{"id":386292,"date":"2026-10-29T05:54:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T05:54:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/386292\/"},"modified":"2026-10-29T05:54:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T05:54:57","slug":"celebrities-running-the-2026-new-york-city-marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/386292\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrities Running the 2026 New York City Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York City Marathon<\/a> is always good for some celebrity spotting, and this year there will be plenty happening between Staten Island and Central Park. On November 1, roughly 60,000 runners will take on the course as New York marks 50 years since the marathon first expanded to all five boroughs, with actors, musicians, former professional athletes, reality stars, and a small army of Peloton instructors mixed into the field.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the noteworthy people<\/a> taking on 26.2 miles this year.<\/p>\n

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Jamie McCarthy\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Tiki Barber<\/p>\n

The former New York Giants running back has become much more than an occasional celebrity entrant since retiring from football. Barber first ran New York in 2014, and has completed more than 15 marathons since taking up the distance. He ran 1:51:34 at the United Airlines NYC Half this March.<\/p>\n

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Gilbert Flores\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jennifer Connelly<\/p>\n

Connelly already knows this course pretty well. The Academy Award winner ran 3:45:47 at the 2024 NYC Marathon while raising money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and she\u2019s returning this year in support of Fred\u2019s Team.<\/p>\n

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Billboard\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Del Water Gap<\/p>\n

S. Holden Jaffe, the singer-songwriter better known as Del Water Gap, ran the Los Angeles Marathon in 2025 and later said<\/a> the four or five months he spent training were some of his best in years. After spending much of 2026 on his Chasing the Chimera world tour, he’s got another New York date on the calendar, only this one won’t involve a microphone.<\/p>\n

\"Comic<\/p>\n

John Nacion\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Zarna Garg<\/p>\n

The comedian, actor, and New York Times bestselling author is taking on her first marathon with Team Maybelline<\/a> in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Garg is also featured in the brand’s “Miles of Maybes” campaign and has been documenting her training on Instagram<\/a>, finding plenty to joke about as she prepares to tackle 26.2 miles for the first time.<\/p>\n

\"2024Roy Rochlin\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes running together at the 2024 New York City Half Marathon.<\/p>\n

T.J. Holmes<\/p>\n

Holmes is returning for his fourth NYC Marathon. The journalist and media personality made his debut in 2022 with a 4:25:31 finish, improved to 4:14:39 alongside Amy Robach in 2023, and came back the following year to finish in 4:41:41.<\/p>\n

\"2024Roy Rochlin\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Matt James, shown here in his best finish yet at the New York City Marathon, on November 3, 2024.<\/p>\n

Matt James<\/p>\n

The Bachelor alum and ABC Food Tours co-founder is practically an NYC Marathon regular, with five finishes already under his belt. His fastest came in 2024, when he clocked an impressive 3:00:20, just shy of sub-3. He’ll return Sunday for his sixth trip through the five boroughs.<\/p>\n

\"2025Bryan Bedder\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jordan Litz poses at the finish line during the New York City Marathon on November 2, 2025.<\/p>\n

Jordan Litz<\/p>\n

Litz\u2019s 2025 marathon Sunday was ridiculous, even by Broadway standards: He ran 3:40:53, then made it back to the Gershwin Theatre to perform as Fiyero in Wicked twice that same day. Now starring in the show on London\u2019s West End, he\u2019s returning to New York with a sub-three-hour goal\u2014and, mercifully, no two-show day waiting at the finish.<\/p>\n

\"2025Bryan Bedder\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Patina Miller is seen at the finish line during the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on March 16, 2025.<\/p>\n

Patina Miller<\/p>\n

The Tony-winning Broadway star is another repeat New York runner, and she keeps getting quicker. Miller finished in 4:00:36 in 2023\u2014the same year she had an extra assignment of singing the national anthem before the race\u2014and improved to 3:52:44 last November.<\/p>\n

\"TheGilbert Flores\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Robin Arzon<\/p>\n

Peloton Instructors<\/p>\n

Eight Peloton instructors are running New York this year: Robin Arz\u00f3n, Mariana Fern\u00e1ndez, Hannah Frankson, Alex Karwoski, Zacharias Niedzwiecki, Ash Pryor, Camila Ram\u00f3n, and Matt Wilpers. Arz\u00f3n is going for marathon No. 28<\/a> and her ninth NYC finish. Wilpers and Fern\u00e1ndez also have some serious speed, clocking 1:25:27 and 1:46:22, respectively, at this year’s NYC Half, while Frankson completed the London Marathon in 2024.<\/p>\n

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Thearon W. Henderson\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

P-Lo<\/p>\n

The Filipino American rapper and producer isn\u2019t jumping straight from the recording studio into his first 26.2. P-Lo has already completed the San Francisco and Oakland marathons, and he told Men\u2019s Journal<\/a> that New York has been on his bucket list for years.<\/p>\n

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Christopher Polk\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Rich Roll<\/p>\n

Roll\u2019s endurance resum\u00e9 stretches well beyond traditional road racing. The plant-based ultra-endurance athlete and podcaster has posted top finishes at the Ultraman World Championships and, in 2010, completed the EPIC5 challenge<\/a>\u2014five Ironman-distance triathlons on five Hawaiian islands in under a week.<\/p>\n

Find Your Next Running Playlist\"Chevron\"Chevron\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Sean Abrams was the Senior Editor, Growth and Engagement at Men\u2019s Health. He\u2019s a former hip hop dancer who likes long walks on the beach and large glasses of tequila. You can find his previous work at Maxim, Elite Daily, and AskMen. \u00a0<\/p>\n