Final preparations for TCS NYC Marathon
Final preparations are underway for both the TCS New York City Marathon and Halloween festivities in the city this weekend. FOX 5 NY’s Arthur Chi’en has the latest.
NEW YORK – The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon kicks off Sunday, bringing together more than 55,000 runners from 150 countries and nearly 1 million spectators along its 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs.
The race will temporarily close major roads and bridges as participants make their way from Staten Island to the Central Park finish line.
Here’s what to know ahead of marathon day.
SKIP TO: COURSE MAP | START TIMES | STREET CLOSURES | SECURITY PLANS
The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon starts in Staten Island, crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, moving through Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan before finishing in Central Park.
The race will feature elite runners, wheelchair athletes, handcyclists, and tens of thousands of amateurs making their way through the city streets.
The marathon takes place Sunday, Nov. 2.
Official start timeline:
8:00 a.m. – Men’s Professional Wheelchair Division
8:02 a.m. – Women’s Professional Wheelchair Division
8:22 a.m. – Handcycle Category and Select Athletes with Disabilities
8:35 a.m. – Professional Women’s Open Division
9:05 a.m. – Professional Men’s Open Division
9:10 a.m. – Wave 1
9:45 a.m. – Wave 2
10:20 a.m. – Wave 3
10:55 a.m. – Wave 4
11:30 a.m. – Wave 5
Note: Clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday as daylight saving time ends. The city returns to Eastern Standard Time, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep before the race begins.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: The 2024 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon is held in New York City. The course starts in Brooklyn and ends in Central Park in Manhattan. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/New York Road Runners via Getty Images)
National coverage airs on ESPN2 and the ESPN App from 8 to 11:30 a.m. ET, with pre-race coverage starting at 7 a.m. and post-race coverage until 1 p.m.
Locally, ABC7/WABC-TV will broadcast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., with ABC7NY.com streaming live from the finish line beginning at 8 p.m.Â
The NYPD is increasing security for marathon weekend, which follows closely after Halloween celebrations.Â
Officials say all available resources will be deployed, on the ground, in the air, and on the water — to ensure public safety.
Specialized units, including the Emergency Service Unit, Harbor, Aviation, Bomb Squad, and Canine teams, will be active throughout the day. Some security measures will be visible while others will be deliberately concealed.
How many people are running the NYC marathon? 
Runners participate in the 2022 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on March 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by New York Road Runners/New York Road Runners via Getty Images)
More than 55,000 runners from 150 countries are expected to compete, continuing the tradition of one of the largest and most diverse marathons in the world.
NYC Marathon tracking
Fans can follow runners in real time using the official NYRR App, which offers live tracking, leaderboards, course maps, and a spectator guide for the best viewing locations.
The New York City Department of Transit has listed the following closures here:
Staten Island (Main Route):
Staten Island ExpresswayVerrazzano-Narrows Bridge
Additional Embargo Locations in Staten Island:
Jersey Street between Richmond Terrace and Victory BoulevardVictory Boulevard between Jersey Street and Bay StreetWall Street/St. George Station between Richmond Terrace and Bank StreetRichmond Terrace between Jersey Street and Bay StreetBay Street between Richmond Terrace and School RoadHylan Boulevard between Bay Street and Olga PlaceWest Fingerboard Road between Steuben Street and Hylan BoulevardSteuben Street between West Fingerboard Road and Olga Place / Hyland BoulevardFingerboard Road between Bay Street and Tompkins AvenueTompkins Avenue between Fingerboard Road and School RoadSchool Road between Bay Street and Lily Pond AvenueLily Pond Avenue between School Road and Father Capodanno BoulevardMcClean Avenue/Battery Road between Lily Pond Avenue and New York AvenueFather Capodanno Boulevard between Sand Lane and Lily Pond AvenueSand Lane between Hylan Boulevard / West Fingerboard Road and Father Capodanno Boulevard
Brooklyn (Main Route):
