NYC Marathon marks 50 years since $1 entry fee

The New York City Marathon reached its 50th anniversary this year. The event began as a small local race and has grown into a major citywide tradition.

In 1970, organizers held the first marathon entirely within Central Park. They operated on a budget of just $1,000. Runners paid a $1 entry fee. Only 127 people registered for the race on Sept. 13, 1970. Of that group, 55 finished the course.

The original route required runners to complete multiple loops inside the park. At the time, it functioned as a small road race. As participation numbers rose, the park could no longer hold the crowd. Organizers expanded the course to include the other four boroughs.

The first marathon to span all five boroughs coincided with the city's 200th anniversary. That race featured 2,090 entrants. A total of 1,549 runners crossed the finish line. This shift transformed the event from a park-based competition into a showcase of New York neighborhoods, bridges, and communities.

Today, runners spend months or years training for the race. The final stretch takes place in Manhattan. Runners pass skyscrapers, major avenues, and dense crowds before reaching Central Park. The course ends in the same location where the first race began.

The 2026 race continues the tradition established in 1970. Participants from around the world run the 26.2-mile route. The event remains a central part of the city's cultural calendar.