NewsNYC Marathon Tracker 2026: How to Follow Runners, Start Times and Official Results
The 2026 New York City Marathon is underway. Here's how to follow a specific runner without confusing unofficial tracking estimates with final race results.
Representative licensed photograph of runners at a different marathon, not the 2026 New York City Marathon or its entrants. Photo: RUN 4 FFWPU / Pexels (free-use license).
NEW YORK, November 1, 2026 — Searches for an NYC marathon tracker are rising as the five-borough race takes place on Sunday. The race organizer, New York Road Runners (NYRR), says its official mobile app offers live runner tracking, leaderboards and professional-race coverage. Unlike an athlete's actual GPS broadcast, race tracking is based on recorded checkpoints and projected progress; do not treat a moving marker as a continuously verified street-level position. NYRR's race guide explicitly describes the live information as unofficial.
How to track a runner in the 2026 NYC Marathon
Open the official NYRR marathon app page and choose the App Store or Google Play download link. In the app, navigate to the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon and its runner-tracking feature. Search for the person you are following using the name or identifying information supported by the current app, then follow their recorded progress and any available alerts. The organizer confirms the app provides key-moment updates and race leaderboards. If two participants have similar names, verify the runner's bib or other details with them before assuming a match.
Runner tracking can lag, especially around crowded areas or between timing checkpoints. A predicted finish time is an estimate, not a promise of where the runner is at a particular second. NYRR advises families to agree on a meeting location outside the runners-only finish area because cellular networks may be saturated near Central Park. For someone you intend to meet, use both the runner's expected pace and official post-finish instructions rather than relying on a single app dot.
What time did the NYC Marathon start on November 1?
All times below are Eastern Standard Time (EST) in New York on Sunday, November 1. Daylight saving time ended overnight, so travelers should not apply the previous day's time-zone offset.
- 8:00 a.m. — men's professional wheelchair division.
- 8:02 a.m. — women's professional wheelchair division.
- 8:22 a.m. — handcycles and select athletes with disabilities.
- 8:35 a.m. — professional women.
- 9:05 a.m. — professional men.
- 9:10, 9:45, 10:20, 10:55 and 11:30 a.m. — general-entry Waves 1 through 5.
These are scheduled starts, not proof that an individual crossed the starting mat at that exact moment. The five wave times come from NYRR's official start guide, which cautions that schedules can change. Professional start times are also listed in LetsRun's October 31 race-day guide.
Where to find official results, and what is provisional?
NYRR distinguishes live, unofficial runner tracking during the event from official results posted after it concludes. Use results.nyrr.org for the official finishing records once published. A leaderboard or unofficial split shown while the race is in progress should not be reported as a certified final result. This article deliberately does not name a winner or finishing time before those facts are confirmed by the organizer.
For spectators comparing runners in different waves, note that a finish-clock time and a runner's net race time are not necessarily the same. NYRR states that a participant's net time starts when they cross the starting line. A late-wave participant may have a faster net result than someone who reaches the finish earlier on the wall clock.
How to watch the NYC Marathon live in the United States
NYRR's October 26 broadcast announcement lists ESPN2 for national television coverage and ABC7/WABC-TV for local New York-area coverage. The official NYRR app also carries uninterrupted feeds of the four professional divisions. Availability may depend on device, provider and region; consult the broadcaster's current schedule before subscribing to a service solely for this event.
The 26.2-mile course connects Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan before ending in Central Park. This year's edition marks 50 years since the marathon adopted its five-borough format in 1976, according to NYRR. The milestone is about the five-borough course, not the first-ever New York City Marathon, which began in 1970.
What if the tracker stops updating?
First check whether your runner's assigned wave has started. Then refresh the app or wait for the next checkpoint; missing a fresh split does not, by itself, mean the runner has stopped. If the app is unavailable, the official marathon site links to organizer resources and coverage. After the race, use the official results database rather than an unsourced social-media screenshot. If you are meeting a participant, NYRR recommends allowing roughly 15–25 minutes after the expected finish to reach the family-reunion area, and choosing a meeting spot in advance.
Because November 1 is also the U.S. clock-change date, see our verified 2026 daylight saving time guide if you are watching from another time zone.
Sources and verification
- New York Road Runners: official app and runner-tracking features.
- NYRR: 2026 race guide, unofficial tracking, official results and finish logistics.
- NYRR: 2026 wave starts and corral guidance.
- NYRR: October 26 U.S. broadcast announcement.
- LetsRun, October 31: independent race tracking and TV guide.
This service guide is current as of November 1, 2026. Live standings can change; no unverified winner or result is implied.