This guide is for those who are watching the race to spot and support their friends and loved ones. It is not a guide to watching the elite athletes. You can find that here for the men and here for the women.
#1 - Let your runner find you
It is extremely difficult to spot your favorite runner on the course, unless he or she is in the top 100. After that, the crowds get quite thick, everyone looks the same, and it's difficult to project when your friend will come by, as you don't know when they started (although the new runner tracking app may make this easier, if it works as advertised). What works MUCH better is if your friend finds you. Tell them EXACTLY where you will be (i.e. on the runner's right on Fifth Ave right at 117th St.), and they will likely find you. Also consider carrying a distinctive mylar balloon on a ten foot string so they can spot you from a few blocks away; this works brilliantly.
#2. Plot out NOW exactly where you will be, so your runner knows where and when to find you
My support group was ambitious and knows the city well, so in my 3 NYC marathons, they met me in 3 places, at Miles 14, 18 and 23:
A. Long Island City (approx 13.5 miles) on Vernon Blvd. Between 47th and 48th (on the right hand side of the runners), right outside the Vernon/Jackson stop on the 7 train.
B. Then, they took the 7 towards Times Square and switched at Grand Central to the Lexington Line UPTOWN 6 local to 103rd St and walked back to 101st St, and met me on the northwest corner (runner’s left side) of 101st and First Avenue (Mile 18). They go to 101st because First Avenue is very, very crowded, particularly at the streets of the subway stops; consider going even further uptown.
C. Then they walked across 101st St and met me on the northeast corner (runner’s left side) of 101st & Fifth Avenue (Mile 23).
The good part of this arrangement is (1) Long Island City is less crowded and easy to get to - the meeting spot is right outside the subway station, and (2) It allows for three spots; you REALLY appreciate seeing them at Mile 23, and it's a great place to view the race.
The bad part is (1) they have to move quickly to get from stop 1 to 2; if the runners moves at a 9 minute pace (4 hour marathon), it's only about 38 minutes, and they have to take the 7, switch to the 6, then walk 3 avenues east and 5 blocks north; but it is doable, my family has done it 3x, with kids in tow, and never missed me; and (2) it is a LONG walk - about 2.5 miles - from 101 and Fifth across the park to CPW and down to the meeting area around 77th St. It will take them about 50 minutes, while you'll finish about 30 minutes later at a 10 minute pace, so they won't find you till 20 minutes after you finish; but that's OK, you need the time to recover.
A less ambitious plan would be to see your runner in LI City and then take the 7 to the R train in Times Square; then take the R uptown to 59th and Lexington, walk up to 6th Avenue and watch you in Mile 25 along Central Park South; then it will only be about a one mile walk to where your runner exits the park.
#3 Come bearing gifts
It is very likely that all your marathoner needs from you is a big smile and a few words of encouragement, and if they see you in a very crowded area, they won't be able to get very close to you, so they will just run by. There is a small chance they will have a desperate look on their face, praying that you have in your possession whatever it is that they need. It may be (in the order or likelihood) vaseline, pretzels, a bandage to cover a blister, an extra gel pack (ask them), something - anything - to sip that does not taste like lemon-lime gatorade, a hat, fresh pair of socks, $20 or a metro card in case they continue to falter, etc. Be prepared, and you'll be a hero if they need you, but know they probably won't, and don't be insulted if they just blow by. This is their moment.
#4 Please don't tell runners they are "almost finished" unless you are at Mile Marker 26.
A few years ago, I was watching the race at Mile 23, and a couple next to me asked out of the blue, "how many marathons have you run?" I answered "five; but how did you know I've run marathons?" The wife responded, "because you're not saying 'you're almost finished.'" The three of us then launched into a diatribe about how dispiriting it is to hear that so many times in the last six miles. When you seriously doubt you can make it 50 more yards, being 3 miles away from the finish line is NOT "almost finished" - it's a 1,000 mile journey across a hot desert. In the first half of the race, everyone's doing great, and anything goes; but once runners pass the halfway point, they are beginning to suffer, and would really appreciate encouragement such as "you look great," "you're beautiful," "hang in there," "finish strong," "keep rolling," "smile!' but not "you're almost finished," or "gosh, there's ONLY 7 miles to go." Now that you know, if you get a death stare in response to such a comment, you deserve it.
#5 If you are crossing the race route at any point, PLEASE do not walk directly across the route, at a 90 degree angle, and do not cross in a pack. Cross diagonally, alone.
