Seven Turns in the Bronx Became Five
The five borough course changes for the first time since 2011, between miles 20 and 21.
New York has left its marathon course alone for fifteen years. Not anymore. The route through the Bronx has been redrawn between miles 20 and 21, cutting the turns in the borough from seven down to five.
It is a small edit on a map and a large one at mile 20, where every corner costs something you do not have. Fewer turns, fewer decelerations, at exactly the point in the race where the course stops being scenery and starts being arithmetic.
First alteration to the five borough course since 2011, in the race's 50th year.
Fifty years of the five borough route, and the anniversary edition is the one that moves.