NYC Marathon Marks 50 Years of Five Boroughs

The New York City Marathon will host approximately 60,000 participants on Sunday, marking the 50th anniversary of the race expanding to all five boroughs. In 1976, the seventh edition of the event included just over 2,000 competitors, with only 88 women on the field. Today, nearly half of the entrants are women.

Bill Rodgers won the inaugural five-borough race in 1976, a year after his first Boston Marathon victory. He remains the only man to win the New York City Marathon four times, securing titles from 1976 through 1979. Rodgers recalled the intensity of that first run on the Verrazzano Bridge, noting that the transition from Central Park loops to the citywide course felt distinct and nerve-wracking for the athletes at the time.

The shift away from Central Park occurred in celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial and to boost the city’s morale during a period of economic struggle. Rodgers stated that the sport evolved that day, noting that the competitive field has become increasingly global since those early years. Runners from more than 140 countries will compete this Sunday.

Benson Kipruto of Kenya seeks his second consecutive title. He won last year’s race by three-hundredths of a second over Alexander Mutiso. Kipruto has watched that finish repeatedly, describing the narrow margin as cinematic. He laughed when a friend asked if the result was real, calling the experience amazing.

Hellen Obiri, a two-time champion from Kenya, returns to defend her crown. She set the women’s course record in 2025 with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds, nearly three minutes faster than the previous best set by Margaret Okayo in 2003. Obiri said the primary goal on Sunday is to win, though she acknowledged the team did not expect to run such a fast time last year.

Dana Smolin, a New Yorker running her fourth race, highlighted the atmosphere of the citywide course. She grew up watching the event and values the opportunity to run through all five boroughs. Smolin hopes the visible support from cheering children will inspire future runners, mirroring how the event inspired her.

The course will see a minor adjustment for the first time in 15 years. In the Bronx, runners will take a slightly different route at Mile 20. This change reduces the number of turns in that borough from seven to five and eases street closures in the area.

Susannah Scaroni, the two-time defending wheelchair champion, will compete for a third straight title nearly three months after giving birth to her first child. Fellow racer Tatyana McFadden, who is seeking her sixth New York title and 25th overall, expressed awe at Scaroni’s return, emphasizing the need for more support for mothers in racing.