The headache about this race is getting there... and then getting out of it.
With 50-thousand people racing... crowds are inevitable. Race management has done a good job of using multiple locations to usher people to the starting line. After the race... you get to walk another half mile before exiting the park...(Hopefully you can). Waiting families are alphabetically lined up, which makes it easier to locate them. This year the weather was slightly warm, so sitting for almost 2 1/2 hours wasn't miserable. But it did get me antsy to get the race started.
The corral's are guarded fiercely - so if you are not running with your friends - you won't be able to.
My friends and I decided we would meet up at mile 8 - but impossible to do without hampering finish time. Unlike other marathons, the crowds do not thin out. I was still bobbing and dodging thru runners at mile 20! Even in NYC - 50k plus runners on the same route is starting to be too much. The route felt very crowded all the way to the finish line.
However, there is no other city - where the entire 26 mile route has cheering fans. The energy is unreal at this race. I was pacing for 3:53 - until I hit that last hill in Central Park. I have been on hillier courses - but the last hill in Central Park is in the last 10k... and it felt like a 2 mile hill. It just never would end. I had to stop and walk... it cost me my goal. I finished 4:03.

This race requires hill training, solid endurance work, and its best you don't go in with an injury... because if you are - the bridges/hills will have your legs barking!

Race pick-up: major headache they won't allow someone to pick up your packet for you. Only to find out once you get there... they only glance at your DL. Heck, I could have had a look-a-like pick it up. I paid airline change fees because of this inconvenient policy. They claim security - I claim, they want bodies inside the convention center.

The expo hall is one of the best I've ever been to. The race t-shirt was super nice. And the finisher medal was pretty cool too. My favorite though was the race poncho. Suprised how warm it kept me.

This is definitely a destination race. But the swelling number of entrants is making it less fun. Route was simply too crowded this year. But it is one marathon worth running once in your lifetime. The course is iconic, challenging and thankfully peppered with plenty of Hydration, Gu and Porta Potties!!