New York Road Runners Announces Record-Breaking Demand for 2025 TCS New York City Marathon Drawing with More Than 200,000 Applications
New York, March 5, 2025—Nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR), the producer of 60 annual adult and youth races, including the TCS New York City Marathon, announced that it has received more than 200,000 applications for today’s 2025 marathon drawing—the most applicants in event history and a 22 percent increase in applications from 2024. New York Road Runners has seen unprecedented demand for its races, with the TCS New York City Marathon experiencing significant increases in application demand each year since the pandemic. Runners from more than 150 countries will learn their application status today for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, the world’s largest marathon. About two to three percent of the more than 200,000 applications will be accepted.
Taking place Sunday, November 2, the TCS New York City Marathon is the BEST DAY in New York City and takes athletes on a 26.2-mile journey across all five boroughs. The iconic race is one of the most inclusive and accessible sporting events in the world, with the first and the final finishers running the same course on the same day. Last year, the TCS New York City Marathon set an event record and became the largest marathon in history with 55,643 finishers.
“The TCS New York City Marathon is a special event that brings together people of all backgrounds with participants as young as 18 and as old as 87 from more than 150 countries, all united by the transformative power of running,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, NYRR. “More than ever, people want to experience the magic of the TCS New York City Marathon, and we are excited to offer multiple entry methods through our general entry drawing, Official Charity Partner Program, NYRR Team for Climate, Member-Only Second Chance Drawing, the NYRR marathon sweepstakes, and via International Tour Operators.”
For this year’s race, non-guaranteed entry general drawing applications were submitted during a two-week registration period from February 11 to February 25. Thousands of runners were also able to claim their guaranteed entries during this period through a range of entry methods, including NYRR’s 9+1 program, NYRR Virtual Racing, Time Qualifiers, NYRR Philanthropic membership, and runners who have completed 15 or more New York City Marathons. Further showcasing incredible demand, NYRR accepted the top 25 percent of non-NYRR marathon Time Qualifiers, meaning athletes needed to run at least 13 minutes and 20 seconds faster than their initial qualifying standard for gender and age group.
Those who do not receive entry through the drawing still have a chance to run the TCS New York City Marathon through a variety of entry methods.
TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program
To support other nonprofits’ missions and services, New York Road Runners’ Official Charity Partner Program gives organizations the opportunity to raise funds by offering guaranteed entry to the TCS New York City Marathon for athletes who fundraise on their behalf.
During the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, thousands of charity runners raised a record $70 million in support of causes and missions important to them. Since its inception in 2006, athletes in the Official Charity Partner Program have raised nearly $600 million for 1,000+ worthy causes.
The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program launches today with a record of more than 600 charities participating.
NYRR Team for Climate
In 2024, New York Road Runners announced NYRR Team for Climate as a new entry method for the nonprofit’s three marquee races, the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half, and RBC Brooklyn Half. In 2025 NYRR