Marathon
Type
City, road. One of the six World Majors.
Course
Point-to-point course, passing through all five Boroughs. Surprisingly undulating, but with amazing support throughout.
Expo
Huge expo – a bit overwhelming. Lots of race-branded goods. Extra treat is the marathon-themed Tiffany jewellery.
Start Line facilities / Aid Stations
Race Village-type start, with food and drink available. Good toilet facilities. Good, well-stocked aid stations. Remember to pick up your free Dunkin’ Doughnut hat.
Medal/Tshirt/Goody Bag
Good-quality medal, and good-quality long-sleeved T-shirt. Pre-race goody bag.
Accommodation
Take your pick – we stayed at Ace Hotel and Novotel Times Square. Both very good though Ace more interesting.
Restaurants
Again, a huge choice. Ruby Tuesday catered for a large party.
Comments
Obviously a brilliant marathon. It’s all been said before, but be sure to take throw-aways to keep you warm at the start, and take the poncho option when signing up rather than the bag drop if at all possible. It’s a long walk to retrieve your bag. A personal preference, but we like to take the subway and ferry, rather than the coach, to the start on Staten Island. Go prepared to spend time talking to other runners and making friends rather than grumbling about how early you have to be there and how long you have to wait to start. Make your arrangements for meeting others, getting back to your hotel in advance. The finish line is very busy and road closures make moving about difficult.
