Runners in “waiting for the race” garb enter the Marathon Village, in Fort Wadsworth. Since 1663, this military fort has guarded the passage called The Narrows, the narrowest point of New York Bay between Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Entry into the Marathon Village is allowed only to those taking part in the race and authorized personnel. In total, over 60,000 people crowd to the start area in the very early hours of the morning.
Volunteers welcome over 53,000 runners to the area. Participants are divided into three groups of different colors: blue, orange and green. The color indicated on the bib denotes which village the runner belongs to and access to one of the three starting lines.
For a few hours, the frosty lawn of Fort Wadsworth becomes the runners’ “home”. Some sponsors provide disposable hats and coats, but most athletes organize themselves with ingenious DIY solutions.
Waiting in Fort Wadsworth is considered by veteran runners to be one of the most critical points of the New York Marathon. A heated tent is offered to top runners and athletes who have obtained the place by supporting certain charities.
NYRR volunteers distribute breakfast to runners. Athletes can find coffee, tea, donuts, energy bars, bagels and bananas at their disposal.
The wait in the village can last several hours. The runner groups are further divided into four different starting waves. The first wave starts at 9:40, the last at 11:00.
The wait in the village can last several hours. The runner groups are further divided into four different starting waves. The first wave starts at 9:40, the last at 11:00.
60 minutes before the official wave start time, runners are admitted to corrals where they take positions according to the letter indicated on their bibs.
Runners inside the corrals have the opportunity to relax, use the toilet, donate unnecessary clothing to Goodwill and perform some last-minute warm-up exercises.
Runners walk along the 500-meter path that connects the corrals to the official start area right at the beginning of the bridge.
