Each year the marathon organizers at New York Road Runners unveil a new finisher medal for the TCS New York City Marathon, and for 2025 they’ve introduced a subtle but meaningful twist. The familiar design–a stylized Statue of Liberty at the centre, the event’s logo and year date–remains, but for 2025 they’ve added diagonal grooves etched across the surface of the medal, intended to evoke the undulating terrain of the course, from the Staten Island start through the five boroughs to the finish in Central Park.
These grooves are not simply decorative. According to NYRR commentary, the new tactile pattern is a nod to the “ups and downs” runners face throughout the 26.2-mile journey. In a sense, the medal becomes a physical map of the runner’s experience–you can trace those ridges with your finger and remember how the course felt underfoot.
How the 2025 Medal Compares to Previous Years
Historically, the marathon’s finisher medal has balanced consistency with occasional design refreshes. In recent years the layout and color palette–gold-tone medal, navy ribbon with bold year numerals–have remained recognizably “NYC Marathon.” The 2025 edition preserves that classic aesthetic while layering in the new groove texture so it feels both familiar and fresh.
For comparison: some earlier medals emphasized large skyline silhouettes, or the five-borough route in relief form, or a ribbon with the map of the course printed on the strap. This year’s design shifts slightly away from map-on-ribbon gimmicks and instead integrates the “route story” into the medal face itself via tactile detail.
Runners, Spectators and the Big Picture
Beyond the medal itself, the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon is set to attract a large field and vast spectator engagement. According to announcements, the event anticipates over 55,000 runners this year. These runners will be joined by millions (yes, MILLIONS) of spectators lining the route.
The New York City Marathon carries a history as rich and energetic as the city itself. First held in 1970, the race began humbly–just a few dozen runners completing multiple laps around Central Park. Six years later, in 1976, the course transformed into the legendary five-borough route that runners know today: beginning on Staten Island, crossing through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, before finishing triumphantly in Central Park.
Each November, New York’s streets come alive as more than two million spectators line the route to cheer, shout, sing, and carry runners through the 26.2-mile journey. The atmosphere is electric–veterans often say the crowd support in New York is unmatched anywhere in the world. The roar on First Avenue, the rhythm of drums in Brooklyn, and the emotional final mile in Central Park combine into an experience that defines what makes this race so special.
Partners for the race include Citizens Bank, Mastercard, New Balance, The Rudin Family, and United Airlines.
This year marks the 54th running of the marathon, taking place on Sunday, November 2, and anticipation is particularly high. Among the elite entrants is the marathon G.O.A.T, Eliud Kipchoge, who has announced that this will be his seventh World Marathon Major. His presence elevates the event to historic status.
“The thought of running in New York has always lived in my heart,” Kipchoge said. “I am looking forward to experiencing it all, to hearing the crowds, to meeting the people there, and leaving a long-lasting footprint in the running community.”
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