NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) — New York City\u2019s marathon season is in full swing, with runners clocking miles in flashy gear from Central Park to Brooklyn and the Bronx.<\/p>\n
Joggers are racking up more than just steps. They\u2019re also spurring a growing economic impact by boosting New York\u2019s labor income, tax revenue and business activity.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s running boom generated an estimated $934 million for the local economy in the fiscal year through March, according to New York Road Runners, which puts on the\u00a0TCS New York City Marathon<\/a>\u00a0and other races. That\u2019s up 58% from the comparable period five years earlier, more than double the increase in consumer prices.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat has happened with running in the last five years or so, since the pandemic especially, is now people are using running not just as a form of exercise, but it\u2019s a form of therapy,\u201d said Rob Simmelkjaer, the organization\u2019s chief executive officer. \u201cIt\u2019s just become a really big part of the social fabric of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s marathon alone generated $692 million, more than twice as much as in 2019. Driven in part by out-of-town visitors, the tally included $287 million spent on accommodations and dining and $19 million on local transportation. This year\u2019s marathon is set for Nov. 2.<\/p>\n Businesses have rushed in to capitalize by offering runners accessories, training apps and group runs. There\u2019s even a code for New York runners to wear clothing of a specific color to events to signal that they\u2019re single and on the dating market. Sneakers are\u00a0flying off the shelves<\/a>.<\/p>\n Running is at \u201cthe center of a lot of people\u2019s social lives, especially younger people who are joining these clubs that are increasingly growing and they\u2019re meeting people through running,\u201d Simmelkjaer said. \u201cThey\u2019re meeting their friends and they\u2019re meeting boyfriends and girlfriends through running as well.\u201d<\/p>\n New York Road Runners hosted 34 races between April 2024 and March 2025, drawing more than 291,000 participants and over a million out-of-town runners, spectators and guests.<\/p>\n Training programs have also surged. New York Road Runners\u2019 training, offered in partnership with Runna, a coaching app launched after Covid, now includes more than 4,000 participants through in-person sessions across five city parks. Another 6,000 use it virtually, a 94% increase from the previous year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe barrier to entry is so low,\u201d Simmelkjaer said. \u201cYou just need a pair of running shoes, right?\u201d<\/p>\n