crossed the line.

Edison Peña, rescued Chilean miner, runs the race

Nov 7, 2010

Edison Peña, one of the miners who had been trapped in the 2010 Copiapó mining accident, ran the New York City Marathon, inspiring spectators worldwide.

Geoffrey Mutai sets course record

Nov 6, 2011

Geoffrey Mutai broke Tesfaye Jifar's 2001 course record at the 2011 marathon, setting a mark of 2:05:06 that stood until his own return years later under different conditions.

Marathon cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy

Nov 2, 2012 - Nov 4, 2012

The 2012 marathon, scheduled for November 4, was cancelled on November 2 due to Hurricane Sandy's landfall. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that while holding the race would not divert recovery resources, it had become a source of controversy and division. Registered runners were offered a refund, guaranteed entry to the 2013, 2014, or 2015 marathon, or entry to the NYC Half 2013. Controversy over the cancellation and criticism of CEO Mary Wittenberg continued long afterward.

Tata Consultancy Services becomes title sponsor

Oct 2, 2013 - Nov 2, 2014

It was announced on October 2, 2013, that the marathon's main sponsor would be Tata Consultancy Services starting in 2014, beginning a new era of sponsorship for the race.

Return race crowns Kebede and Jeptoo as Majors champs

Nov 3, 2013

After the 2012 cancellation, Geoffrey Mutai returned to become the first repeat winner in 15 years (after John Kagwe in 1997–1998), running 2:08:24 in windy conditions. Priscah Jeptoo overcame a three-and-a-half-minute deficit to Buzunesh Deba, passing her in the 24th mile. The race clinched the 2013 World Marathon Majors titles, with Tsegaye Kebede and Priscah Jeptoo each winning $500,000.

Shalane Flanagan wins as first American since 1977

Nov 5, 2017

The 2017 New York City Marathon saw an American woman win for the first time since 1977, breaking a four-decade drought for U.S. women at the race.

Lelisa Desisa finally wins New York

Nov 4, 2018

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia won his first New York City Marathon after finishing third in 2017, third in 2015, and second in 2014, followed by Shura Kitata and defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor. Mary Keitany was beaten by debut winner Joyciline Jepkosgei.

World record 53,627 finishers

Nov 3, 2019

The 2019 NYC Marathon set another world record for the number of finishers ever for a marathon, with 53,627 runners crossing the finish line.

Marathon cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Oct 17, 2020 - Nov 1, 2020

The 2020 New York City Marathon was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the following year's race would instead be the 50th running. As the original event was cancelled, runners were able to compete in a virtual race between October 17 and November 1, 2020.

50th running of the marathon

Nov 7, 2021

The 50th running of the New York City Marathon was held on November 7, 2021, marking the race's return after its pandemic cancellation.

Record-setting races in 2023 and 2024

Nov 5, 2023 - Nov 3, 2024

The 2023 New York City Marathon took place with 51,402 total finishers, and the 2024 edition on November 3 drew more than 55,000 runners, continuing the race's growth as one of the largest marathons in the world.

59,135 finishers and 200,000 applicants

Nov 2, 2025

The 2025 New York City Marathon took place on Sunday, November 2, with more than 55,000 runners and 59,135 finishers. In 2025 there were more than 200,000 applications, with only 2–3% accepted, underscoring the race's status among the largest marathons in the world. The official finish time limit was 10:00 p.m.

Image source: 2025 New York City Marathon

59,135 finishers and 200,000 applicants

Key Facts

  1. The first New York City Marathon was held on September 13, 1970, with only 127 entrants and 55 finishers, all running laps around Central Park.
  2. In 1976, the race expanded to a course through all five boroughs—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan—to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial.
  3. Co-founder Fred Lebow transformed the event into a major international race; a statue of him stands near the finish line in Central Park.
  4. Grete Waitz of Norway won the women's division nine times between 1978 and 1988, setting multiple world records in New York.
  5. Today, the NYC Marathon is the world's largest marathon, drawing more than 50,000 finishers and millions of spectators along the route each November.

Source

This History of the New York Marathon timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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