The New York City Marathon began in 1970 as a race with 55 finishers and set entirely within Central Park. In the 50 years since, it’s grown to become the world’s largest marathon, with a record 53,639 finishers running through all five boroughs of New York City in 2019.
As the race has evolved, so too has the city (and the world) in which it takes place. Let’s take a look at how different parts of city life and the world beyond looked at the beginning of each decade of the race’s history.
Scroll across the table below to learn more about each era of the New York City Marathon.
| Year | Subway Fare | Staten Island Ferry Fare | Marathon World Record (Men’s Open Divison) |
New York City Marathon Record (Men’s Open Division) |
Marathon World Record (Women’s Open Division) |
New York City Marathon Record (Women’s Open Division) |
Billboard #1 Song on Race Week | Box Office #1 Movie on Race Week | Tony Award for Best Musical | New York Yankees Retired Numbers | Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest Record | Number of People Who Have Won a New York City Marathon | Countries with a New York City Marathon Champion | New York City Marathon Finishers to Date | New York City Marathon Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $0.30 | $0.05 | 2:09:28.8 Ron Hill Great Britain |
2:31:38 Gary Muhrcke USA |
3:02:53 Caroline Walker USA |
2:55:22 (1971) Beth Bonner USA |
“War” by Edwin Starr | Five Easy Pieces | Applause | 5 | — | 55 | 26 miles, 385 yards | ||
| 1980 | $0.60 | $0.25 | 2:09:01 Gerhard Nijboer Netherlands |
2:10:10 Bill Rodgers USA |
2:27:32.6 Grete Waitz Norway |
2:27:33 Grete Waitz Norway |
“Woman in Love” by Barbra Streisand | Private Benjamin | Avoid | 9 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 38,113 | 26 miles, 385 yards |
| 1990 | $1.15 | $0.50 | 2:06:50 Belayneh Dinsamo Ethopia |
2:08:01 Juma Ikangaa Tanzania |
2:21:06 |
2:25:29 Allison Roe New Zealand |
“Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice | Jacob’s Ladder | City of Angels | 13 | 15 1/2 | 24 | 9 | 221,723 | 26 miles, 385 yards |
| 2000 | $1.50 | For free | 2:05:42 Khalid Khannouchi Morocco |
2:07:43 Tesfaye Jifar Ethiopia |
2:20:43 Loroupe jar Kenya |
2:24:40 Lisa Ondieki Australia |
“Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” by Christina Aguilera | Charlie’s Angels | Contact | 15 | 25 1/8 | 43 | 19 | 509,673 | 26 miles, 385 yards |
| 2010 | $2.25 | For free |
2:03:59 |
2:05:06 Geoffrey Mutai Kenya |
2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe Great Britain |
2:23:31 Margaret Okayo Kenya |
“Like a G6” by Far East Movement ft. The Cataracs and Dev | Megamind | Memphis | 16 | 68 | 67 | 22 | 876,651 | 26 miles, 385 yards |
| 2021 | $2.75 | For free | 2:01:39 Eliud Kipchoge Kenya |
2:05:06 Geoffrey Mutai Kenya |
2:14:04 Brigid Kosgei Kenya |
2:22:31 |
“Easy on Me” by Adele | Dune | Red Mill! | 22 | 76 | 83 | 24 | 1,283,019 | 26 miles, 385 yards |
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