If you had told me just a few years ago that I’d be standing on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, waiting to run 26.2 miles through New York City, I would have laughed. At 39 years old, I am a completely different man than the one I used to be. Having battled back from being morbidly obese, crossing a marathon finish line was once just a dream.
Yet, here I was in November 2025, lining up for my 4th full marathon and my 3rd Abbott World Marathon Major. I flew out with my amazing supportive wife, Kelly, ready to tackle the Big Apple. The kicker? Life got in the way this training block, and I arrived at the start line with barely any training under my belt. This is the story of the toughest, loudest, and surprisingly fastest race of my life.
Getting There: The Logistics of a Major
Getting into the NYC Marathon is notoriously difficult through the lottery. To guarantee my spot and remove the stress, we booked through an official tour operator.
⭐ Review: Sports Tours International
I cannot recommend Sports Tours International highly enough. If you are chasing the World Majors, they are an invaluable resource. They specialize in travel packages for major endurance events, guaranteeing your race entry, sorting your accommodation, and providing on-the-ground support.
From the moment we booked, the communication was excellent. They handled the logistics seamlessly, which meant Kelly and I could just focus on the trip. Having reps available in the hotel lobby to answer questions eased a lot of pre-race anxiety. If you want a stress-free Major experience, book with them.
We stayed at the Westin Grand Central. The location was absolutely perfect—right in the heart of midtown, making it easy to explore and, crucially, easy to get transport on race morning.
The Pre-Race Build-Up: Tourists and Queues
You can’t fly all the way to New York and not see the sights. Despite the long flight and the looming race, we hit the tourist trail hard. Standing in Grand Central Terminal, wandering through Central Park (knowing I’d be finishing there soon!), gazing up at the Empire State Building, taking the ferry past the Statue of Liberty, and paying our respects at the incredibly moving 9/11 Memorial.
💡 Top Tip for NYC: The temptation to walk everywhere is immense because there is so much to see. But beware of “museum legs.” Try to balance sightseeing with resting your legs in the two days before the race. The subway is your best friend!
The Expo Mayhem
The Expo at the Javits Center is an experience in itself. It was, quite honestly, mayhem. The queues to get in and collect bibs were extremely long. It’s just the nature of a race with over 50,000 runners.
Once inside, the energy is palpable, but it can be overwhelming. We grabbed my bib, bought the obligatory merchandise, and got out of there to rest up.
Race Day: The Long Road to the Start Line
Race morning in New York is a logistical marathon before the actual marathon. It starts early. Very early. We left the Westin in the dark to catch the official transport.
I opted for the Staten Island Ferry option. Riding the ferry past the Statue of Liberty as the sun rises over the city is iconic, and the nerves really start kicking in. Once on Staten Island, it’s a bus ride to Fort Wadsworth, followed by the infamous walk to the start village.
💡 Vital Hint: The Wait. You will be sitting in the start village on Staten Island for hours before your wave starts. It is often cold and windy. Bring “throwaway” clothes—old sweats, a bathrobe, hats—that you can wear to stay warm and discard in donation bins right before you cross the start line.
The 26.2 Mile Block Party
The cannon fired. Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blared over the speakers. It was time.
The Start: The very first mile up the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a significant uphill drag. It’s easy to get swept up in the adrenaline and run this too fast. Given my lack of training, I forced myself to take it easy here, saving energy for the later boroughs.
The Five Boroughs
Running through all five boroughs—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan—is what makes this race special. Each neighborhood has a distinct vibe.
- Brooklyn was a massive party. The noise was deafening.
- The silence on the Queensboro Bridge (no spectators allowed) was eerie and a tough mental check before hitting the wall of sound on First Avenue in Manhattan.
- The Bronx was gritty and energetic, but brief.
- Heading back into Manhattan for the final stretch down Fifth Avenue and into Central Park was pure willpower.
The Result
I won’t lie, this was a very tough marathon. The bridges are unforgiving hills, and my lack of training miles screamed at me from mile 16 onwards. But the crowds in New York are unlike anything else on earth; they simply refused to let me stop.
Somehow, running on pure grit and the energy of a million spectators, I crossed the finish line in Central Park. I looked at my watch and couldn’t believe it. Despite the difficulty and the preparation, I had run a Personal Best.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 New York City Marathon was everything people say it is: loud, chaotic, difficult, and utterly magnificent. It’s a victory lap for the city, and you feel privileged to be part of it.
From my days of being morbidly obese to earning my third Major star in Central Park, the journey has been wild. A massive thank you to Kelly for her endless patience and support on this trip. If NYC is on your bucket list, do whatever it takes to get there. Just maybe do a little more training than I did!
