Packet Pick Up: Monday through Wednesday, pick up is at the NYRR Run Center. Thursday and Friday, packet pick up is at the NYC Marathon Expo at the Jarvitis Center. Anyone can pick up your bib for you, but just keep in mind there’s no bib pick up race morning. Bibs were assigned at pick up. If it doesn’t automatically connect to you, don’t worry they upload everything at the end of each day.

Swag: a Beanie. I actually appreciated that because I have way too many shirts than I know what to do with or wear.

Expo: enjoy it if you go Thursday/Friday of race week. Lots of vendors and things to do

Race Start: off 41st and 1st Ave by the United Nations. Easy to get to either by walking or the MTA.

The Race itself: Some baby hills if anything, more so around Central Park. You head to 42nd St for a mile before turning onto 6th Ave. You keep on going until you hit Central Park, just past mile 2 before heading into the park for the last 1.1 mile. The course doesn’t follow the last 5K of the marathon for the entire course, but you hit a lot of it once you turn into Central Park. The finish is at 67th St, right at the finish of the marathon.

Post Race: You get a small bag of food and water before being directed out a few blocks later. Keep in mind, if you do the full marathon, you get earlier in the 5K over the marathon.

Overall, good way to get involved in the marathon weekend if you’re in watching someone or if you want a shake out run for Marathon Sunday

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