When my friend - a 6'4" 210 lb basketball player - ran his first marathon, his fiancee greeted him at Mile 25 with a very enthusiastic pat on the back. It threw him to the ground. In ordinary circumstances, she could leap into his arms and he would swing her around. At Mile 25, a pat on the back was enough to send him sprawling.
It's the same emotionally; the runners are elated, but they may also be emotionally trained after weeks of anxiety, with an avalanche of competing emotions washing across their drained psyche. I've seen many runners burst into tears after crossing the finish line. One of my running partners - a lifelong friend - went from yapping the whole way to suddenly going very silent, unable to engage in any conversation at all; she was literally stunned by the whole experience, and that wasn't even in NYC. Others may be despondent over missing their time goal. Be positive, tread lightly - don't ask "why did you fall apart after mile 22?" - and follow your runner's lead. He or she may be just fine, but be judicious in your comments and questions until you know that's the case. If they're upset at missing a time goal, don't tell them they are silly for feeling that way; they won't be ready to hear that for weeks. Say, "I'm sorry you're disappointed, but I am so proud of you."
#7 Plan to celebrate when it's all done.
After I finished my first race, I went home, thinking I'd be exhausted to do anything else. After recovering, I spent the rest of the night eating and drinking and talking to friends about the race on the phone for hours, wishing I had instead just met them all at a bar.
We did that the second year, but had no plans, and ended up schlepping in a big group around a very crowded midtown area trying to find a table for 14. This was painful.
Reserve a great place NOW to have a terrific celebration, and make your runners WEAR THEIR MEDALS proudly.
#3 Come bearing gifts
It is very likely that all your marathoner needs from you is a big smile and a few words of encouragement, and if they see you in a very crowded area, they won't be able to get very close to you, so they will just run by. There is a small chance they will have a desperate look on their face, praying that you have in your possession whatever it is that they need. It may be (in the order or likelihood) vaseline, pretzels, a bandage to cover a blister, an extra gel pack (ask them), something - anything - to sip that does not taste like lemon-lime gatorade, a hat, fresh pair of socks, $20 or a metro card in case they continue to falter, etc. Be prepared, and you'll be a hero if they need you, but know they probably won't, and don't be insulted if they just blow by. This is their moment.
#4 Please don't tell runners they are "almost finished" unless you are at Mile Marker 26.
A few years ago, I was watching the race at Mile 23, and a couple next to me asked out of the blue, "how many marathons have you run?" I answered "five; but how did you know I've run marathons?" The wife responded, "because you're not saying 'you're almost finished.'" The three of us then launched into a diatribe about how dispiriting it is to hear that so many times in the last six miles. When you seriously doubt you can make it 50 more yards, being 3 miles away from the finish line is NOT "almost finished" - it's a 1,000 mile journey across a hot desert. In the first half of the race, everyone's doing great, and anything goes; but once runners pass the halfway point, they are beginning to suffer, and would really appreciate encouragement such as "you look great," "you're beautiful," "hang in there," "finish strong," "keep rolling," "smile!' but not "you're almost finished," or "gosh, there's ONLY 7 miles to go." Now that you know, if you get a death stare in response to such a comment, you deserve it.
#5 If you are crossing the race route at any point, PLEASE do not walk directly across the route, at a 90 degree angle, and do not cross in a pack. Cross diagonally, alone.
- Crossing straight across the street is extremely dangerous for you and the runner, as they do not see you until they are right on you; I have seen quite a few wipeouts as a result of this behavior, including one that cost an older woman a Starbucks latte grande. In one race, a young girl half my size literally stepped on my shoe; I never saw her, and had I been running 5 seconds a mile faster, it would have been disastrous for both of us.
- When you do this in a pack, you are all but guaranteed to seriously impact a runner.
- Instead, begin walking - ONE by ONE - in the direction of the runners, and gradually move over.
- There are plenty of runners walking on the side of the course, so a spectator doing so is not a disruption. Walkers and runners also drift sideways in the latter parts of the race, so again, you walking and gradually getting over is not a serious disruption; done right, it is almost seamless.
When my friend - a 6'4" 210 lb basketball player - ran his first marathon, his fiancee greeted him at Mile 25 with a very enthusiastic pat on the back. It threw him to the ground. In ordinary circumstances, she could leap into his arms and he would swing her around. At Mile 25, a pat on the back was enough to send him sprawling.
