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Oct 23 London Marathon Cancellation: Refunds, Deferrals, and Deadlines Oct 22 NYC Marathon Start Transportation: Ferries, Buses, and Rules Oct 21 NYC Marathon Start Waves: Schedule, Corrals, and Rules Oct 20 NYC Marathon 2026 Bib Pickup: Expo Dates, Hours, and Rules Oct 19 Tokyo Marathon 2027 Bib Pickup: Dates, Hours, and Rules Oct 18 Tokyo Marathon Corrals: Proof of Time and Wave Rules Oct 17 Boston Marathon Deferral: Cancellation, Refunds, and Exceptions Oct 16 Berlin Marathon Cancellation: Refunds, Deferrals, and Transfers Oct 15 Tokyo Marathon Time Limit: Cutoffs, Gun Time, and Rules Oct 14 London Marathon MyWay 2027: Dates, Cost, and Entry Rules
[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Oct 21

NYC Marathon Start Waves: Schedule, Corrals, and Rules

With the TCS New York City Marathon running on Sunday, November 1, 2026, race morning logistics begin well before runners cross the start line. Staging at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island requires knowing your assigned wave, corral closing deadlines, and staging village amenities.

New York Road Runners (NYRR) enforces strict corral rules to ensure runner safety. Here is how waves and corrals operate, the exact race-day schedule, and what to expect inside the start villages.

What is the NYC Marathon wave schedule?

Professional and athlete-with-disability divisions start first, followed by five waves of open participants. Corrals open and close at precise times before each wave departs:

  • 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's Open Division
  • 9:05 a.m.: Professional Men's Open Division
  • 9:10 a.m. (Wave 1): Corrals open at 8:10 a.m., close at 8:45 a.m.
  • 9:45 a.m. (Wave 2): Corrals open at 9:05 a.m., close at 9:25 a.m.
  • 10:20 a.m. (Wave 3): Corrals open at 9:45 a.m., close at 10:00 a.m.
  • 10:55 a.m. (Wave 4): Corrals open at 10:25 a.m., close at 10:40 a.m.
  • 11:30 a.m. (Wave 5): Corrals open at 11:00 a.m., close at 11:15 a.m.

NYRR broadcasts multilingual audio announcements instructing runners when to line up. If you arrive after your corral closes, you must move to the final wave or corral.

How are start corrals and colors arranged?

Your official race bib indicates your assigned start wave, start color, and corral letter. The field is split into three start colors (blue, orange, and pink), five waves, and six corrals per wave (designated A through F).

Corral placement is based on your verified NYRR best pace or a submitted certified marathon/half marathon placement time. NYRR does not permit corral or wave change requests at the expo or on race day.

Can you start in a different corral to run with a friend?

Yes, provided you move backward to a slower start. NYRR rules permit runners to drop back to a later (slower) wave and corral corresponding to a higher corral letter and number.

However, you may never move forward into an earlier or faster wave or corral. Climbing barricades or starting ahead of your assigned group is a direct violation of competition rules and risks disqualification and suspension from future NYRR events.

Because your official finish time is calculated from your net chip time (when you cross the starting mat), moving back to join a slower runner does not penalize your recorded race time.

What should you expect at Fort Wadsworth?

Only registered runners and official guides with visible race bibs are allowed into Fort Wadsworth. The color of your bib corresponds to your assigned start village:

  • Clear bag rule: The only bag permitted into Fort Wadsworth is the clear official start village bag issued at the expo. NYRR does not provide bag transport from the start line to the finish line.
  • Facilities and refreshments: The start staging area includes over 1,600 portable toilets, medical aid tents, and pre-race refreshments while supplies last, including Dunkin' coffee, tea, hot cocoa, bagels, and Gatorade Endurance Formula.
  • Clothing donations: Runners are encouraged to wear discardable warm layers while waiting. Discard bins throughout the village collect clothing for donation to All of Us Clothing.
  • Specialized services: The start village features dedicated lactation spaces with Medela breast pumps (personal pumps are transported to finish lactation tents, though milk cannot be transported), a quiet Sensory Space, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters from 5:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

NYRR Pace Team pacers will also be in the start corrals, leading goal paces ranging from 2:55 to 6:15. For course maps, tracking instructions, and upcoming registration details, visit our New York City Marathon page.

Sources: NYRR: TCS New York City Marathon The Start, NYRR: Rules of Competition, NYRR: 2026 TCS New York City Marathon

Sources New York Road Runners