Unique Rules You Didn't Know NYC Marathon Runners Must Follow

Between the costumes allowed to be worn and the food allowed to be consumed, here are the little-known rules runners must follow during the TCS NYC Marathon

Imagine running 26.2 miles and then finding out you got disqualified?

Well, fortunately for those participating in the upcoming TCS New York City Marathon — or those who are planning to participate in one in the future — we've rounded up the little-known rules runners must follow up until they cross the finish line.

Since 1970, the NYC Marathon has been annually organized by New York Road Runners (NYRR), a non-profit community running organization whose mission is to "help and inspire people through running." The race is held on the first Sunday of November each year.

NYRR, formerly known as the Road Runners Club, compiled an updated Code of  Conduct and Run Clean Policy that entrants must comply with during the race. The rules detailed on the NYRR's website are in place to ensure a fair and safe run for those registered, plus to guarantee a fun experience from start to finish.

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Due to the diversity of runners who participate, the rules and regulations differ slightly between pro athletes and non-professional runners. In fact, the NYC Marathon is one of the few sporting events that allow amateur participants to participate in the same event as professional athletes — and there are plenty of celebrities who have hit the pavement for the event as well.

Approximately 50,000 people run in the NYC Marathon each year, drawing over one million spectators and thousands of volunteers who line the streets in support. Plus, the race will be broadcast to more than 540 million homes around the world in 206 countries and territories this year.

Ready, set, go on to read about some of the most unique rules runners most follow when competing in the NYC Marathon.

Runners must meet a minimum age to partake in the race

There's a minimum age requirement runners must meet to be eligible for participation in the NYC Marathon. Runners must be 18 years or older, according to the World Athletics "Book of Rules."

However, there is no maximum age limit. In fact, the eldest person to run the NYC Marathon in November 2022 was venture capitalist Alan Patricof, who was 88 years old at the time and finished the race in just over 8 hours and 50 minutes.

Related: Stars Who've Run the New York City Marathon

Runners must qualify to participate in the race

If you wake up on the first Sunday of November and happen to feel like running 26.2 miles, unfortunately doing so in the NYC Marathon is not an option. Those who want to compete in the race have to register for eligibility.

To do so, there are several ways to snag one of the 50,000 spots in the race. The easiest (and hardest) option for a shot at participating is to apply to the non-guaranteed general entry drawing that opens from Feb. 8 to Feb. 22 each year. Anyone can enter the lottery and find out if they've been selected on March 1.

According to NYRR, the lottery is a way for the race to "preserve the diversity." Applicants will be chosen through three drawing pools: "NYC metro area" applicants, "National" applicants (including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories) and "International" applicants.

Another way to earn a NYC Marathon bib is by running with one of the official charities that partner with NYRR, like Team for Kids and other non-profits listed on the running organizations' website. Runners must raise money to enter, which vary by charity and range from $3,000 to $5,000.

If you're a fast runner, you can earn a bib through a qualifying time, though there's a particular window and other specificities in which the time must be achieved. Also, if you've ran the marathon 15 times, NYRR rewards its "streakers" with guaranteed entry to keep their streak alive!

Runners must abide by sportsmanlike conduct

If runners demonstrate unsportsmanlike conduct or display inappropriate behavior towards event officials, NYRR staff, and/or volunteers, they may be disqualified. Providing false or misleading information on an event application is among one of the ways to get cut from the race.

Furthermore, unsportsmanlike conduct includes actions that are viewed as unethical, unfair, abusive, offensive, harassing, disrespectful, harmful or illegal "in the opinion of NYRR" and can increase participants' chances of getting disqualified from the race.

Runners must ensure their bibs are visible at all times

Runners receive their official participant bibs prior to the marathon start, which includes each entrant's race number, wave, corral and other information. Timing devices (B-Tag) are also attached to the bibs.

To ensure accurate times, bibs must be worn on the front of runners' torsos, attached to their outermost garment and be visible at all times. Participants should be sure to avoid covering their bib with a jacket, runner belt, water bottle or any other item that might be worn during the race.

It's important not to crinkle the bib either, or runners'face the risk of having their finish times and splits properly recorded — or potentially failing to earn credit for running the marathon. If the bib falls off along the route, it must be immediately reported after the race.

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Runners must not modify their bibs

Bibs are a runner's identity on race day; therefore, there are several rules regarding what can and can not be done with them prior to the marathon. Since bibs are assigned by NYRR to each specific participant, only that registered person is allowed possession of it during the race.

