When the New York City Marathon returned in 2021 after being canceled at the start of the pandemic, New Yorkers were having such a great time cheering on the runners — outside and with other people — that the race organizers had a problem.
Some of the fans wouldn’t leave.
Ted Metellus, the marathon’s director, said that after the runners had passed through Brooklyn, he got a call from his course operations team in Williamsburg that the joyful spectators near Mile 10 still filled the streets, turning it into a full-on block party.
“After so much isolation during the pandemic, everyone was just so excited to be with one another again,” he said.
If you’re looking to join the party (but hopefully stay on the sidewalk), here’s a guide to picking the right cheering location. There’s a bunch of options along the route, whether you are following one runner’s progress or looking for a good spot to park yourself for the day with a cowbell and a sign.
If you’ve never cheered for the marathon before …
A few tips:
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Cowbells or other noisemakers can save your voice if you plan to be out there all day. Look for names written on runners’ shirts. They’ll appreciate hearing cheers aimed at them, especially in the later stages when the crowds start thinning.
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The funnier your sign, the better.
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The last wave of runners won’t start the race until almost noon, and many will finish at dusk or after dark. The crowds will have dissipated by then, but if you stick around, the runners will appreciate it.
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Try not to say “you’re almost there” to runners until they actually are almost at the finish. If you’re cheering on Central Park South, you’re safe.
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Try not to cross the course when there are runners on it. Since it can be difficult to avoid doing so, the race organizers have created four crossing areas with volunteers who can guide pedestrians to the other side: in Brooklyn, at Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street near Atlantic Terminal, and at Bedford Avenue and Broadway in Williamsburg; and in Manhattan, along First Avenue at 72nd Street, and at 86th Street.
If you’re trying to follow specific runners around the course …
Start by determining your runners’ bib numbers so you can track their progress on the official marathon app. And make sure to find out what they’re wearing so you can more easily spot them in the crowds.
For your first cheering spot, you can take the N train to the 59th Street stop in Brooklyn, which will get you to Mile 4 on Fourth Avenue to catch your runners early on.
After they pass, hop back on the N to Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center, which will let you off near the other end of Fourth Avenue, right before Mile 8.
From here, if you want to see your runners as many times as possible, you can catch a Manhattan-bound Q train to 96th Street. Once you get off, you can walk to First Avenue to cheer at Mile 18. Afterward, you can head back to Fifth Avenue and find a spot around Mile 23, between East 110th and East 90th Streets. You’ll see the marathoners right before they enter Central Park.
If you need to get to the finish line more quickly, take a Manhattan-bound 2 or 3 train from Barclays to Central Park North (110th Street) and walk over to Fifth Avenue at the corner of Central Park, to cheer between Miles 22 and 23 at Duke Ellington Circle. After your runners pass, you can retrace your steps and catch a 2 or 3 train back down to 72nd Street to meet them as they exit the park after finishing.
If you’re cheering with a group of friends …
There are a few locations that are great if you’re cheering with people who don’t live near each other, mostly because these spots have good subway access.
Central Park South in the final mile of the race is near three stations and many train lines: 59th Street-Columbus Circle for the A, C, D and 1 trains; 57th Street-7th Avenue for the N, R and W; and 57th Street for the F.
You can also all meet between Miles 14 and 15 in Long Island City, Queens. That section of the race is near Court Square, which has the E, G and 7 trains, and Queensboro Plaza, for the N, W and 7. Just make sure you coordinate so members of your group don’t end up on opposite sides of the course because of where they came out of the subway. There are no crossing zones in this section of the route.
The best option might be between Miles 8 and 9 on Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. You can walk there from the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station, which is served by the D, N, R, Q, W, 2, 3 and 4 trains and the Long Island Rail Road. Or you can take the C to Lafayette Avenue. The Fulton Street stop along the G line is also an option since one of the four crossing zones is near there.
If you want a party …
Although most of the course feels like a block party, there are three areas that go all out with drum lines, dance crews and many, many cowbells.
Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn is one, thanks to local organizations and neighbors who show up ready to make some noise.
Another is on First Avenue in Manhattan, between 59th Street and the Willis Avenue Bridge. Especially in the East 60s, this stretch is famous among marathon runners for being a wall of sound after the spectator-less Queensboro Bridge. Also, with plenty of bars and restaurants along the avenue, the party lasts all day.
The biggest celebration, though, might be around Mile 20 in the Bronx, right where marathoners are hitting a different sort of wall — where their energy and spirits flag and races often start to fall apart. New York Road Runners, the organization that puts on the marathon, and several local running clubs will have cheering stations there. To join, take the 6 train to the 3rd Avenue-138th Street station or the 4 or 5 train to 138th Street-Grand Concourse.
If you want to support runners where they need it most …
Mile 20 in the Bronx tops this list, which is why so many groups plan to cheer there.
But Fifth Avenue between 110th and 90th Streets has a sneaky hill in the final miles that you might not notice while walking, but you definitely would while running. If you want to be on the park side of the street, take the 2 or 3 train to Central Park North. If you’d rather be on the other side, so you have the option to cheer along First Avenue, take the 6 train to the 96th, 103rd or 110th Street stops.
If you have a specific borough in mind …
Here’s our unofficial list of the best spots to cheer, by borough. (You can’t cheer for the runners on Staten Island because the race starts on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and goes immediately to Brooklyn.)
Brooklyn
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Mile 4 on Fourth Avenue
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Right before Mile 8 on Fourth Avenue
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Between Miles 8 and 9 on Lafayette Avenue
Queens
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Between Miles 14 and 15 in Long Island City
The Bronx
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Mile 20 in Mott Haven
Manhattan
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First Avenue between 59th Street and the Willis Avenue Bridge, for Miles 16 through 19
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Between Miles 22 and 23 at Duke Ellington Circle
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Around Mile 23 between East 110th and East 90th Streets
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Central Park South, in the final mile of the race
Jennie Coughlin is a Times editor who writes about runners and running.
The post These Are the Best Places to Cheer for the New York City Marathon appeared first on New York Times.
