Mile 8 of the TCS New York City Marathon sits at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue on the edge of Downtown Brooklyn, and it has more subway lines than any other viewing spot New York Road Runners recommends. NYRR lists it for Sunday, Nov. 1, with nine subway lines: the B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5, all of which stop at Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.

Where the course goes from here

Runners reach this corner after coming up Fourth Avenue from Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Park Slope. The official course map then takes them off Flatbush Avenue and east along Lafayette Avenue through Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, with Lafayette Av and Clinton-Washington Avs stations marked along the route, before the course turns north toward Williamsburg and Greenpoint for miles 10 to 13. NYRR lists that stretch as another recommended spot, reached by the G, L, M and J.

That layout gives Downtown Brooklyn spectators a second chance at the same runner. After watching at Fourth and Flatbush, a spectator can take the G from Fulton St or Clinton-Washington Avs north to Williamsburg or Greenpoint and see the runner again before the Pulaski Bridge into Queens.

Race timeline

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.

Expect the professional wheelchair racers first, then the pro women and pro men, then hours of the mass field as the five waves come through.

A new wrinkle this year, and a big anniversary

NYRR is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, first run on Oct. 24, 1976. It also made the first change to the route in 15 years, in the Bronx: after the Willis Avenue Bridge, runners now turn onto East 141st Street before heading for the Madison Avenue Bridge. Nothing changes in Brooklyn.

For the first time, NYRR is also placing five Culligan water refill stations along the course to encourage reusable bottles, according to its race week announcement.

Before you head out

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.

NYRR asks spectators to check mta.info before traveling, since race day can bring service changes. The short version: ride to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr, walk to Fourth and Flatbush, and stay behind the tape.

Sources