How to Secure Your Spot in the 2025 TCS NYC Marathon: Guaranteed Entry Options, Lottery, and Time Qualifications
The 2024 TCS New York City Marathon just wrapped up with a bang, officially the biggest marathon ever, with a historic 55,646 finishers. This year also saw record-breaking numbers of women and non-binary runners hitting that finish line: 30,795 men, 24,731 women, and 120 non-binary athletes! As NYC's marathon grows in size and diversity, the 2025 race is already calling. So, how do you secure a spot in the most amazing marathon in the world? Let’s break it down.
🎟 2025 TCS New York City Marathon Drawing
The lottery is your first shot at a non-guaranteed entry, so stay tuned, entry dates will be announced soon. Enter into one of three pools based on your location: NYC Metro Area, National (U.S. residents outside NYC), or International (non-U.S. residents). And NYRR members get an added perk with the Member-Only Second-Chance Drawing! New York Road Runners (NYRR), will announce the "winners" about a month after the lottery opens. So stay tunned to my Instagram page cause I will be posting the link their once it opens up.
💯 The 9+1 Program
The 9+1 program is a popular path to guaranteed entry in the New York City Marathon for local runners who are active members of New York Road Runners (NYRR). To complete the program, a runner must finish nine qualifying NYRR races within the calendar year and volunteer at one qualifying event to be able to guarantee a NYC Marathon spot
But a heads up, if you were looking to complete the 9+1 for a guaranteed 2025 entry, it’s already winding down. But don’t worry, just keep this in mind for next year! By running nine qualifying races and volunteering for one NYRR event in 2025, you’ll secure your entry for the 2026 marathon. Not only does this keep you active all year, but it’s also a fantastic way to feel part of the NYC running community.
💸 Charity Partners and Memberships
Running for charity is a meaningful way to secure a spot in the New York City Marathon while making a positive impact. The charity program offers guaranteed entry to runners who commit to fundraising for one of NYRR’s official charity partners, which support various causes like education, healthcare, social justice, and environmental sustainability
Each year, NYRR announces its list of official charity partners. These include both premier and supporting organizations that align with NYRR’s mission to promote healthier communities through running.
Runners can select from over a hundred charities, covering a diverse range of causes. Premier charity partners usually require a higher fundraising minimum but offer additional perks, like race day amenities, gear, or special team experiences
To gain a guaranteed entry, runners must meet a set fundraising minimum, which typically ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, depending on the charity and entry level. This amount ensures a meaningful impact for the charity, while giving runners a way into the marathon.
By meeting the fundraising goal, runners can secure a guaranteed spot in the marathon, even if they didn’t qualify through time or the 9+1 program.
✈️ International Tour Operators
For those traveling from outside the U.S., International Tour Operators offer marathon packages with guaranteed entry, hotel, and sometimes even flight arrangements. It’s a premium route to secure your place at the starting line.
⏱️ Time Qualifiers
The Time Qualifier option for the NYC Marathon offers a way to secure guaranteed entry if you meet specific time standards based on your age and gender. This is ideal for competitive runners who consistently achieve fast race times and want to use those accomplishments to bypass the marathon’s lottery or charity options.
To qualify, runners must meet specific time standards in a full marathon or half marathon. The standards vary by age group and gender, ensuring a level playing field and creating fair benchmarks across categories.
After achieving a qualifying time, runners can apply for guaranteed entry to the NYC Marathon during the designated application period. If your qualifying time is achieved within a specified time frame before the race (usually the year before), you’re eligible to apply.
Every path to the start line tells its own story. The NYC Marathon is more than just a race, t’s an experience. Whether through the lottery, charity, 9+1, or your time-qualifying standard, there’s a way to make it happen.
So, what’s your plan?
Let’s make 2025, or maybe even 2026, the year you join this legendary marathon!
