New York City Marathon elevation profile: 234 m gain and 198 m loss over 42.195 km, with segment pacing, fueling notes, and race tips.
The NYC Marathon takes runners through all five boroughs of New York City. Starting on Staten Island and finishing in Central Park, this course offers incredible crowd support and iconic city views throughout the 26.2-mile journey.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | New York, New York, USA |
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Elevation gain | 234 m (768 ft) |
| Elevation loss | 198 m (650 ft) |
| Start / finish elevation | 45 m / 35 m |
| Official site | https://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/ |
Run by effort, not pace. The bridges will slow you down - don't fight them. The crowds in Brooklyn can pull you too fast. Save energy for the Queensboro Bridge and the final Central Park hills.
| Miles | Terrain | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Verrazzano Bridge | Uphill then downhill. Don't chase fast starters. Stay controlled. |
| 3-8 | Brooklyn (flat) | Incredible crowds. Resist surging. Lock into goal pace rhythm. |
| 9-13 | Brooklyn/Queens | Pulaski Bridge at mile 13 - small climb. Stay focused. |
| 14-16 | Queensboro Bridge | Long, quiet climb. No crowds. Mental challenge. Run your own race. |
| 17-20 | Manhattan/Bronx | Crowds return on 1st Ave. Willis Ave Bridge at mile 20. Stay patient. |
| 21-26 | Manhattan/Central Park | Rolling hills in the park. Final push. Trust your training. |
Take a gel before the Queensboro Bridge (mile 14) - you'll need the energy for the quiet, mental miles on the bridge. The aid stations on the bridge are limited.
NYC has 234m (768ft) of elevation gain - more than Boston. The five bridges create challenging climbs, especially the long Queensboro Bridge at miles 15-16. It's not a PR course for most runners.
The Queensboro Bridge (miles 15-16) is the toughest mentally and physically. It's a long, gradual climb with no crowd support, and comes when you're already fatigued.
Run by effort, not pace. Accept that bridges will slow you. Many runners go out too fast in Brooklyn due to crowd energy and pay for it later. Even effort is key.
NYC has the best crowd support of any marathon - over 1 million spectators. The only quiet section is the Queensboro Bridge. Brooklyn and 1st Avenue are electric.
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