It's the same emotionally; the runners are elated, but they may also be emotionally trained after weeks of anxiety, with an avalanche of competing emotions washing across their drained psyche. I've seen many runners burst into tears after crossing the finish line. One of my running partners - a lifelong friend - went from yapping the whole way to suddenly going very silent, unable to engage in any conversation at all; she was literally stunned by the whole experience, and that wasn't even in NYC. Others may be despondent over missing their time goal. Be positive, tread lightly - don't ask "why did you fall apart after mile 22?" - and follow your runner's lead. He or she may be just fine, but be judicious in your comments and questions until you know that's the case. If they're upset at missing a time goal, don't tell them they are silly for feeling that way; they won't be ready to hear that for weeks. Say, "I'm sorry you're disappointed, but I am so proud of you."
#7 Plan to celebrate when it's all done.
After I finished my first race, I went home, thinking I'd be exhausted to do anything else. After recovering, I spent the rest of the night eating and drinking and talking to friends about the race on the phone for hours, wishing I had instead just met them all at a bar.
We did that the second year, but had no plans, and ended up schlepping in a big group around a very crowded midtown area trying to find a table for 14. This was painful.
Reserve a great place NOW to have a terrific celebration, and make your runners WEAR THEIR MEDALS proudly.
I highly recommend these places, all clients who promise to roll out the welcome mat for marathon runners:
Tir na nog is at 33rd and 8th - perfect for those staying in hotels in the Madison Square Garden area or leaving the city through Penn Station or the Midtown Tunnel. It is a terrific upscale Irish pub with terrific food and beers, and NO STAIRS, and accommodates groups very well. Call (212) 630-0249 to reserve your spot or reserve on Open Table. To get there, take the C train downtown from 81st St (if the station is accessible) or the 1 train downtown from 79th or 72nd, each to 34th St.
Also near Penn Station (take the 1 train downtown from 79th or 72nd to 28th St) is Mustang Harry's, a large facility that will be showing all your favorite sports teams, has an excellent line-up of drinks and a solid menu of comfort food. Call them at (212) 268-8930 or reserve on Open Table. A block away is sister restaurant Mustang Sallys; call them at 212-695-3806. (Their other sister Restaurant, Seven, is not open on Sunday but offers a fabulous, nutritionally perfect pre-race Prix Fixe Menu for marathon runners).
For those on a budget, Tempest Bar NYC, at 30th and 8th, is a traditional Irish tavern with an excellent line-up of inexpensive beer and it lets you order-in food from several excellent eateries nearby, including NY Pizza Suprema and The Gardenia Deli. No reservations necessary.
#8 Let your runner talk about the experience for several weeks
Running the NYC Marathon is one of the great experiences in a lifetime. The race doesn't end when your runner crosses the finish line. After my first race, I woke up at 3 am every night for two weeks, wondering if I had really just done that. Be patient, know that this is their time, and let them enjoy it and relive it, and plan to do something equally fabulous yourself.
The Brickyard Gastropub is at 52nd and Ninth – about a kilometer from the finish line. It has great food, terrific craft beers, and a great ambience – and NO STAIRS. They had a blowout bash last year, full of runners and their families all day and night. Call them at 212-767-0077 to reserve, or email them at Info@BrickyardNYC.com.
Also near Penn Station (take the 1 train downtown from 79th or 72nd to 28th St) is Mustang Harry's, a large facility that will be showing all your favorite sports teams, has an excellent line-up of drinks and a solid menu of comfort food. Call them at (212) 268-8930 or reserve on Open Table. A block away is sister restaurant Mustang Sallys; call them at 212-695-3806. (Their other sister Restaurant, Seven, is not open on Sunday but offers a fabulous, nutritionally perfect pre-race Prix Fixe Menu for marathon runners).
For those on a budget, Tempest Bar NYC, at 30th and 8th, is a traditional Irish tavern with an excellent line-up of inexpensive beer and it lets you order-in food from several excellent eateries nearby, including NY Pizza Suprema and The Gardenia Deli. No reservations necessary.
#8 Let your runner talk about the experience for several weeks
Running the NYC Marathon is one of the great experiences in a lifetime. The race doesn't end when your runner crosses the finish line. After my first race, I woke up at 3 am every night for two weeks, wondering if I had really just done that. Be patient, know that this is their time, and let them enjoy it and relive it, and plan to do something equally fabulous yourself.
