2026 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K Race-Day Media Coverage Opportunities
Olympians and national champions to lead more than 11,000 runners on the way to the TCS New York City Marathon finish line
Traffic Advisory / Street Closure Schedule
RSVP REQUIRED
WHAT:
The day before the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon,New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races, will host more than 11,000 athletes for the annual Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K. Among the race participants will be a strong professional athlete field, including three Olympians, six NCAA champions, four U.S. national champions, and two defending champions, as well as former New York City Marathon champions and race directors and CEOs from select Abbott World Marathon Majors.
WHERE/WHEN:
Saturday, October 31
Start: United Nations,First Ave at East 42nd Street
- 8:30 a.m. – Pro Men Start
- 8:35 a.m. – Pro Women Start
- 8:40 a.m. – Handcycle, Pushrim, and Wheelchair Start
- 8:45 a.m. – Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K General Runners Start
Finish: TCS New York City Marathon Finish Line,Central Park, West Drive at W. 67th St.
- 8:43 a.m. – First Pro Man anticipated finish
- 8:50 a.m. – First Pro Woman anticipated finish
- 9-10:30 a.m. – General Runners finish
STREET CLOSURES:
See attached for the street closure schedule and traffic advisory for the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5k and the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.
WHO:
- Rob Simmelkjaer, New York Road Runners CEO
- Ted Metellus, New York Road Runners Chief Events Production Officer and Race Director
- Chris Miller, Abbott Divisional Vice President of Partnerships and Sponsorships
- Professional athlete field including:
- Annie Rodenfels, 3x national champion and 3x Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K champion
- Amon Kemboi, 2025 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K Men’s champion
- Edwin Kurgat, Kenyan Olympian
- Whittni Morgan, 2024 U.S. Olympian
- Habtom Samuel, 5x NCAA champion
- Josette Andrews, 2025 USATF 5K national champion
- Rachael Rudel, USATF 20K national champion
- Ednah Kurgat, 2023 USATF Cross Country and 6K national champion
- Gary Corbitt, Running historian and son of Ted Corbitt, one of the founders of the iconic 5-boro New York City Marathon course. Corbitt will serve as an Honorary Grand Marshal for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, representing his father’s enduring legacy.
- Julianna Mangano, A member of 2026 Team Inspire—a diverse group of athletes with the 26 most compelling stories in the TCS New York City Marathon field—who began running after her cousin, and best friend, suffered a cardiac event while out on a routine run.
- Past TCS New York City Marathon champions:
- Franca Fiacconi (ITA), 1998 TCS New York City Marathon champion and the first Italian woman to win the race
- Meb Keflezighi (USA), Olympic silver medalist and 2009 TCS New York City Marathon champion, the first American man to win the race since 1982
- Uta Pippig (GER), two-time Olympian and 1993 TCS New York City Marathon champion, the first German woman to win the race
- Abbott World Marathon Majors race directors and CEOs:
- Jack Fleming, Boston Marathon
- Wayne Larden, Sydney Marathon
- Jürgen Lock, Berlin Marathon
- Yasuhiro Oshima, Tokyo Marathon
ADDITIONAL RACE INFO:
The Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K is an annual New York Road Runners (NYRR) event held on the Saturday before the TCS New York City Marathon. The 3.1-mile race gives runners, marathon participants, friends, and family members an opportunity to experience the excitement of Marathon Weekend and cross the iconic TCS New York City Marathon Finish Line in Central Park a day before the marathon. With race day falling on Halloween, this year’s event brings extra festive energy to the streets of New York City.
The course begins near the United Nations on Manhattan’s East Side, follows 42nd Street past Grand Central Terminal, continues north along Sixth Avenue past Radio City Music Hall, and enters Central Park, where runners finish at the marathon’s celebrated finish line. The event welcomes runners of varying experience levels.