Nobody gets to watch the start of the TCS New York City Marathon. New York Road Runners does not allow spectators at the Staten Island start or on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, so the first crowd the runners meet is in Bay Ridge, where the course comes off the bridge and turns north onto Fourth Avenue. The race is on Sunday, Nov. 1.

NYRR lists Fourth Avenue, miles 2 through 4, as the first of its recommended viewing locations, and says most of the course is open to spectators from mile 3 to mile 26. Runners then follow Fourth Avenue north out of Bay Ridge through Sunset Park and on toward Park Slope.

How to get to the course

NYRR's advice for this stretch is the R train, which runs under Fourth Avenue. The race's official course map marks the R stops beside the course in Bay Ridge, including 86 St, 77 St and 59 St. NYRR says the subway is the most practical way around for spectators on race day and asks people to check mta.info before traveling.

When to be there

New York Road Runners has published the start timeline for Sunday, Nov. 1. The men's professional wheelchair division goes first at 8 a.m., followed by the women's professional wheelchair division at 8:02 a.m., handcycles and select athletes with disabilities at 8:22 a.m., the professional women at 8:35 a.m. and the professional men at 9:05 a.m. The mass field then leaves Staten Island in five waves, at 9:10, 9:45, 10:20 and 10:55 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. NYRR notes that the times can change.

Because Bay Ridge is only a few miles in, the waves follow one another up Fourth Avenue through the late morning. Runners who started in the 11:30 a.m. wave will still be coming through after noon.

Bay Ridge residents who want to follow one runner across the city can ride the R north to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr, where NYRR's next recommended viewing spot sits at Fourth and Flatbush avenues, mile 8.

Fifty years of the five-borough course

The 2026 race is the 50th anniversary of the five-borough route, first run on Oct. 24, 1976, and Fourth Avenue has been part of the course since then. NYRR made one change for this year, in the Bronx: after the Willis Avenue Bridge the course now uses East 141st Street before turning toward the Madison Avenue Bridge. It is the first change to the route in 15 years. The Brooklyn miles are the same as last year.

Spectator rules

NYRR's spectator guidelines are short. Stay behind the blue tape or the barricades and keep the roadway clear for runners. Signs, flags and noise are welcome, but unofficial speakers are not allowed in New York City, and drones are banned anywhere on the course. Spectators are not allowed on any of the race's bridges. Don't block building entrances, and take your trash and signs with you. NYRR suggests reading the names and countries printed on shirts and bibs and cheering for runners by name. Its race emergency hotline for a runner in need of medical help is 866-705-6626.

For anyone who cannot get to the curb, NYRR lists local and national television broadcasts, a Spanish-language broadcast and live audio on its Watch the Race page.

For Sunday: take the R to a Fourth Avenue stop in Bay Ridge, stand behind the tape between miles 2 and 4, and check mta.info before you go.

Sources