Every year, the streets of New York come alive to run across the boroughs of the city. The New York City Marathon is now a tradition, more just an event for New Yorkers. The marathon tradition came alive in the 1970s. And back then, it had just about 127 runners making rounds around Central Park. Now, the marathon has over 50,00 people that participate. And this run of iconicity is back, and this time, it will happen on November 3, 2024.

The city is all set for the traditional blue line across the five boroughs of New York City. From humble beginnings to becoming a global event that people look forward to, the New York Marathon has grown in the most unexpected way. The event that started in Central Park now has a route that travels through the historical landscapes of NYC. And this year promises to be an exciting one with more TV partners and roads to run! Now, on to the details…

Learn where you can watch the New York Marathon on television

If the athlete in you cannot make it to the venue, don’t worry because the New York Marathon has already got you covered. ESPN and ABC7/WABC-TV have some extensive coverage lined up. Since 2013, the same networks have been the go-to for the marathon’s live broadcast. And this year is no different! The coverage on November 3rd will be aired on ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, and WABC-TV. But that’s not all!

This time, there will also be a national live show on ABC from 3 to 5 p.m. ET on race day. The live coverage will show all the exciting moments through the journey. If that wasn’t fun enough, there’s more. The commentary will be coming in from ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap, with SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm and Running Events commentator John Anderson. So, what are the timings to watch?

Well, the local audience can watch the marathon on WABC-TV, Channel 7, beginning with pre-race coverage at 7 a.m. ET and continuing until 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the live streaming option will be available on the ABC 7 New York App and ABC7NY.com from 7 a.m. ET, with coverage of the finish line lasting until 4:30 p.m. ET. While the New York Marathon in itself is exciting, the route it follows is a rather brilliant one!

Where does the New York marathon start and end?

The New York Marathon is a 26.2-mile journey that will go through many landscapes of the city. The New York Marathon begins on Staten Island. The participants will run across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. From there, the marathon moves through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Here, the places that the marathon will cross include Williamsburg and Greenpoint. This is before crossing to Queens via the Pulaski Bridge. This is then followed by a stretch through Queens. The route will take participants over the Queensboro Bridge and onto First Avenue in Manhattan; soon after comes a quick detour!

The marathon detour will then go to the Bronx, and the runners loop back down into Manhattan. And then comes the last home stretch at Central Park. The race finally ends at West 67th Street on West Drive in Central Park. While the route is thorough and exciting, runners will pass some of the best NYC spots during the race. The Fourth Avenue stretch in Brooklyn or the vibrant East Harlem area is predicted to be the best, with a plethora of crowd and community spirit. Now, if you want to see the runners at the finish, there is an option for that, too.

All those who wish to see the runners have dedicated spectator areas in Central Park. The East Side Grandstand Seating offers premium views, but it is a ticketed option. One can also watch the final push from the spectator area inside Central Park, stretching from Columbus Circle to the south end of the grandstands. While the New York Marathon brings adrenaline, it also brings some road closures.

On race day, authorities will close the streets around the Staten Island starting area from early morning. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge will also be closed to traffic as runners exit Staten Island. Brooklyn will close various streets, particularly along Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue. Meanwhile, the Pulaski Bridge and nearby streets in Queens will also shut down.

In Manhattan, major streets like First Avenue and Fifth Avenue, along with areas near Central Park, will close. While parts of the Bronx will experience temporary closures. Most closures begin early in the morning, often as early as 6:00 AM, and roads typically begin to reopen a few hours after the last runners have passed, which can be as late as early afternoon. Commuters have been notified to take public transport as much as possible. As many subway and bus routes will remain operational, albeit with some detours.