Running the New York City Marathon is a lot like catching a flight from JFK Airport. It takes you 90 minutes to get to your point of departure. You need to be there at least an hour before takeoff. Once you arrive, you have to get wanded by security. Then, you experience a couple hours of discomfort before arriving at your final destination.
But, NYC is the most thrilling marathon, even if its unique, point-to-point course can be a bit of a hassle. You have to leave for the start before the sun rises. You might even find yourself taking a train, boat, and bus to get to the start on Staten Island. You have to stand outside for a couple hours.
If you’ve never been to New York in November, know this: It can be cold. And, if you’re wearing nothing but thin polyester layers, it feels arctic. But, I’m here to help reduce the amount of misery you suffer before the cannon fires, ensuring you have the proper clothing to stay warm. (Even if the race-day conditions call for warmer temps in 2022.)
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I’m overqualified to share what you need to bring on race morning for success not only because I’ve been reviewing running gear for more than a decade but also because I’ve run 31 marathons, including four starts on Staten Island. (I dropped out in 2019, just a few weeks after setting a PR in Chicago). I’ve made all the mistakes—some more than once.
Carry It or Trash It
Unlike other races, there’s no baggage check at the start area on Sunday morning. That’s a recent change and, frankly, adds to the hassle. But, consider it one less thing to stress about on race morning. If you want warm clothes when you cross the finish line, you have to drop those off at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Friday or Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
That also means that whatever warm clothes you wear to the start are going to be thrown away unless you schlep them 26.2 miles to the finish. Anything you leave behind at the start village will be donated to charity. According to the 2021 NYC Marathon Media Guide, 122,760 pounds of clothing was collected and donated to Goodwill NYNJ from the 2019 race!)
Warmup Sweats
Unless you’re fortunate enough to have gained entry to one of the heated tents—reserved for VIPs, local elites, charities—you’re going to be waiting around outside in the wind, cold, rain, or whatever else is thrown your way in the early morning hours. Dress for the overnight low, not the daytime high. And wear your clothing as long as you can. At Boston in 2010, I foolishly took off my sweats long before heading to the start line and soon after went head-first in a garbage bag, rifling through discarded clothing to find a sweatshirt that fit me.
My recommendation is to bring at least one warm hoodie or, better yet, two. Look in your closet for something that’s old but may still have some life—remember, these are going to be donated afterward. Don’t have anything you want to part with? Hit up your local thrift store, where you can find hoodies, sweatpants, and more for bargain prices.
When I run NYC, I wear two sweatshirts because I really don’t like to be cold. I’ll ditch the outermost one before heading up to the bridge, but keep the second sweatshirt on until a minute or so before the gun goes off, then toss it to the side of the road—or ask fellow runners to pass it along to the edge, if stuck in the middle of the roadway.
You can usually get away with just one pair of sweatpants and toss those before heading up to the bridge. If you’re bouncing around a little, you’ll stay warm. Plus your legs are a bit more sheltered from the wind when you’re in a cluster of other runners.
Want to feel like a superhero? Drape yourself in a bathrobe on race morning. That thick terry cloth layer will keep the wind out, will keep your butt dry if you have to sit on the ground, and is super easy to strip off when you’re ready to race. Just don’t steal one from the hotel unless you plan to pay the premium upcharge.
Cheap Layers
Whatever you bring, make sure they’re cheap. You’re already paying a small fortune for race registration, flights, and a few nights in a hotel. Consider these clothes just one more necessary expense—but that doesn’t mean the added cost has to sting.
At the Marine Corps Marathon in 2012, I forgot to bring throwaway layers. But the course went right by my hotel just past the mile mark, so I decided to wear a Smartwool base layer and, when I ran by the hotel, stash it in the bushes out front. Sadly, it was long gone three hours later. I still miss that shirt.
Hang Onto Your Hat and Gloves
In past years, Dunkin’ was a race sponsor, handing out hot coffee and cheap fleece caps in the start village. Runners would flock for the warmth, but not you, because you’re a savvy runner who listened to me and brought your own thick winter cap. And gloves, too.
