2005 NYC Marathon Staging Area, Trasportation, Marathon Start Lineup

The process that you would go through is not different (in principle, at least) than any other races that you may have run before: You will have to pick up your number, relax as best as you can, warm up a bit as you await your turn, walk up to the starting line when it is close to your turn, and off you go.

However, the above simple process gets a bit more involved considering the huge number of participants (well over 30,000 this year) that New York City Marathon now attracts. As long as you know this before hand, and are prepared (physically, as well as mentally) for what may seem like an overly complex or boringly slow crawl to the starting line, your NYC marathon experience will be more enjoyable.

Before we get into the specifics, here are a few important/general tips to remember:

• Don't let the seemingly complex/slow process drain you physically and/or emotionally
• Get to the staging-area/expo early
• Don't let the wait drain you as you making your way through the baggage area
• Considering you are not sheltered from the elements, dress appropriately
• Be prepared to wait in the start area for up to an hour or more
• Remember, the crawl up to the starting line, and the annoying wait are part of the challenges that makes NYC Marathon such a challenging event. These "annoyances" are integral part of this race -they are no additions.

Now lets us brielfy look at getting to and past the NYC Marathon Staging Area:

• Arriving at the Staging Area: You should plan on arriving at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island no later than by 8:00 a.m. The staging area (Fort Wadsworth) is at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
• Getting to the Staging Area: Only official buses are allowed into staging area at Fort Wadsworth. Therefore, you are better off taking the "official" ING New York City Marathon bus leaving from either Manhattan (two locations) or the ones that leave from New Jersey. These buses provide one-way transit to the staging area for officially registered entrants and guides only. You may be able to buy a Bus pass at the expo if you don’t have one, but it may cost more, and all departure locations may not be available to you if you buy it late.
• Use Clear Baggage Bag: For security considerations, all your belongings must be clearly visible inside the clear baggage bag that will be given to you at the expo.
• Wheelchair division entrants (or a handcyclist): You are allowed to bring both a racing chair/cycle as well as your favotire everyday/regular chair.
• Travelling by Private Vehicles: If you wish to travel by private vehicle, you must do so before 7:30am. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will close at 7:30 a.m. for all non-official traffic.

Let us recap the important New York City Marathon race day events/timings:

• Race Date: Sunday, November 6, 2005
• Breakfast: Starting at 5:30 a.m., Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island
• Entertainment and Warm-Up: Starting at 6:00 a.m., Best Buy Entertainment Stage, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island
• Official Start Times:
  • Early Start, Athletes With Disabilities: 8:00 a.m.
  • Wheelchair Division: 9:05 a.m.
  • Handcycle Category: 9:15 a.m.
  • Professional Women: 9:35 a.m.
  • Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge: 9:53 a.m., and finally
  • Open Field including Professional Men: 10:10 a.m.