Weather
Climate Avg| Time | Temp | Dew Pt | Humidity | Wind | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 44.2 – 44.2°F | 40° Ideal | 85 – 85% | 6 mph N | Partly cloudy |
| 8:00 AM | 43.7 – 43.7°F | 41° Ideal | 89 – 89% | 9 mph NW | Drizzle |
| 9:00 AM | 42.2 – 67.8°F | 43° Ideal | 57 – 79% | 9 mph W | Drizzle |
| 10:00 AM | 51.4 – 69.4°F | 47° Ideal | 52 – 70% | 11 mph W | Partly cloudy |
| 11:00 AM | 52.9 – 72.7°F | 46° Ideal | 47 – 61% | 13 mph W | Partly cloudy |
| Finish | 54.6 – 75.8°F | 43° Ideal | 44 – 46% | 15 mph W | Partly cloudy |
Based on 3-year average for this date. Real forecast available in 92 days.
Elevation Profile
Course Stats
Course Breakdown
Brooklyn
Cross the Verrazzano conservatively. The bridge climb is steep but short. Settle into pace by mile 3.
You start on Staten Island and climb the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in the first mile, one of the steepest grades on the course. Brooklyn is flat to gently rolling with huge crowds in Park Slope and along Fourth Avenue. Don't let the energy pull you ahead of pace.
Queens & The Queensboro
Stay calm on the quiet Queensboro Bridge. Do NOT surge onto First Avenue no matter how good the crowd feels.
After crossing the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, the course winds through Long Island City before the silent, exposed Queensboro Bridge at mile 15. The deafening First Avenue crowds on the other side trigger the most common pacing mistake in the race: a surge you'll pay for in Central Park.
The Bronx & Harlem
Two more bridge crossings. Maintain rhythm through the quieter stretches.
A quick out-and-back through the Bronx via the Willis Avenue Bridge, then south through Harlem. The crowds are enthusiastic but the course can feel lonely between aid stations. The rollers here are small but add up on tired legs.
Central Park
Cat Hill at 23.5 and the rolling terrain are the final test. Stay patient, the finish is close.
Central Park's hills are short but relentless on spent legs. Cat Hill at mile 23.5 is the last real climb. The final stretch exits the park briefly on 59th Street before re-entering for the finish. The crowds are enormous and the downhill to the line is a relief.
Mile Splits
| Mile | Grade |
|---|---|
| 1 | +0.1% |
| 2 | -1.6% |
| 3 | -0.1% |
| 4 | +0.0% |
| 5 | -0.4% |
| 6 | -0.2% |
| 7 | -0.1% |
| 8 | +0.3% |
| 9 | +0.1% |
| 10 | -0.5% |
| 11 | +0.3% |
| 12 | -0.3% |
| 13 | -0.2% |
| 14 | +0.0% |
| 15 | +0.4% |
| 16 | +0.2% |
| 17 | +0.0% |
| 18 | -0.5% |
| 19 | -0.1% |
| 20 | +0.4% |
| 21 | -0.3% |
| 22 | +0.2% |
| 23 | +0.6% |
| 24 | +0.9% |
| 25 | -0.5% |
| 26 | -0.2% |
| 27 | +0.5% |
RM Difficulty Index
Race-Day Weather History
Race-morning conditions on this date over the past 5 years: median 48°F with a 38°F dew point and 6 mph wind. Heat has rarely been a factor.
| Year | Temp | Dew Pt | Wind | Rain | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49°F | 36°F | 8 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
| 2023 | 44°F | 38°F | 8 mph | — | Drizzle |
| 2018 | 55°F | 52°F | 6 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
| 2017 | 48°F | 37°F | 5 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
| 2016 | 45°F | 41°F | 4 mph | — | Partly cloudy |
Morning conditions (race window) on the NYC Marathon calendar date each year, from the ERA5 reanalysis archive — the race’s usual slot, not necessarily each edition’s exact day.
New York City Marathon Route & Pace Calculator
The route of the New York City Marathon covers all five boroughs across 26.2 miles, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and finishing in Central Park. The marathon route through New York crosses five bridges, climbs through Brooklyn and Queens, turns onto First Avenue in Manhattan, loops through the Bronx, and returns to Manhattan for the final miles in Central Park. The elevation gain is a moderate 86 meters, but it is spread across dozens of short rollers and bridge climbs that never let your legs settle.
NYC Marathon qualifying times are managed by NYRR (New York Road Runners) and range from 2:53 to 5:29 depending on age and gender. Note that the NYC Marathon is not a Boston-qualifying course due to point-to-point net elevation rules, but it has its own guaranteed entry time standards through NYRR. Runners can also enter via the lottery, charity entries, or the 9+1 program. Our pace model accounts for each bridge climb and descent, the cumulative toll of the rollers, and the typical cold November conditions so you can race this iconic course with a smart plan.
NYC Marathon FAQ
When is the next NYC Marathon?›
The next NYC Marathon is on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
How long is the NYC Marathon?›
The NYC Marathon is 26.2 miles (42.195 km), the standard marathon distance. It runs in New York, NY.
How much elevation gain does the NYC Marathon have?›
The NYC Marathon has about 281 ft (86 m) of climbing and 368 ft of descent, with a maximum grade of 6.8%.
Is the NYC Marathon flat, downhill, or hilly?›
The NYC Marathon is a net downhill course, dropping 89 ft (27 m) from start to finish, with 281 ft of climbing along the way.
How hard is the NYC Marathon?›
Runner's Math scores the NYC Marathon 29/100 (Moderate) — #29 of 38 marathon courses in our library, ranked by modeled time cost. The profile costs about 0:19 versus a flat course for a runner at 4:00-marathon pace.
What's the weather usually like at the NYC Marathon?›
Over the past 5 years on this date, median race-morning conditions were 48°F with a 38°F dew point and 6 mph wind. Heat has rarely been a factor.