Even if the forecast calls for mild weather, bring winter wear. You’ll thank me later. Also, don’t ditch either of those at the start. Instead, wear the hat and gloves across the bridge. It’s the highest, most-exposed part of the course and, because it’s so crowded, you’re starting the race cold. Keep the hat on until you’ve gotten off the bridge and turned north onto 4th Avenue. That’s a long, straight stretch of road where, if you’re charging into a headwind, you’ll likely want that hat. If it’s a feeling warm early, tuck the cap in your waistband for a mile or two until you’re certain you won’t need it again.
Regardless of the weather, I never ditch my gloves at the NYC Marathon. My hands are the first thing to get cold, so even if I’m running warm, I’ll keep a thin pair of gloves in my waistband just in case. They’re also nice to slip back on at the finish when you’re making the long, slow march out of Central Park.
Bag Inspections and Banned Items
Before you even head for Staten Island, know what you can’t bring. NYRR requires you to use the clear plastic bag it provides at the expo if you plan to bring anything to the start. No other bag will be allowed past the security checkpoints—yes, your belongings will be inspected before you’re allowed into the fenced off area inside Fort Wadsworth.
You should already know you can’t bring anything dangerous—weapons, flammable liquids, etc.—but you also can’t bring sleeping bags, large blankets, black garbage bags, folding chairs, or hydration backpacks. You can see the full list here.
Of course, a few of those items would come in handy at the start to stay warm and comfortable, but you’re out of luck in the Big Apple.
Extra Shoes
This tip was more important before the age of squishy super shoes (and when you could check a bag at the start). But, even now, consider bringing an old pair of shoes to the start. Standing around in racing flats for a couple hours before actually running in those shoes for a few more hours makes for some sore soles. Swapping out a pair of old trainers for your Vaporflys or Endorphins can give you a mental jolt, letting you know it’s “go time” when you pull those laces tight.
To Rock Out, Or Not?
Headphones during a marathon can be a polarizing topic. In a crowded race like NYC, it could pose a safety issue because you can’t hear the other runners. Plus, New York City is absolutely pulsating on race day, there’s so much energy coming from the sidelines of almost every mile of the course—the only sound on the 59th Street Bridge is runners’ footfalls. But, where you’ll appreciate those tunes is during the long wait at the start. If you’re not with a group of friends, take those few moments to be alone and to tune out all the commotion.
Small Necessities
Beyond the basics above, there are a few key items that can make your time in the start village just a little less taxing.
Newspaper or magazine: If you’re in one of the earliest waves, it’ll be too dark on the bus to do any reading. But, papers can help pass a few minutes while you wait to head to the corrals. Again, don’t bring anything you’d ever hope to see again, like a book or Kindle.
Clear trash bag: You can’t bring any bags that aren’t see-through into the start. But a clear garbage bag can make for a waterproof seat cover in case you have to sit down on the ground still wet from dew. Or, if it’s raining on race day, rip a head hole and use it as a makeshift rain jacket.
Credit card, cash, ID: You never know when the race course claims victory. In 2019, when I dropped out of NYC Marathon, I ran to mile 16, where the course enters Manhattan, then notified the medical staff there that I’d quit before jogging the mile west to Central Park to collect my bag and clothes. If you’re in Brooklyn or Queens, you might have to jump on the subway. That credit card also comes in handy if you stop off for a celebratory pint after the race.
A snack: Even if you ate breakfast, you’re probably going to be hungry again by the time you actually start running. Pack a Clifbar or similarly portable treat for the start. I like to bring along a PB&J sandwich.
What About Masks?
NYRR takes its cues for COVID-19 safety measures from city, state, and federal agencies. This year, masks are optional—even on public transportation like buses and ferries. (NYRR still requires marathon participants to be vaccinated.) But, consider bringing a Buff or face covering anyway, if for no other reason than to wrap it around your neck or use it like a headband if the wind is blowing. You might not think you’ll need it when you’re huddled against a fence in the start area, but the winds can pick up when you’re out on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.
