From July 28 to November 1, it is finally possible to register for the NY City Marathon. But only to the virtual one, since the 2020 edition, due to COVID, will not be held.
In fact, the world’s most famous marathon committee, run by NYRR (New York Road Runners), has released the details of how to register and participate in the November 2 race. Those who were already registered, as is known, may decide to keep their registration valid for the 2021, 22 and 23 editions but are still encouraged to participate in the virtual race for which they will not have special discounts anyway. But before you think “Ouch” (if you’re already enrolled) or “How generous!” if you’re not, wait: there are also free formulas. Let’s look at them one by one.
How to choose which way to enroll
You can sign up-as mentioned-from July 28 to Nov. 1, and you need to link your profile to the Strava app, the only official data collection app. There are 4 possible options, with different names.
Run For the Love of Running – It has no slot limit available, is free and with it you receive a 10% discount on NYRR’s coaching programs and a free month’s subscription to Strava. If you opt for this you will only receive a digital certificate of participation and no finisher’s medal.
Run For the Med al – As the name implies, this is the formula that guarantees you a physical medal. In fact it has a cost of $50 if you are a NYRR member and $60 for everyone else. Like the previous one, there is no limit to the number of members.
Run to Fundraise For NYRR Team For Kids. e Run to Gain Guaranteed Entry – are the two fee-based formulas that guarantee-at a cost of $150 for NYRR members and $175 for nonmembers the first and $500 as a contribution to support the programs of the Rising New York Road Runners and of NYRR Run For the Future – access to the NY City Marathon. The former has a limit of 200 slots available and the latter has a limit of 1,000. The second one also wins you two months of free Strava subscription.
Okay, and how do you run?
As mentioned above, the race is virtual: you run wherever you like and then send the results to the organizing committee so they can compile the overall standings. Unlike the official marathon, you have a fairly large time window to do this: exactly from October 17 to November 1, as long as the run is done in one session. Those registered for the two paid formulas have time to upload their times until Nov. 4 and a spot already booked at the first “COVID-free” edition of the New York City Marathon, although they still have to pay for the slot.
This year you will run virtually, but that’s not to say that doing so won’t help someone get better and, in the meantime, reserve a spot at the world’s most famous marathon. Virtually real, indeed: really real!