2023 Was a Pivotal Year for NYRR
As 2023 wraps up, we reflect on a year of moving forward and regrowing, as we fully resumed providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the transformative power of running.
We saw changes in our leadership with a new CEO and Chair of the Board, historic moments at our races, and much more.
We are grateful for all members of our community—runners, volunteers, partners, and everyone else who makes possible all that we do.
New Leadership and Vision
Rob Simmelkjaer took over as CEO of NYRR in December 2022. On July 1, Nnenna Lynch became our new Chair of the Board of Directors as George Hirsch stepped down after nearly two decades and became Board Chair Emeritus. Read about our leadership team.
A New "Running Boom" for Races and Programs
We engaged nearly 500,000 people at in-person adult and youth events, from free
Open Run walks and runs in parks across NYC to the
TCS New York City Marathon.
As the world experiences a post-pandemic running boom, we’ve seen an unprecedented demand for our races, programs, and events in 2023, with all but one race reaching capacity.
Check out our FY2023 Impact Report to learn more about how our offerings give runners of all ages and abilities a place on the road ahead.
Elevating Mental Well-Being
We kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month in May with Open Run for an Open Mind in Astoria Park, Queens. Molly Seidel, a U.S. Olympic medalist who’s been open about her mental health struggles and advocates for removing stigmas around mental illness, joined us, along with Release Recovery Foundation founder Zac Clark and ABC's Ginger Zee.
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. As the world’s premier community running organization, one of the most important ways we can do that is to provide opportunities and inspiration to positively impact our community's mental health through physical fitness. For more resources, visit our Mental Well-Being page.
Largest-Ever Charity Impact
More than 500 charities raised a record $63 million at the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon and United Airlines NYC Half.
Expanded Inclusivity Initiatives
As part of our ongoing commitment to increase inclusivity and representation we expanded our diversity and inclusion efforts:
- We allow all individuals to request reasonable accommodations or to inquire about accessibility for attending our programs and events.
- We expanded our Contributors Circle to elevate under-represented voices in our communications.
- For the first time, the professional men’s and women’s wheelchair races at the TCS New York City Marathon served as the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field Marathon Selection Event. The top two American men’s and women’s finishers earned spots on Team USA for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
- We extended our Race Free program, providing race-fee assistance over 1,000 under-resourced NYC runners.
Pro Athletes from Around the World at Races
Our major races – including the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half, Mastercard New York Mini 10K, New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, and Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K – welcomed stellar global fields and saw amazing competition and record-setting wins.
History-Making Moments at the TCS New York City Marathon
More than 51,000 runners finished this year's race, led by event records in the women’s wheelchair and men’s open divisions.
The TCS New York City Marathon App Powered by Tata Consultancy Services had more than 530,000 downloads. New this year, the app featured uninterrupted coverage of all four pro races and a feature that allowed fans to project their images onto screens along the course to cheer on their runners.
Also this year:
- The inaugural Rising NYRR Kids Kickoff brought nearly 1,000 kids of all ages and abilities to Central Park for a free, fun event to kick off race week.
- The ABC News Relay Supporting NYRR Team for Kids, featuring 12 news anchors and executives, each ran 2–3 miles of the marathon route to raise awareness and support for NYRR’s mission.
- Our Night of Champions gala raised over $1.1 million to support our free youth and community programs and events.
- The Marathon Opening Ceremony Presented by United Airlines included a land acknowledgment in partnership with the Redhawk Native American Arts Council.
- Kayleigh Williamson became the first known woman with Down syndrome to finish the TCS New York City Marathon. The moment was captured on Instagram, inspiring countless people around the world.
Expanded Commitment to Sustainability
- All our marquee races included waste diversion stations.
- We held a plogging run (picking up trash while jogging) with climate activist Tina Muir on the day before the TCS New York City Marathon.
- Attendees at the TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance could learn about NYRR's sustainability efforts at the evergreen Sustainability Educational Cube.
- The TCS New York City Marathon App Powered by Tata Consultancy Services included a sustainability calculator.
- The paint used for the marathon's blue line again was made from upcycled paint.