The New York Marathon Qualifying Times, which takes place on the first Sunday of November, is one of the world’s biggest and most popular marathons. Every year, more than 50,000 runners from all over the world come to New York to compete in this 26.2-mile race through the city’s five boroughs.
To qualify for the New York City Marathon, runners must meet certain time standards set by the race organizers. For example, runners must have completed a marathon in under 3 hours and 30 minutes within the past 18 months.
Qualifying times are different for each age group and gender, so it’s important to check the race website to see what time you need to qualify. The New York City Marathon is a great goal for any runner looking to test their limits and push themselves to new heights.
Since its inception in 1970, the New York City Marathon has been one of the most prestigious races in the world. Attracting runners from all corners of the globe, the race is known for its fast times and tough qualifying standards.
To qualify for the New York City Marathon, runners must meet certain time standards set by the race organizers. For example, runners must complete a full marathon in under 3 hours and 30 minutes to be eligible to toe the line in New York.
While these qualifying standards may seem daunting, they are actually achievable for many runners with some dedication and training. For those looking to qualify for the New York City Marathon, start by targeting a few key races to post fast times. With a little hard work, you can make your dream of running in New York a reality.
About the Time Standards
The TCS New York City Marathon is known for its rich diversity of entrants. The motto of Road Runners of New York City is to encourage the participation of as many runners as possible. Our goal is to provide equal access to our most qualified runners, regardless of age, to the most exclusive, highly sought-after sports competition in the world, the TCS New York City Marathon.
New York Marathon Qualifying Times
The NYC Marathon guarantees that runners will qualify by meeting chronometric standards for the certified half-marathon or marathon, which are scheduled to take place between November 1, 2019, and March 8, 2022. The total number of time-qualifier spots is limited, and the time is the net (chip) time, not the gun time.
Age* | Men Marathon | Half-marathon |
|---|---|---|
18-34 | 2:53 | 1:21 |
35-39 | 2:55 | 1:23 |
40-44 | 2:58 | 1:25 |
45-49 | 3:05 | 1:28 |
50-54 | 3:14 | 1:32 |
55-59 | 3:23 | 1:36 |
60-64 | 3:34 | 1:41 |
65-69 | 3:45 | 1:46 |
70-74 | 4:10 | 1:57 |
75-79 | 4:30 | 2:07 |
80+ | 4:55 | 2:15 |
Age* | Women Marathon | Half-marathon |
|---|---|---|
18-34 | 3:13 | 1:32 |
35-39 | 3:15 | 1:34 |
40-44 | 3:26 | 1:37 |
45-49 | 3:38 | 1:42 |
50-54 | 3:51 | 1:49 |
55-59 | 4:10 | 1:54 |
60-64 | 4:27 | 2:02 |
65-69 | 4:50 | 2:12 |
70-74 | 5:30 | 2:27 |
75-79 | 6:00 | 2:40 |
80+ | 6:35 | 2:50 |
| Age* | Non-Binary Marathon | Half-marathon |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 3:13 | 1:32 |
| 35-39 | 3:15 | 1:34 |
| 40-44 | 3:26 | 1:37 |
| 45-49 | 3:38 | 1:42 |
| 50-54 | 3:51 | 1:49 |
| 55-59 | 4:10 | 1:54 |
| 60-64 | 4:27 | 2:02 |
| 65-69 | 4:50 | 2:12 |
| 70-74 | 5:30 | 2:27 |
| 75-79 | 6:00 | 2:40 |
| 80+ | 6:35 | 2:50 |
Races for Qualifying Times
If you finish races offered in the previous year by the New York Road Runners Club (NYRR) under the qualifying time, you are guaranteed to get guaranteed entry into the following race. For instance, the qualifying time from last year’s TCS New York City Marathon or the SHAPE Women’s Half Marathon would qualify.
If you earned a qualifying time at a race that wasn’t a part of the NYRR, you could use that time to race, but advanced-booking spaces are limited to first-come, first-serve. In this case, it is most advantageous to qualify for a nonNYRR race ahead of time. You’ve ensured a slot before you receive it, so you’ve got approximately two weeks before it takes place. If you miss that first slot, you’ll be entered into a drawing to get the next best slot.
New York Road Runners Club 9+1 Program: A Great Way to Get in Shape
Runners who enroll in the New York Road Runner’s 9-1 program provide guaranteed entry to the race by meeting certain criteria. To qualify, you must be an NYRR member and complete nine NYRR-scored, qualifying races, and volunteer for one event in the previous calendar year.
Runners approved by the 9-1 program in 2021 will be permitted to sign up for next year’s New York City Marathon.
The 2020 cancellation of the 2020 Boston Marathon was the basis for the 9 1 program’s interruption, so the 9 1 program for 2020 was discontinued for NYRR members who participated in the virtual program that year in 2021, 2022, or 2023. Runners who qualified for the race in 2018 and were selected to run in 2022 will be eligible to claim their entry this year.
Enter the NYC Marathon
Although qualifying through the time is still the only way to enter the NYC Marathon, the New York Road Runners, the marathon’s organizer, holds its annual drawing. The deadline for applying to the 2022 NYC Marathon is in March, and you can enter the race via any of the below options, depending on your situation.
- Drawing: The drawing is a non-guaranteed invitation to the NYC Marathon, but circumventing that course may help to maintain the geographic diversity of the race. The entry is extremely hard, but there are other ways to participate.
- Charity partnerships: Runners can join the race by checking the race’s site. If a collaborative fundraiser has been filed, you can register to participate in the race and make a donation to a charity of your choice.
- International travel partners: An international travel partners program provides travelers with a guaranteed seat for a flight and a stay in a hotel room.
- 15+ Legacy program: The option is most often available for those in the New York tri-state area since the NYRR s races take place in New York City in the five boroughs. The 15 Legacy Program reserves the entry for life for anyone who has completed 15 New York City Marathons.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the release of the New York Marathon qualifying times allows potential runners to see if they are able to make the cut. The process of qualifying for the marathon is very competitive and not everyone will be able to make the cut. For those who are interested in running in the New York Marathon, start training now, and good luck!