The sea of orange thermal blankets, shiny medals and brightly colored running shoes is impossible to miss.
On 1 November, 61,000 people took over New York City’s streets for the 2026 NYC Marathon. Making it through the 26.2-mile race is a feat that takes grit, endurance and … the right gear.
Near Central Park, blocks from the finish line, I navigated swarms of proud parents and groups holding neon posters emblazoned “hot girls run marathons”, asking runners about their sneakers, running fuel and shorts. (It turns out Nike Alphaflys are a marathon favorite.) When I couldn’t find exact matches for their items, I linked to brands with similar options.
From a 71-year-old who has run the NYC Marathon over 30 times to an Olympic trial qualifier who placed seventh in her age group – marathoners also shared what brought them to the starting line, with stories that remind us there is more than one way to be a runner, and just as many reasons to keep showing up.
Monica Hebner, 27, Austin, Texas Photograph: Marissa Alper/The GuardianThe gear
Bottoms: Bandit
Shoes: Puma R3s
“They’re just fast. They respond well.”
Energy gels: Neversecond berry flavor
“If you bonk from carbs, they cover you; if you bonk from sodium, they cover you.”
Ian Tibbals, 26, Rye, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“The marathons are the big day of the year for the whole running community to celebrate each other.”
The gear
Singlet: On
“I used to have an Under Armour [short sleeve] T-shirt. It was sort of my lucky shirt. I’ve worn it all my races. And it was really hot [one] year in Berlin – it was like the mid-70s. So I was like, I’ll finally invest in a singlet.”
Shoes: Nike Alphafly 3s
Polow Lynn, 47, Atlanta, Georgia Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“In 2023, I was out on a run, and I had a brain aneurysm … I had to learn how to walk again … My goal when I got out of the hospital was to run a marathon.”
The gear
Top: Lululemon
Hat: Luluelmon
Sunglasses: Ridar
Liam Draper, 26, Victoria, Australia Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“[Running] just separated work and life balance for me, so that’s what got me into it. It’s created a community for me back home. We’ve just got our own little run club and stuff now.”
The gear
Shoes: Nike Alphafly 4s
“They said don’t test new things on race day and I did … They’re really good.”
Headphones: Shokz
Sunglasses: Oakley
Top: Nike
“I went and got this singlet made up at the Nike shop. So they put the stickers on for me.”
Energy gels: Precision
Nick Santorelli, 30, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“This place, you don’t really need music because the crowd is so lively throughout. [Running] is my time to meditate and get in my own head a little bit every day.”
The gear
Shoes: Nike Alphafly 4s
“They just dropped, and they’re hard to get. The heel is a little different … I think the biggest thing is the weight. I noticed significantly, like a couple ounces makes a big difference, especially late in the race. Yeah, I like these a lot better than the 3s.”
Singlet: Nike
Shorts:
Soar
Energy gels: Maurten caffeinated and non-caffeinated (NYC marathon fuel sponsor)
“I took six gels today, one every 25 minutes, two caffeinated, one in a cup … There’s other brands that are entering the market, but for me it helps my stomach.”
Hong Jiang, 57, New Jersey Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“ I started [running] from my age of 50 on my birthday. And I’m not an active runner before. But somehow, once in a while in my dream, I’m running on the track. So maybe God asked me to run.”
The gear
Watch: Garmin 255
“On my 50th birthday, my husband gave me a running watch.”
Gels: Maurten (NYC marathon fuel sponsor)
skip past newsletter promotion
Sign up to The Filter US
A guide to buying fewer, better products.
after newsletter promotion
Keegan Pepin, 24, New Hampshire Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“I actually raised money for Komera … I wanted to do one marathon where it was meaningful.”
The gear
Shoes: Hoka Rockets
Top: “There’s a girl named Samantha McIntyre … So she made this shirt for her six-star race in Berlin. And now she’s giving it to one person for each world major. And so I got it for New York City. So it’s like the sisterhood of the traveling shirts.”
Bottoms: Bandit
Watch: Garmin
Running belt: Spi Belt
Jaime Palacios, 71, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
‘This is why I came [to the US from Ecuador], to run the NYC marathon, and I stay here.”
The gear
Shoes: Asics Metaspeed
Rosangela Monaco, 55, New Jersey Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“I always said if one day I raced a marathon, I would run the New York City [one].”
The gear
Shoes: Puma
“Very comfortable … It’s my third pair.”
Shashank Sundar, 27, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“Great day, a little warmer than I would have thought, but I was going for sub three, so I got that.”
The gear
Shoes: Nike Alphaflys
Singlet: Bandit
“I just got this a month ago.”
Bottoms: Rabbit
“It has a decent amount of storage and stuff.”
Watch: Garmin Forerunner
Aurora Velazquez, 46, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“Running changes your life in different ways. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s really rewarding.”
The gear
Shoes: Nike Alphafly
“It helps you to [go] faster, I guess.”
Watch: Garmin
Kathleen Busse, 59, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin Photograph: Marissa Alper/The Guardian
“You see the mile marker and you stay in the mile and you try to be with the people you’re with.”
Time: 4hr 00min 12sec
Ran over 10 marathons
The gear
Shoes: Brooks Hyperion Elite
“I usually always wear Alphaflys, but I wanted a little more stability, but still [have] a carbon plate.”
Energy gels: Buzz Hny+
Headphones: Shokz
Top: Bandit
“This is the first time I’ve had the pockets. And I love the pockets.”
Bottom: Tracksmith
Socks: Tracksmith