2023 New York City Marathon: Scenes from the 11-mile stretch through Brooklyn

Massive crowds lined the Kings County route from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint

Hundreds of thousands of spectators turned New York City into an epic block party on Sunday for the New York City Marathon, as some 50,000 athletes made the 26.2 mile journey beginning in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. Although all five boroughs figured into the race, the marathon’s longest stretch ran through Kings County — 11 miles from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint — and huge crowds spread Brooklyn’s famous love all along the way.

“I’ve lived here for four years, but this is the first time I’m in town for the marathon,” Fatima Malekpour, of Bay Ridge, told Brooklyn Magazine. “It’s awesome, just the atmosphere, having so many people coming together for the same thing. It’s so emotional. I don’t know how the runners are doing it. I’m not fit to do such a thing, but I love it.”

Entering Brooklyn (Scott Lynch)

Music blasted from bands and bars and DJs, and there were rowdy crews everywhere: in Bay Ridge right off the Verrazano Bridge, in Sunset Park, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Williamsburg and in Greenpoint, where the borough said goodbye at the base of the Pulaski Bridge.

Little kids and more than a few dogs gave out an endless series of high (and low) fives. Homemade signs offered fun (and encouraging and snarky) words of encouragement. Shrieks and hugs were delivered as spectators spotted their loved ones approaching. There was even a marriage proposal along the way, right on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg.

She said yes (Scott Lynch)

There were, of course, the official winners at the finish line over in Manhattan. Tamirat Tola took home the men’s title in record fashion at 2 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds.

Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic medalist for Kenya in the 5,000 meters and the reigning Boston Marathon champion, won the women’s at 2 hours 27 minutes 23 seconds.

The elite women, including winner Hellen Obiri, far left, arriving in Brooklyn early in the race (Scott Lynch)

Catherine Debrunner also smashed a record as she triumphed in the women’s wheelchair division (1 hour 39 minutes 32 seconds), and Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair for the sixth time (1 hour 25 minutes 29 seconds).

But as exciting as it is to catch a glimpse of the elite athletes as they fly by early in the morning, the marathon really belongs to the 49,900 or so other participants and the hordes of people who, on this day, are their adoring fans.

Fans for a day (Scott Lynch)

“I feel like I get an adrenaline rush just from watching,” said Emma Werowinski, of Windsor Terrace. “It feels like New York is having a party for everyone. Like everything stops and it’s just the marathon, and everyone who lives here is invested in all these people running. It’s the coolest feeling.”

Here are some more scenes from the day.