More people running today's NYC Marathon?

Why did I doubt Molly. I know. She writes for the NY Times and they ignore data*.

She claims interest in running has surged in recent years. I pulled up some real facts and holy sheet. She's wrong. There were more marathon participants a decade ago.

*Statistically that's untrue. 22.6% of the time they do not ignore data.

Going the distance

By Molly Mirhashem, NY Times

Nov 1, 2026

I’m the fitness editor and a compulsive runner.

A marathon is a beautiful, painful thing.

Runners young and old, fast and slow, find out how far they can push themselves after months of preparation and nerves. Some will cross the finish line elated; others won’t make it. Runners often say that “the marathon owes you nothing,” because it can punish even the well-trained. When I ran my first one, I hit the wall at Mile 16 (but slogged to the finish).

I’ve run 12 marathons in the last decade, and a lot has changed in that time. Take the New York City Marathon, the joyful Sunday when people across the five boroughs cheer, make funny signs and gawk at the sufferfest. About 60,000 people will start today’s race; a few hundred thousand more applied for a lottery spot and didn’t get in. Why are so many people seeking bibs?

Marathons are suddenly very popular: Many more people are vying for spots in the biggest races. Meanwhile, both elite and recreational runners keep getting faster. Here’s what to know about how the marathon is evolving.

A running boom

Interest in running has surged in the past few years, and major marathons have seen big jumps in demand: 1.3 million people applied to run next year’s London Marathon, up from 578,000 just three years ago. New York saw a nearly 20 percent increase in lottery entries this year over last year. Only a small fraction were selected to run. (Some racers get in through other avenues, like fast qualifying times.)

Many people picked up running, or returned to it, during the pandemic. Since then, run clubs have contributed to the boom. The groups are particularly popular among younger people, and plenty have found that sweating side-by-side can lead to fast friendships, or even dates. These folks are also signing up for more races.

As the marquee races become harder to enter, runners have found alternate ways to challenge themselves: In New York, some also-rans circumnavigate Manhattan as a D.I.Y. 32-mile ultramarathon.

Peak performance

At the front of the pack, there have also been a few big shifts.

Until very recently, many people thought a sub-two-hour marathon wasn’t possible. This spring at the London Marathon, runners broke that barrier for the first time in an official race — and it wasn’t only the winner. The second-place finisher did it, too.

Why are top runners getting so much faster? Here are a few reasons.

The shoes: Sneaker technology has evolved. About 10 years ago, Nike introduced the Vaporfly, a running shoe with thick cushioning and a carbon plate designed to improve a runner’s efficiency. The footwear had a significant effect on performance. Today, most major running brands offer their own “super shoes,” as they’re known. (The record breakers in London were wearing a version from Adidas.) While the earliest super shoes were worn mainly by elites, they’ve trickled down to recreational runners too. I use a pair that costs nearly $300.

Extra carbs: When you’re running for hours, you need carbohydrates to fuel your muscles. Most runners get the quick energy they need in the form of gels and sports drinks along the course. But research suggests that trained athletes can digest more carbs — and thus perform better — than we thought. So top endurance athletes now gulp a lot more of that goop during the race.

I’ve tried that, too. It’s not always gentle on the stomach, but it can make those final miles less of a slog.