Running - The New York City Marathon

From it's unhearalded start in 1970, the New York City Marathon has grown into an international event. Run through the heart of New York City in early November, it reaches its finish in a little over 2 hours in Central Park. It is the world's largest marathon with over 50,000 finishers. The race is organized by New York Road Runners (NYRR) and, with the exception of 2012, has been run every year since 1970. In 2012, the marathon was canceled due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, and again in 2020 due to the Covid19 pandemic.

The NY City Marathon - History

The first New York City Marathon, in 1970, had 55 finishers and a total budget of $1,000. Currently more than 35,000 athletes participate and prize money exceeds $250,000. Male and female winners in the open division receive $50,000 each.

In 1976, to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial, the marathon which had previously been only run within the confines of moved to the streets of New York City's five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.

Currently beginning on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the course then runs through Brooklyn and Queens and across the Queensborough Bridge into Manhattan.

From there, the course heads north along First Avenue, across the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx, across the Madison Avenue Bridge into Manhattan, and along Fifth Avenue into Central Park. For the last 3 1/2 miles, the course goes through Central Park ending at the Tavern on the Green.

 

The NY City Marathon - Male Winners

Year	Winner, Country	Time
1970	Gary Muhrcke, USA	2:31:38
1971	Norman Higgins, USA	2:22:54
1972	Sheldon Karlin, USA	2:27:52
1973	Tom Fleming, USA	2:21:54
1974	Norbert Sander, USA	2:26:30
1975	Tom Fleming, USA	2:19:27
1976	Bill Rodgers, USA	2:10:09
1977	Bill Rodgers, USA	2:11:28
1978	Bill Rodgers, USA	2:12:12
1979	Bill Rodgers, USA	2:11:42
1980	Alberto Salazar, USA	2:09:41
1981	Alberto Salazar, USA	2:08:13
1982	Alberto Salazar, USA	2:09:29
1983	Rod Dixon, NZ	2:08:59
1984	Orlando Pizzolato, ITA	2:14:53
1985	Orlando Pizzolato, ITA	2:11:34
1986	Gianni Poli, ITA	2:11:06
1987	Ibrahim Hussein, KEN	2:11:01
1988	Steve Jones, WAL	2:08:20
1989	Juma Ikangaa, TAN	2:08:01
1990	Douglas Wakiihuri, KEN	2:12:39
1991	Salvador Garcia, MEX	2:09:28
1992	Willie Mtolo, S. Afr.	2:09:29
1993	Andres Espinosa, MEX	2:10:04
1994	German Silva, MEX	2:11:21
1995	German Silva, MEX	2:11:00
1996	Giacomo Leone, ITA	2:09:54
1997	John Kagwe, KEN	2:08:12
1998	John Kagwe, KEN	2:08:45
1999	Joseph Chebet, KEN	2:09:14
2000	Abdelkhader El Mouaziz, MOR	2:10:09
2001	Tesfaye Jifar, ETH	2:07:43
2002	Rodgers Rop, KEN	2:08:07
2003	Martin Lel, KEN	2:10:30
2004	Hendrik Ramaala, RSA	2:09:28
2005	Paul Tergat, KEN	2:09:30
2006	Marilson Gomes dos Santos, BRA	2:09:58
2007	Martin Le , KEN	2:09:04
2008	Marilson Gomes dos Santos, BRA	2:08:43
2009	Meb Keflezighi, USA	2:09:15
2010	Gebregziabher Gebremariam, ETH	2:08:14
2011	Geoffrey Mutai, KEN	2:05:06
2012	Cancelled - Hurricane Sandy
2013	Geoffrey Mutai, KEN	2:08:24
2014	Wilson Kipsang, KEN	2:10:59
2015	Stanley Biwott, KEN	2:10:34
2016	Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, Eritrea	2:07:51
2017	Geoffrey Kamworor, KEN	2:10:53
2018	Lelisa Desisa, ETH	2:05:59
2019	Geoffrey Kamworor, KEN	2:08:13
2020	Cancelled - Pandemic

 

The NY City Marathon - Female Winners

Year	Winner, Country	Time
1971	Beth Bonner, USA	2:55:22
1972	Nina Kuscsik, USA	3:08:41
1973	Nina Kuscsik, USA	2:57:07
1974	Katherine Switzer, USA	3:07:29
1975	Kim Merritt, USA	2:46:14
1976	Miki Gorman, USA	2:39:11
1977	Miki Gorman, USA	2:43:10
1978	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:32:30
1979	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:27:33
1980	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:25:41
1981	Allison Roe, NZ	2:25:29
1982	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:27:14
1983	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:27:00
1984	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:29:30
1985	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:28:34
1986	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:28:06
1987	Priscilla Welch, GBR	2:30:17
1988	Grete Waitz, NOR	2:28:07
1989	Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR	2:25:30
1990	Wanda Panfil, POL	2:30:45
1991	Liz McColgan, SCO	2:27:23
1992	Lisa Ondieki, AUS	2:24:40
1993	Uta Pippig, GER	2:26:24
1994	Tegla Loroupe, KEN	2:27:37
1995	Tegla Loroupe, KEN	2:28:06
1996	Anuta Catuna, ROM	2:28:18
1997	F. Rochat-Moser, SWI	2:28:43
1998	Franca Fiacconi, ITA	2:25:17
1999	Adriana Fernandez, MEX	2:25:06
2000	Ludmila Petrova, RUS	2:25:45
2001	Margaret Okayo, KEN	2:24:21
2002	Joyce Chepchumba, KEN	2:25:56
2003	Margaret Okayo, KEN	2:22:31
2004	Paula Radcliffe, GBR	2:23:10
2005	Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT	2:24:41
2006	Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT	2:25:03
2007	Paula Radcliffe, GBR	2:23:09
2008	Paula Radcliffe, GBR	2:23:56
2009	Derartu Tulu, ETH	2:28:52
2010	Edna Kiplagat, KEN	2:28:20
2011	Firehiwot Dado, ETH	2:23:15
2012	Cancelled - Hurricane Sandy
2013	Priscah Jeptoo, KEN	2:25:07
2014	Mary Keitany, KEN	2:25:07
2015	Mary Keitany, KEN	2:24:25
2016	Mary Keitany, KEN	2:24:26
2017	Shalane Flanagan, USA	2:26:53
2018	Mary Keitany, KEN	2:22:48
2019	Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN	2:22:38
2020	Cancelled - Pandemic