"If marathoning was hot in 2023, it's absolutely scalding now. The World Majors continue to set participation records, and added a new city (Sydney) to their vaunted ranks in September. This spring, NYRR tallied 200,000 applications for the 2025 installment of the NYC Marathon. That represented a crazy 22% increase from the 2024 total. At this point, New York and London are simply trading places for the title of biggest marathon in the world."
"Fueling the fire: a well-documented running boom. (Which, at this point, you might just call a racing boom, to accommodate the rise of HYROX, trail running and countless "unsanctioned" event series.) For instance, the night before the race, Orchard Street Runners is hosting The Prototype Race, a design-your-way, half-marathon down Manhattan's spine, for runners in desperate need of an antidote to their racing FOMO."
"Maybe the flames start to sputter one of these years. But it won't be in 2025. There's been a 59% increase in run club participation globally ( according to Strava), continued community development from heritage and upstart running brands alike and an immense impact from the social media superstructure: YouTubers who run, podcasters who run, dating show contestants who run, etc."
Marathon participation has surged, with the World Marathon Majors adding Sydney and New York and London trading places as the largest events. NYRR received 200,000 applications for the 2025 NYC Marathon, a 22% rise over 2024. A broader racing boom includes HYROX, trail running, and unsanctioned event series, plus creative community events like The Prototype Race. Run-club participation rose 59% globally per Strava, while heritage and upstart brands continue community development. Social-media creators and influencers have amplified interest. Questions about corporatization exist, but the NYC Marathon continues to thrive in its 54th year and remains a marquee city event.
Read at InsideHook
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