Be Sure To Attend The Opening Ceremony

The TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony is probably the best way to kick off Marathon weekend. The Parade of Nations showcases runners from around the world as they parade across the finish line. Representatives from NYC running clubs and several U.S. organizations, as well as professional runners and wheelchair athletes, are part of the procession. The TCS New York City Marathon Fireworks lights up the night sky after the parade.

When: Friday, November 4 at 4:45 p.m for the pre-show and 5:30 p.m for the parade. 

Where: Spectator entrance is at Central Park and West 63rd. 

You might spot our founder, Laila Zemrani, carrying the flag of her native Morocco! 

Watch The Race At One Of These Best Spots

About 50,000 runners and some 1 million runners will be at the NYC Marathon on Sunday on November 6, 2016. Make sure you catch all the action, and your favorite runners, while enjoying a great view of the local scene.

• Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn (Miles 2-4)

• Team for Kids Brooklyn Cheer Post: Fourth Avenue at Pacific Street (southeast corner)

• Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn (Miles 10-13)

• First Avenue, Manhattan (Miles 16-18)

• East Harlem (Miles 18-20)

• Mott Haven, Bronx (Miles 20-21)

• Fifth Avenue, East 90th Street-East 105th Street (Miles 23-24)

• Team for Kids Manhattan Cheer Post: Fifth Avenue at East 106th Street

• United Stage: Columbus Circle

If you want to be just a few steps away from the famous finish at 67th Street on West Drive, you could get a Grandstand Seating ticket in advance.

Alternatively, you could watch the TCS New York Marathon from the comfort of your home:

• In the New York tri-state area, watch the broadcast live on race day on WABC-TV, Channel 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage starts at 7:00 a.m.

  The race will also be live on abc7ny.com and via the ABC app.

• Outside of the tri-state area, watch live coverage from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on race day on ESPN2 and via WatchESPN. 

  Don't miss the national highlight show on your local ABC affiliates from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET (check local listings for other time zones).

You will certainly be inspired by our New York Marathon runners this weekend, so don't forget that it's never too early to start training for next year! Learn more at Fitnescity.