Overview
- New York Road Runners announced Tuesday, Sept. 22 that a roughly one-mile section in Mott Haven will follow a new path for the Nov. 1, 2026 race and that the city and NYPD have approved the change.
- The revised routing sends runners from the Willis Avenue Bridge onto East 135th Street, down Alexander Avenue past East 138th Street, onto East 141st Street, Third Avenue and then back over the Madison Avenue Bridge into Manhattan.
- The adjustment cuts the number of turns in that mile from seven to five, a change organizers say will smooth runner flow and simplify on-course operations.
- Race officials say the main intent is to restore pedestrian and vehicle access to the Western Beef supermarket and a 24-hour laundromat on East 140th Street that the old loop effectively cut off for nearby Patterson Houses residents.
- The move follows a multi-year review and community consultation begun in 2024, meets recertification needs ahead of the race, and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, while officials balance citywide logistics and local impacts.