CC Sabathia, National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former Yankees pitcher, to cheer on 55,000+ runners as Grand Marshal
Notable marathon runners include Anthony Ramos, Oliver Phelps, Ben Gibbard, Chloe Lukasiak, Joey Graziadei, Tyler Cameron, and Carl Radke
New York, Oct. 14, 2025 — New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, today announced that sports legend CC Sabathia, former New York Yankees pitcher who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year, will serve as the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon Grand Marshal.
In this ceremonial role, Sabathia will lead the more than two million spectators lining the streets of New York City Sunday, Nov. 2, in cheering on 55,000+ marathon runners as they journey to the finish line on the BEST day of the year, in the BEST city in the world.
“CC Sabathia is a champion on the field and a champion for our communities,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, New York Road Runners CEO. “After an incredible career as a six-time All Star and World Series champion with the Yankees, CC’s work through his PitCCh In Foundation embodies the spirit of giving back and inspiring the next generation that’s core to New York Road Runners’ nonprofit vision. We’re honored to have him leading this year’s star-studded field and inspiring runners from around the world.”
As Grand Marshal, Sabathia will greet athletes at the start line on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge race morning and celebrate runners as they cross the iconic Central Park finish line.
“New York has given me so much—from my years with the Yankees to the incredible people I’ve met since calling this city home,” said Sabathia. “Being named Grand Marshal of the TCS New York City Marathon is truly an honor. I’ve always admired the determination of every runner who takes on those 26.2 miles, and I can’t wait to cheer them on across the five boroughs and as they cross the finish line in Central Park.”
Since retiring in 2019, Sabathia has been active in the community through his PitCCh In Foundation, a nonprofit with programs that equip inner-city youth with tools for success in school and on the field. PitCCh In Foundation’s running team, Team 52, will have 20 runners participating in the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon in support of the foundation. PitCCh In Foundation co-founder and Sabathia’s wife Amber also serves on the New York Road Runners Board of Directors as the Vice Chair of the Community Impact Committee.
Celebrity and Notable Runners Taking on the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon
Joining Sabathia on Marathon Sunday will be a diverse and inspiring group of celebrity and notable runners from across sports, entertainment, and media. Many of them are running their first marathon and supporting a variety of charitable causes.
Actor, singer, and songwriter Anthony Ramos, who starred in the original cast of “Hamilton” on Broadway, will be running his first marathon alongside a group that includes his high school guidance counselor, brother, and run coach and U.S. Olympic marathoner Des Linden. Actor Oliver Phelps, best known for playing George Weasley in the Harry Potter film adaptations and host of “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” will be running his first marathon in support of The Matt Hampson Foundation ahead of the season two premiere of his show.
Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard and guitarist Dave Depper will be running to support sustainability nonprofit Protect Our Winters. Queens-native hip-hop icon and “Drink Champs” host N.O.R.E. will return to the five boroughs to run his first marathon alongside his Run Champs run crew. Several Broadway stars are running to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, including Jordan Litz, who currently stars as Fiyero in “Wicked,” and Merle Dandridge, who recently completed a run as Persephone in “Hadestown.”
“Summer House” star Carl Radke is running his first marathon on behalf of Release Recovery to advocate for running as a powerful tool to support sobriety. Phil Keoghan, the host of “The Amazing Race,” will be running his first marathon in support of his friend and former “The Amazing Race” contestant Terence Gerchberg’s charity Back on My Feet. Additional notables from reality television programs include “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” stars Tyler Cameron, Joey Graziadei (who also won the last season of “Dancing with the Stars”), Matt James, Zac Clark, Joe Amabile, and Tanner Courtad; and Bryan Arenales, Nic Vansteenberghe, and Elan Bibas from “Love Island USA.”
Ahead of the “Good Morning America” 50th anniversary show, airing Monday, Nov. 3, ABC News and ABC7/WABC-TV New York talent and staff—including Rebecca Jarvis, Jonathan Karl, Will Reeve, Doborah Roberts, and Ginger Zee—will run the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon relay-style to reflect the spirit of teamwork while fundraising for NYRR Team for Kids, New York Road Runners’ premier charity supporting the nonprofit’s free youth and community programs.
