How to Qualify for the NYC Marathon: Everything You Need to Know
The New York City Marathon winds through all five boroughs. It’s the largest marathon in the world, with upwards of 55,000 runners in 2024 who were cheered on by over 2 million people on the sidelines.
As one of the seven World Marathon Majors, the 26.2-mile race is full of highly competitive runners. Only about a quarter of applicants are accepted into the NYC Marathon, but if you’re a seasoned distance runner, it’s absolutely worth applying—or at least looking into.
Securing a spot in the race calls for more than signing up and hoping you’re selected. Having said that, there are multiple paths to qualify for the NYC Marathon. This guide will go over each option, helping you figure out which might work best for your goals, timeline, background, and training level.
Here’s how to qualify for the NYC Marathon.
Can anyone participate in the NYC Marathon?
Not everyone can participate in the NYC Marathon. It’s a bucket-list item for some of the world’s best runners who work toward it over years of training. The prestigious race is only open to people 18 and older who meet specific qualifications based on previous running times or race participations. There are a few other routes, including the lottery and charity bib entry.
How do you qualify to run the NYC Marathon?
There are a handful of ways to qualify for the NYC Marathon. This includes time qualifiers, the 9+1 program, legacy runners, the lottery draw, charity entry, and the ITO program.
Time qualifiers for NYC Marathon
NYRR (New York Road Runners) members can get guaranteed entry by finishing a certified marathon or NYRR half-marathon within a specific qualifying time before the end of August in the year they want to do the NYC Marathon.
There are a limited number of spaces for non-NYRR members who complete a certified marathon with a qualifying time during the calendar year prior to the race. (Non-members can’t qualify with a half-marathon.)
The time qualifiers are set by age (the age you’ll be on the day of the NYC Marathon) and gender. For men between 18 and 34 years old, the time qualifications are 2:53:00 for a marathon and 1:21:00 for a half-marathon. Then it increases by age group, the highest being 4:55:00 for a marathon and 2:15:00 for a half-marathon for those 80 and older.
For women between 18 and 34, the time qualifiers are 3:13:00 (full marathon) and 1:32:00 (half). It goes up by age group, with those 80 and above set to 6:35:00 (full) and 2:50:00 (half).
There are also time qualifiers for nonbinary athletes. These are the same as the women’s time qualifiers.
9+1 program
Another way to get guaranteed entry is through the 9+1 program. If you have an active NYRR membership, you can complete nine qualifying races in one calendar year and volunteer at one qualifying event the same year. Then you’d qualify for the following year’s NYC Marathon.
Legacy 15+ runners
Anyone who’s finished the New York City Marathon 15 or more times (even if the races weren’t recent or in consecutive years) can get guaranteed entry to run the race in future years. But they aren’t automatically enrolled—they still have to sign up within the registration window.
NYRR Virtual Racing
A limited number of spots are available for those who finish a virtual version of the NYC Marathon. To do this, you need to create an account on the Strava mobile app, then sign up for a 26.2-mile race and complete it within a specified timeframe. Some virtual races can count toward the 9+1 program.
Annual lottery for NYC Marathon
If you don’t have guaranteed entry to the NYC Marathon, you can enter the lottery. You’ll usually need to apply in February of the race year, but that’s subject to change.
There are three lottery drawings for the New York City Marathon:
- Metro area – This drawing is for residents who live in New York proper or within 60 miles of NYC.
- National – This drawing is for applicants who live in the U.S. but not within the NYC metropolitan area.
- International – Another drawing is for applicants who live outside the United States.
Bear in mind that up to 200,000 people enter the lottery, and only about 3% to 4% are selected.,
NYRR member-only drawing
There’s also a “second-chance” drawing. This lottery automatically enters NYRR members who applied but weren’t selected for the general drawing.
Charity entry
Some runners can run the NYC Marathon through a charity bib entry. This requires fundraising a specific amount of money (typically $3,000 or more) for one of the NYRR’s official charity partners.
International Tour Operator (ITO) program
The NYC Marathon also has guaranteed entries for qualifying companies providing tourism services to runners who live outside the U.S. Once selected into the International Tour Operator (ITO) program, these “tour operators” must agree to purchase at least 20 race entries, meet certain marketing requirements, and make race-day accommodations for the runners.
How Stretch*d can support your marathon journey
If you’re interested in running the NYC Marathon (this year or in the future as part of your multi-year fitness journey), it’s worth carefully researching all routes and weighing your options. Consider which entry is most realistic based on your running history and fitness level, where you live, and how much time you have before the registration windows close.
Qualifying for and finishing the New York City Marathon calls for dedicated training, consistency, injury prevention practices, and a smart recovery plan. Stretch*d is here to help. Our assisted stretching and stretch massage services help runners improve their mobility, increase flexibility, recover between races, and feel strong and pain-free on marathon day.
If you live in the New York area, make an appointment or stop by one of our NYC locations.
Sources:
New York Road Runners (NYRR). 2024 TCS New York City Marathon Is Largest Ever. https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/getinspired/photos-and-stories/2024/2024-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-race-day
Reuters. NYC Marathon draws record applications of more than 200,000. https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/nyc-marathon-draws-record-applications-more-than-200000-2025-03-05/
New York Road Runners (NYRR). Marathon Time Qualifiers. https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/marathon-time-qualifiers
New York Road Runners (NYRR). Streakers and 15+. https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/results/streakers
New York Road Runners (NYRR). Earn Guaranteed Entry. https://www.nyrr.org/run/guaranteed-entry
New York Road Runners (NYRR). Virtual Racing. https://www.nyrr.org/run/virtual-racing
New York Road Runners (NYRR). The Drawing. https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/the-drawing
New York Road Runners (NYRR). TCS New York City Marathon 9+1 Membership Program. https://www.nyrr.org/run/guaranteed-entry/tcs-new-york-city-marathon-9plus1-program#2025-guaranteed-entry
New York Road Runners (NYRR). NYRR Member-Only Second-Chance Drawing. https://www.nyrr.org/run/guidelines-and-procedures/race-entry-methods/nyrr-member-only-second-chance-drawing
New York Road Runners (NYRR). TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program. https://www.nyrr.org/getinvolved/charity-partners/charity-partners-tcsnycm
New York Road Runners (NYRR). Become an International Tour Operator. https://www.nyrr.org/getinvolved/international-tour-operators
The New York Times. How to Run the New York City Marathon. https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-run-nyc-marathon-qualify.html
NPR. Running in the New York City Marathon? It’s hard to get into but here’s how some do it. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/nx-s1-5319130/running-new-york-city-marathon-lottery-bib-runners