Entrants are forbidden to transfer, reproduce, replicate or modify their bib under any circumstance. Plus, runners aren't allowed to participate with an unofficial NYRR race number or bib.

"Attempting to do any of the foregoing is also prohibited and any person found violating these rules will be subject to penalties," according to the NYRR website. Consequences include, but are not limited to, "disqualification and suspension from subsequent NYRR events."

Runners must report to their assigned corrals

Every runner is assigned to a specific corral where they'll congregate before the start of the race. There are three color-coded starts (pink, orange and blue) in each of the five waves, of which each wave has six corrals.

Wave and corrals are determined by a runner's best pace and can not be changed after assignment. Before closing time, entrants must enter their designated corral (moving backwards to a slower corral is allowed, but moving forward to a faster corral is not).

Runners must behave appropriately in the corrals

Runners must uphold good sportsmanlike behavior in the corrals. Any display of inappropriate behavior — like urinating or defecating — in a corral runs the risk of disqualification and/or suspension from future NYRR events.

In addition, any participant who climbs over a barricade or enters the corral improperly also runs the risk of being disqualified. If an entrant is late to enter and their designated corral is closed, they must report to the last corral for safety purposes.

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Runners must not stray from the course

This rule sounds simple, but there have been infamous instances in the NYC Marathon's history in which runners have strayed from the course in attempt to finish with a faster time (cheating, in simpler terms). Every participants must stay within course boundaries at all times.

Throughout the entirety of the 26.2-mile route — which begins in Staten Island, ends in Manhattan and stretches across every borough in between — there are barriers, traffic cones, painted lines and other markings to guide runners to the finish line.

Course marshals and event officials will also be on standby to assist. Failure to stay on course or abide by staff instructions may result in disqualification from the race.

Runners aren't allowed to exit course if they want credit for the race

Feel like detouring off course for lunch around mile 18? Well, you can't.

According to the official rules of competition, participants who "have not completed the entire course" are not to cross the finish line or they will "risk disqualification" — and officials will be checking, too!

"Participants with missing or irregular split times at official timing checkpoints will be reviewed and may be disqualified," read the rules. "If you must leave the course, rejoin it only at the point at which you exited."

"No participant, after leaving the course, will be allowed to rejoin the race either for the purpose of gaining a place or to pace or assist another competitor."

Runners must only use the toilet facilities provided

Public urination and defecation by any registered participant will be disqualified and risks police summons, according to the NYRR Code of Conduct. Should runners have to use the restroom during the race, they are only allowed to use the toilet facilities provided in accordance with City of New York Parks & Recreation rules.

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Costumes covering a runner's face are not permitted

There are several guidelines regarding a runner's apparel on race day, like ensuring a participant's jacket doesn't cover their bib. While some runners have dressed in costumes in year's past, there are guidelines as to what is actually allowed to be worn on teh course.

A range of costumes have taken the city streets — ranging from clowns, to superheroes, to Elvises — but the runners wearing them had to make sure that their "non-formfitting bulky outfit" didn't extend "beyond the perimeter of the body."

Costumes covering a participant's face are also not permitted, in addition to props including flag poles and sporting equipment. For runners' safety, weighted vests, skates, strollers (including running strollers) and animals are not permitted in the race.

Runners are allowed to eat and drink on the race route

Hundreds of calories are burned and lots of fluids are lost over the course of running 26.2 miles, so surely runners must replenish if they want to successfully (and healthily) complete the race.

While participants are allowed to bring their own food and hydration needs, the NYC Marathon has several stations set up along the race route every few miles. The official stations provide purified water and snacks like bananas.

Science in Sport Energy Gels are available along the course at miles 12 and 18 to help entrants refuel. Signage on the course will indicate the gel zones and flavors, with some including caffeine. Gatorade Endurance Formula Lemon-Lime Flavor will also be available.

Runners aren't allowed to bring selfie sticks

You might want to document this milestone achievement as you run, but selfie sticks or camera mounts and rigs that aren't directly attached to a runner's head or torso are not allowed in the race. But you can smile and wave to the thousands of people lining the streets cheering you on — or better yet, the cameras filming the marathon for TV all over the world!

Runners aren't allowed assistance from anyone except official medical personnel

Sorry runners, you're on your own for the next 26.2 miles! Unregistered participants are not permitted on the course, including unofficial pacers. (Though NYRR does provide official designated pacers for runners if they want.)

"A participant who receives assistance during an event from anyone other than official medical personnel may be disqualified," according to the NYRR Code of Conduct. "No individual who is not officially registered may join the event or accompany any participant in the event."

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