Dahlgren Place between Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and 92nd Street (Northbound)92nd Street between Dahlgren Place and 4th Avenue4th Avenue between 92nd Street and Flatbush AvenueFlatbush Avenue between 4th Avenue and Lafayette AvenueLafayette Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and Bedford AvenueBedford Avenue between Lafayette Avenue and Nassau AvenueNassau Avenue between Bedford Avenue/Lorimer Street and Manhattan AvenueManhattan Avenue between Nassau Avenue and Greenpoint AvenueGreenpoint Avenue between Manhattan Avenue and McGuinness BoulevardMcGuinness Boulevard (Southbound) between Greenpoint Avenue and Pulaski BridgePulaski Bridge (Southbound)
Additional Embargo Locations in Brooklyn:
4th Avenue between 94thStreet and 92nd Street94th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 4th AvenueFort Hamilton Parkway between 92nd Street and 94th StreetBrooklyn Queens Expressway (Southbound) between Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and 79th StreetGatling Place/79th Street BQE Entrance Ramp between 83rd Street and 79th Street7th Avenue (Southbound) between 79th Street and 74th Street74th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue6th Avenue between 74th Street and Bay Ridge Parkway/75th StreetBay Ridge Parkway/75th Street between 7th Avenue and 4th Avenue
Queens (Main Route):
11th Street between Pulaski Bridge/Jackson Avenue and 48th Avenue48th Avenue between 11th Street and Vernon BoulevardVernon Boulevard between 48th Avenue and 10th Street10th Street between Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive44th Drive between 10th Street and Hunter StreetHunter Street between 44th Drive and Crescent StreetCrescent Street between Hunter Street and Queens Plaza SouthQueens Plaza South between Crescent Street and 23rd StreetQueensboro Bridge (Eastbound)
Additional Embargo Locations in Queens:
Queens Plaza North between Crescent Street and 23rd Street23rd Street between Queens Plaza South and Queens Plaza NorthQueensboro Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Path
Manhattan (Main Route):
Queensboro Bridge (59th Street Pedestrian Entrance Ramp – Eastbound)East 59th Street between 2nd Avenue and 1st Avenue1st Avenue between East 59th Street and Willis Avenue Bridge
Additional Embargo Locations in Manhattan:
East 60th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue
Bronx (Main Route):
Willis Avenue BridgeEast 135th Street between Willis Avenue and Alexander AvenueAlexander Avenue between East 135th Street and East 138th StreetEast 138th Street between Alexander Avenue and 3rd Avenue3rd Avenue between East 138th Street and East 139th StreetMorris Avenue between East 139th Street and East 140th StreetEast 140th Street between Morris Avenue and Rider AvenueRider Avenue between East 140th Street and East 138th StreetEast 138th Street between Rider Avenue and Madison Avenue Bridge
Manhattan (Continued – Main Route):
Madison Avenue Bridge (Westbound)East 138th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue5th Avenue between 138th Street and 124th StreetWest 124th Street between 5th Avenue and Mount Morris Park WestMount Morris Park West between West 124th Street and West 120th StreetWest 120th Street between Mount Morris Park West and 5th Avenue5th Avenue between 120th Street and 90th Street90th Street between 5th Avenue and East DriveEast Drive between 90th Street and Grand Army PlazaGrand Army Plaza between East Drive and West 59th StreetWest 59th Street between 5th Avenue and Columbus Circle/8th Avenue/Central Park WestColumbus Circle between West 59th Street and Central Park DrivewayCentral Park Driveway/8th Avenue Approach to West DriveWest Drive between 8th Avenue Approach and 67th Street Approach to West Drive
Additional Embargo Locations in Manhattan:
142nd Street between Lenox Avenue/Malcom X Boulevard and 5th Avenue5th Avenue between 142nd Street and 138th StreetMadison Avenue (FDR Service Road) between East 135th Street and East 142nd StreetWest DriveTerrace DriveCenter DriveWest 67th Street Approach to West DriveWest 77th Street Approach to West DriveWest 81st Street Approach to West DriveWest 85th Street Approach to West Drive
Family Reunion:
Central Park West between Columbus Circle and West 76th StreetWest 61st Street between Central Park West and BroadwayWest 62nd Street between Central Park West and BroadwayWest 63rd Street between Central Park West and BroadwayWest 64th Street between Central Park West and BroadwayWest 65th Street between Central Park West and BroadwayWest 66th Street between Central Park West and BroadwayWest 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 69th Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 70th Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 73rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueWest 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus AvenueColumbus Avenue between West 74th Street and BroadwayBroadway between West 66th Street and Columbus Circle
The Source: This report is based on information from New York Road Runners.