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New York City Marathon

Sunday, November 1, 2026 · New York, USA

Updated May 2026

Five major bridges and a punishing late-stage 5th Avenue climb make New York City the tactically most-unforgiving of the World Marathon Majors despite a moderate elevation profile.

Kenyan Running Difficulty Index9.2 / 10How the course actually runs

Kenyan Running Elite Field Index9.0 / 10How deep the field around you is

The score breakdown

The Kenyan Running Difficulty Index combines four weighted factors. The heaviest weight (35%) is on Tactical Brutality. That is what a Kenyan coach watches first: where the field actually blows up.

Topographic Stress (30% weight)8.6 / 30

Atmospheric Stress (20% weight)10.5 / 20

Course Friction (15% weight)9.0 / 15

Tactical Brutality (35% weight)28.0 / 35

Score confidence: preliminary. Computed from public course, weather, and prize data; calibration against 5K split data and coach review is in progress.

Course profile

Elevation gain: 246m / 810ft
Elevation loss: 251m / 824ft
Highest point: 79m
Surface: paved smooth
Bridges: 5 (major)
Late-stage climbs (after mile 18): Willis Avenue Bridge (~50ft) at mile 19.5; Fifth Avenue continuous 100ft climb between miles 22-23; Central Park rolling hills in the final 4 miles.
Profile notes: Front-loaded with 150+ft Verrazzano climb at mile 1. Late-stage climbs disproportionately punish runners who don't pace conservatively.

Race day

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Field size: 59,226
Entry: General lottery (~1% acceptance), charity partner program, or time qualification.

Weather (historical)

Median temp: 11°C
Temp range: 2°C to 20°C
Humidity: 64% at start
Wind: Variable 5-20 mph historically
Notable weather events: 2012 race cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy

Prize money

Total purse: $750,000+ (2025)
Winner: $100K
2nd / 3rd: $60K / $40K
Notes: NYRR member division pays $1,500 to top local finishers.

Course records

Men's record2:04:58Tamirat Tola (ETH), 2023

Women's record2:19:51Hellen Obiri (KEN), 2025

Recent winners

Top East African winners (Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda) across the last 10 verified editions: 9 men, 9 women.

Year	Men's winner	Time	Women's winner	Time
2025	Benson Kipruto (KEN)	2:08:09	Hellen Obiri (KEN)	2:19:51
2024	Abdi Nageeye (NED)	2:07:39	Sheila Chepkirui (KEN)	2:24:35
2023	Tamirat Tola (ETH)	2:04:58	Hellen Obiri (KEN)	2:27:23
2022	Evans Chebet (KEN)	2:08:41	Sharon Lokedi (KEN)	2:23:23
2021	Albert Korir (KEN)	2:08:22	Peres Jepchirchir (KEN)	2:22:39
2019	Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)	2:08:13	Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN)	2:22:38
2018	Lelisa Desisa (ETH)	2:05:59	Mary Keitany (KEN)	2:22:48
2017	Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)	2:10:53	Shalane Flanagan (USA)	2:26:53
2016	Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (ERI)	2:07:51	Mary Keitany (KEN)	2:24:26
2015	Stanley Biwott (KEN)	2:10:34	Mary Keitany (KEN)	2:24:25

Other races worth a look

Marathons with related profiles, fields, or training windows.

Chicago Marathon

Chicago, USA

Difficulty2.6Elite Field9.0

Other US-based World Marathon Major

London Marathon

London, UK

Difficulty3.9Elite Field9.5

Comparable WMM tier with similar field depth

Training for New York City Marathon?

A static plan is a starting point. What changes when a Kenyan coach reads your week-by-week training is the part a generic plan can't do. Take the free 5-question quiz to get matched.

Take the free coach-match quiz See New York City Marathon coaching

Sources

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