The NYC Marathon is a bucket-list race whose 26.2 miles take you through the five borough tour of one of the world's greatest cities. It is the largest marathon in the world, and the initial lottery registration often crashes the website for the first day. Guaranteed entry can be earned via a large marathon time qualifier or NYRR-eligible half/full marathon times. NYRR keeps you informed with emails as race-day approaches, and it is important that you fill out the pre-race surveys for transportation (bus or ferry and times), pre-raceday bag check, and ideal expo timeslot. The expo is over at the transit-friendly Javits center and you can pick up last-minute gear, try out some samples, and participate in some themed activations and photo-ops. Race morning gives you one hour of extra sleep as the race is the morning of the end of daylight savings, but it is a very early start. The easy option is a midtown bus, but I have always chosen the Staten Island ferry as I like to soak in the early sunrise over the city and take some photos on the way. I like the option of multiple bathroom opportunities, legroom, and space to have my pre-race meal. Post-ferry, there may be a bit of a wait to load buses for a short (~20min) ride over to Fort Wadsworth. The three starting villages are equivalent, so you can meet with friends early. You can wander around, but you should make your way into your assigned village before the corrals open. There are rows of port-o-potties everywhere, so you may be able to walk past lines to find open ones at another location. Villages have water, bagels, and sponsored nutrition along with therapy dogs that can help calm your nerves and boost your spirits. Find a good place early to sit as you'd like to be off your feet and save your strength for the race. Additional port-o's can be found in the first corral release from the village. Don't miss the corral close or else you'll be placed in the next wave. It's a short walk over to the actual start - blue and orange villages go above the bridge, pink starts below. The loud boom of the starting cannons will shock you to the race start. Don't let adrenaline push you too hard on the ~150ft climb on the first mile on the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge. The three color villages merge together at mile 8 in Brooklyn. Spectators and cheer zones line the course everywhere - there are few quiet moments. Brooklyn will spirit you through to Queens and the Queensboro bridge. You'll hear the roaring crowds on First Ave that will push you up to the Bronx. They welcome you in and help break through the wall to return to Manhattan. Central Park crowds sustain your energy through to the finish. After earning your medal and getting a post-race hydration/nutrition bag, you earn the infamous poncho. The post-race walk up Central Park West can be brutal - make sure you had an exit strategy. I like this bit of forced active recovery to take it all in, and it gives you a chance to commemorate/commiserate and race recap with fellow runners. If you checked a bag, don't forget to pick it up before exiting.