Marathon FAQ
Please check back frequently for updates.
APPLYING TO RUN
When is the race?
The date of the ING New York City Marathon is Sunday, November 4, 2012.
When can I apply?
The application opened on January 2, 2012. Please read the instructions before applying to familiarize yourself with the application process.
How do I apply?
You must login to your runner profile and enter your username and password, if you've applied to previous ING New York City Marathons, NYC Half, or Empire State Building Run-up events. If this is your first time applying, you can sign up for a username and password. One you've logged in, you can follow the prompts to enter our non-guaranteed entry drawing or apply with guaranteed entry. If you have questions about applying, you can e-mail us jcupo@nyrr.org.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply for non-guaranteed entry and some forms of guaranteed entry is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 23, 2012. The drawing will be held in late April 2012. [Details]
See our Charities page and International Travel Partners page for information on these application deadlines.
What is the entry fee this year?
The entry fee for the ING New York City Marathon 2012 is $216 for NYRR members (domestic), $255 for non-members (domestic), and $347 for international entrants not entered through International Travel Partners.
Why are these fees higher than last year?
The cost of producing the race has increased due to many factors including increased costs for event staging, labor, and the services of NYC agencies. Operating costs that significantly affect the race -- like gas, insurance, and bridge tolls -- continue to rise, which increases the cost of doing business in the world's greatest city for running. Our race fee has gone up due to these increased race operation costs and city agency fees, which are required to maintain our world-class standards in safety and quality.
What is guaranteed entry and how do I qualify?
Guidelines for guaranteed entry in 2012 can be found here. Please read our updates for guaranteed entry in 2013, because some updates affect steps you may need to take in 2012 to qualify for guaranteed entry in 2013 and beyond.
Are there any races after January 31, 2012, that can count for guaranteed entry with a fast qualifying time?
Qualifying times achieved at the 2012 NYC Half (March 18), Boston Marathon (April 16), and NYRR Brooklyn Half-Marathon (date TBD) may be used to qualify for guaranteed entry in the ING New York City Marathon 2012. [Details].
If I apply for non-guaranteed entry, when will I find out whether I'm accepted?
The Marathon Opening Day non-guaranteed entry drawing will be held in late April. Details will be announced soon, and applicant profiles will be updated after the drawing.
AFTER THE APPLICATION PERIOD
What happens after I'm accepted?
If you're accepted into the marathon on April 23, your credit card will be charged the application fee and your runner profile will be updated in the following days. We will also inform all applicants of their acceptance or non-acceptance via e-mail in April, if they have provided a valid e-mail address. In the months leading up to the marathon you will receive periodic e-mail updates with important information about the race. Updates will also be posted on this site.
Can I run for a charity?
Yes! Accepted entrants can add meaning to their miles by running for one of more than 200 official marathon charities. Those not accepted in the guaranteed-entry drawing on April 23 can obtain guaranteed entry through a charity. Charity runners raised a record $34 million for worthy causes in the ING New York City Marathon 2011. Please visit our Charities page for more information.
When will I find out about my placement at the start?
Assignments for race number, start corral, and wave start are based on the previous and/or predicted times provided on your race application. This information will be available in your runner profile in October.
Where and when do I pick up my race number?
Entrants must pick up their race numbers and other materials in person with photo identification at the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, Hall 3E, 11th Avenue at 35th Street, during the following hours:
Thursday, November 1 | 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (last entry at 7:00 p.m.)
Friday, November 2 | 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (last entry at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, November 3 | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
A schedule of expo highlights and activities will be posted in late October.
Do you have a training program?
The fully customized Official NYRR ING New York City Marathon Training Program is a dynamic plan, available in 20-week, 16-week, and 12-week versions, that draws from our unparalleled knowledge of the marathon course and incorporates insights from our massive database of marathon finishers to create a tailor-made training regimen. The program will be available soon.
We also offer training through NYRR Team for Kids, which gives you expert coaching, VIP treatment on race day, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment throughout your 26.2-mile journey as you raise funds to get kids moving; and at NYRR Running Classes, where you can learn proper pacing, race strategy, injury prevention, and more.
Do you have hotel or travel recommendations?
Visit our Travel/Hotels page for information on getting to NYC and accommodations for your visit. Please note that entrants must visit the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo on November 1, 2, or 3 to pick up their race materials.
What is the expo?
The ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo is a three-day event open to the public, including more than 100 vendors and exhibitors from around the world for souvenirs, product samples, race applications, health and medical advice, activities, and more. The expo is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on 11th Avenue at 35th Street in Manhattan. It will be open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (November 1-3) for runners, friends, and family to enjoy. Runners must pick up their race materials at the expo.
How do I get to the expo?
Free shuttle buses will operate to and from select hotels and transit hubs, including Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal. The schedule and locations will be available after September 1. There is also public transportation to the Javits Center via the M34 and M42 bus routes.
How do I cancel my entry?
If you applied through a method of entry that is not through a charity, with an International Charity Partner (ITP), or as an Athlete with Disabilities (AWD) through Achilles International, you can cancel your entry online, in person, or by mail. There is an option to cancel your entry in your runner profile. Cancellation dates will be posted soon. If you've applied through a charity or with an ITP, you must contact that group directly for cancellation rules. If you're an AWD who entered through Achilles International, you are not eligible for guaranteed entry in a future year unless you are entered by Achilles International.
Once you've applied, all fees are non-refundable. If you cancel your entry, you cannot be reinstated into the ING New York City Marathon 2012.
RACE DAY
What is the weather likely to be?
Average temperatures from past New York City Marathons:
- Average high: 62°F/17°C
- Average low: 47°F/8°C
- Mean average: 55°F/13°C
What time is the start?
The official start times for 2012 have not been determined.
How do I get to the start?
Official transportation to the start is free to all entrants. Each entrant must select a departure location and a time, once accepted into the race, in order to receive an Official Transportation assignment. Information on selecting a departure location will be available in April. Athletes with disabilities (AWDs) and ITP entrants will receive separate instructions regarding their transportation.
Can my family and friends come with me to the start?
No. Official Transportation is for marathon entrants only, and there is no spectator viewing at the start. Your friends and family in NYC will be able to watch the NBC4 New York show and follow the race online and via the ING New York City Marathon mobile app (details to come).
What's the course like?
The ING New York City Marathon route runs through all five boroughs of New York City: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. The course unites dozens of culturally and ethnically diverse neighborhoods, crosses five bridges, and finishes in world-famous Central Park. More than two million spectators crowd the sidelines. Check out course information and stay tuned for more information and maps. Please note that course information is subject to change.
What fluids and refreshments are available at the start and finish and along the course?
Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water will be available at the start and at official fluid stations every mile beginning at mile 3. Gatorade G Series Pro sports drink will be available at official fluid stations every mile beginning at mile 3 (except at mile 17). Fluids will be dispensed in recyclable cups. The Poland Spring Hydration Zone—two blocks of a Poland Spring environment including water stations and music—will be located at mile 17 on First Avenue. At the PowerGel Energy Zone at mile 18, assorted flavors of PowerGel will help you hurdle "the wall" and energize you to the finish. Information on refreshments at the start and finish will be available in September. [ Details]
Are there pace teams in the race?
We expect to once again offer pace teams this year; stay tuned for details.
What entertainment is there along the course?
Info about entertainment during race week, at the start, along the course, and at the finish will be available in October.
How can I meet up with my friends and family at the finish?
Stay tuned for information about the finish and post-finish areas.
What if I have to drop out?
If you need to drop out for any reason, look for a volunteer or report to the nearest medical aid station (after every water station). Your information will be forwarded to the finisher area. If you have not completed the whole course, don't go through the finish chutes.
How do I run with a charity?
Visit our charities page for information on charities. From there, you can link to our list of more than 200 official charities. Be aware that many charities fill quickly; almost all are closed out by mid-September.
What should I do if the invitation code I received from my charity is not working?
Please contact the charity office at charities@nyrr.org.
How do I register my charity as one of your official charities?
Please contact the charity office at charities@nyrr.org.
MISCELLANEOUS
What if I have to cancel?
You may cancel online until October 31 and in person at the expo November 1-3. Please read our cancellation guidelines carefully, as some rules have changed. If you cancelled 2011 and wish to run this year, you will still need to apply and pay all 2012 fees. When you cancel, all fees are non-refundable, and your decision is final; you cannot be reinstated into the ING New York City Marathon 2012.
Handcycles and other athletes with disabilities (AWDs) entered in 2012 through Achilles International (Achilles) who cancel are not eligible for guaranteed entry in a future year unless entered by Achilles in that year.
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How can my company become an official sponsor?
Learn about becoming a sponsor.
How do I sign up for media credentials?
Visit the Media Center for more information, or contact the media office at media@nyrr.org.
