Finally, there is the idea that more of the city could be showcased with a changed course. However, I think given the compact nature of Manhattan itself, seeing “more” of the city would be pretty difficult. Runners are only blocks away from most of the major sites anyway. And when most runners are running, especially in the final steps of 26.2 miles, the ground is about all they actually see. Furthermore, as it is, out-of-towners get to see parts of the other boroughs that they probably would never go see in any number of visits. Hasidic Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn? The not-necessarily-so scenic portions of the Bronx? Staten Island? Not usually on the top of the list of vacationing runners. But here runners get a catered tour of these areas with hundreds of thousands of people cheering for them rather than possibly honking their horns and yelling for them to get out of the way.
No, while everything needs a tweak here and there, I think New York’s marathon course is just fine.
Now, that fee you have to pay just to enter into the lottery to be chosen as one of the 40,000 runners? That we can talk about it.
