Already in August, participants must make decisions in the NYRR Dashboard that will shape their race day – from transport to Staten Island to when they pick up their bib at the Expo.
Key logistical decisions in the NYC Marathon
Starting August 19, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (EDT), all participants of the TCS New York City Marathon are required to make crucial organizational choices in the NYRR Dashboard. These decisions will have a direct impact on your comfort and experience on race day, so it’s worth reviewing the options carefully.
Deadlines for making selections
• Start transport & bag check/poncho option: until September 9, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT
• Expo bib pickup time slot reservation: until November 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT
What do you select in the NYRR Dashboard?
1. Transport to the start
You can choose a bus from Midtown Manhattan or the Staten Island Ferry.
Important: you also need to pick your departure time. Earlier options mean more waiting time in the start village, while later slots allow less margin but reduce pre-race downtime.
2. Bag check option
• Bag check – You can drop off your belongings in Central Park on Friday and Saturday. There will be no bag drop on race day. After the race, you can collect your items in Central Park.
• No bag check – skip the bag drop and instead receive the special marathon poncho at the finish line, designed to keep you warm and comfortable after completing your run.
3. Expo – bib number pickup
Every runner must reserve a time slot for the TCS New York City Marathon Expo at the Javits Center in Manhattan. This system helps avoid long queues and makes it easier to fit bib pickup into your New York City schedule.
Most common runner question
What if I don’t know my official start time yet?Don’t worry – start waves and corrals are only announced in October, but your transport decision has to be made earlier.
To help with this, I prepared a dedicated guide: How NYRR assigns start waves and corrals – and how to estimate your NYC Marathon pace. It gives you practical advice on how to predict your likely start wave and choose the best transport option accordingly.
Summary
From August 19 in the NYRR Dashboard, each participant must choose:
• transport to the start (bus or ferry),
• bag check vs. no bag check (and poncho),
• time slot for bib number pickup at the Expo.
Final deadlines:
• Transport and bag check: September 9, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT
• Expo bib pickup: November 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT
Making these decisions in time helps ensure smooth logistics and a stress‑free race day experience.