For the second year, as part of their commitment to mental health, members of the Maybelline Run Club will run for Team Maybelline in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), including actor Claire Holt, television personality and former “Dance Moms” star Chloe Lukasiak, digital creator Olivia Maher, and television host and multimedia personality Tayshia Adams.
The full list of notable runners in this year’s marathon includes:
- Anthony Ramos – Actor
- Oliver Phelps – Actor and television personality; supporting The Matt Hampson Foundation
- Ben Gibbard and Dave Depper – Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service bandmates; supporting Protect Our Winters
- Joey Graziadei – “The Bachelor” and “Dancing with the Stars” star
- Tyler Cameron – “The Bachelorette” star running with girlfriend Tate Madden
- Matt James – “The Bachelor” star and entrepreneur; Team Mastercard
- Zac Clark – “The Bachelorette” star; supporting his charity Release Recovery
- Joe Amabile – “The Bachelorette” star; supporting Release Recovery
- Tanner Courtad – “The Bachelorette” star
- Bryan Arenales – “Love Island USA” star
- Nic Vansteenberghe – “Love Island USA” star; Team Strava
- Elan Bibas – “Love Island USA” star; Team TAG Heuer
- Alexi Pappas – Olympic runner; Team TAG Heuer
- Carl Radke – Television personality and entrepreneur; supporting Release Recovery
- Phil Keoghan – Television personality and host of “The Amazing Race”; supporting Back on My Feet
- Claire Holt – Actor; Team Maybelline
- Chloe Lukasiak – Television personality and actor; Team Maybelline
- Olivia Maher – Digital creator; Team Maybelline
- Tayshia Adams – Television host; Team Maybelline
- Christine Doan – Digital creator and entrepreneur; Team Maybelline
- Isabelle Glasgow Jensen – Digital creator and entrepreneur; Team Maybelline
- Karen Sarahi Gonzales – Digital creator and entrepreneur; Team Maybelline
- Lauren Ridloff – Actor; Team New Balance
- Nev Schulman – Host of “Catfish: The TV Show”; supporting Achilles International
- Laura Perlongo – Wife of Nev Schulman
- Alex Cora – Boston Red Sox Manager
- Sam Judge – Wife of New York Yankees All-Star Aaron Judge; supporting KultureCity
- N.O.R.E. – Rapper, actor, and media personality
- Cole Cook – Filmmaker and entrepreneur; supporting Keep a Child Alive, co-founded by his sister Alicia Keys
- Patina Miller – Tony Award-winning Broadway star and actor
- Merle Dandridge – Broadway star and actor; supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
- Jordan Litz – Broadway star and actor; supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
- Peloton instructors Mariana Fernández, Ben Alldis, Jeffrey McEachern, Rad Lopez, and Alex Karwoski
- “Good Morning America” 50th Anniversary Relay participants – Rhiannon Ally, Dani Beckstrom, JuJu Chang, Liz Cho, Christiane Cordero, Linsey Davis, Devin Dwyer, Ike Ejiochi, Will Ganss, Matt Gutman, Rebecca Jarvis, Whit Johnson, Jonathan Karl, Aaron Katersky, Rick Klein, Chanteé Lans, Mola Lenghi, Janai Norman, Nina Pineda, Stephanie Ramos, Deborah Roberts, Perry Russom, Will Reeve, Ashan Singh, Karen Travers, Selina Wang, and Ginger Zee
- Errol Barnett – CBS News anchor and national correspondent
- Isaac Rochell – Former NFL player and digital creator; Team Strava
- Rudy Valdez – Filmmaker and director of NYRR’s East 89th St Productions documentary short, “Final Finishers”
- Casey Neistat – Digital creator and filmmaker
- Brooke Monk – Digital creator
- Ellie Fisher – Wife of Broadway star and actor Jordan Fisher; supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience
levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.