Your No-Nonsense Guide to Getting into the 2023 New York City Marathon
The application period opens February 8 for the world’s largest marathon. Here’s the essential information you need to know.
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There’s much to celebrate about New York City in 2023—like the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, born in the Bronx!—but February marks a big month for the Big Apple: February 8 is the opening day of registration for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, happening November 5, 2023.
Interested in running the greatest race in the world? We’re proud of you for even thinking about it. Here’s your quick-and-dirty guide for getting started.
At a Glance: The New York City Marathon
With 1.2 million finishers since 1970, the New York City Marathon is considered the biggest marathon in the world. After returning to full capacity last year, the TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) New York City Marathon expects 50,000 runners in 2023. (Imagine the entire population of Greenland).
“The TCS New York City Marathon brings together 50,000 people from all walks of life, each with their own story, to create an iconic day for the city,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of the New York Road Runners.
The course runs 26.2 miles through the city’s five boroughs, with 810 feet of elevation gain and 824 feet of loss. (The Boston Marathon, for comparison, has nearly the same gain, 815 feet, but significantly more loss, 1,275 feet.) The course record has been held by Gregory Mutai (2:05:06 in 2011) and Margaret Okayo (2:22:31), both from Kenya.
Learn more about how the marathon’s course design here.
How to Register
Despite these big participant numbers, getting into the New York City Marathon can prove daunting, if not a bit tricky. Here’s what you need to know to secure your spot in this year’s race:
OK, there are two way to get into to the New York City Marathon: Guaranteed Entry and Non-Guaranteed General Entry:
Guaranteed Entry: These are spots reserved for nine categories of entrants, which include affiliations with charities, time-qualified standards, cancellation in 2022, and others.
Non-Guaranteed General Entry: This means you would like to apply with no affiliation, which puts your name into an entry drawing that’s sliced up into three categories: “New York City metro area,” “National,” or “International” applicants.
The TCS New York City Marathon application period is February 8 – 22, 2023.
February 8 marks the first day to apply for a Non-Guaranteed General Entry, and you can register here. If selected, you will be notified on March 1, and your payment will be automatically processed. (This is also the moment you freak out and start scrambling for a training plan.)
If runners do not receive an entry through the drawing, they can still obtain an entry through an Official Charity Partner, International Tour Operator, or NYRR’s Team for Kids (“Guaranteed Entry”).
The cost to run the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon is $255 (NYRR members) and $295 (non-members).
Summary of Important Dates
February 8: Application for the entry drawing opens at 12:00 P.M. ET
February 22: Application window closes at 11:59 P.M. ET
March 1: Drawing takes place and runners are notified of their status
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