New York Marathon Marks 50 Years Across Five Boroughs

The New York City Marathon will mark the 50th anniversary of its five-borough course on November 1, with nearly 60,000 runners expected to cover 26.2 miles from Staten Island to Central Park. The first race on that route, held in 1976, had just over 2,000 competitors, including 88 women. This year, nearly half the field is expected to be women, with runners representing more than 140 countries.

Joanne Navarra has led volunteers at the Fort Wadsworth start village for five decades. She began helping when her husband, Victor, entered the race. The couple later took charge of start-line operations, including coordinating volunteers and directing runners toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Navarra continues the work in memory of Victor, who died in 2007 from cancer linked to his volunteer service at the Ground Zero site after the September 11 attacks.

Navarra oversees preparations and race-day logistics, with about 2,000 volunteers expected at the start. On race morning, she plans to direct operations from a bucket lift on an FDNY truck above the starting line.

Brooklyn resident Maureen O’Neil, 73, will run her 15th marathon. Inspired by the 1976 race, she began running local charity events as a teacher and started marathon racing in 2005. She says knowing her family will be near the finish helps her through the difficult miles.

The course will also include a small change in the Bronx, where the route will have five turns instead of seven to ease street closures. Defending champions Benson Kipruto and Hellen Obiri are returning; wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni is seeking a third consecutive title, with her first child born almost three months ago.