New York City is the largest city in America situated on the North East coast approx’ half way between Washington DC and Boston.  It comprises five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.  New York has a humid sub-tropical climate but the New York Marathon is held in November when the temperature is more London-like so take a coat!  Our guide to getting to New York and finding somewhere to stay is below:

By Rail
The Long Island Rail Road is a subsidiary of the MTA and is the busiest commuter railroad in North America.  Nearly 500 of 735 LIRR’s daily trains originate or terminate at Penn Station in Manhattan.

By Air
New York has three main airports JFK and La Guardia in Queens and Newark in New Jersey although JFK handles most international flights and the likelyhood is as a British traveller you will fly into JFK.  The flight time is approx 7-8 hours from London Heathrow.

By Road
New York is not a car friendly city so our advice is to not hire a car and use New York’s extensive transport network instead.  Manhatton is approx 30-60 minutes drive from JFK depending on the traffic.  It will cost you about $50 by cab including bridge tols and tip payable by cash.  Alternatively take the express shuttle bus service from JFK for approx $14.

MTA
The MTA, Metropolitan Transport Authority, New York, comprises 422 rail and subway lines and bus routes transporting 8.6 million customers every day.  For MTA system maps click here

Accommodation
Accommodation in New York includes a wide range of price options, from budget to luxury hotels and New York City is famed for it’s shopping so why not make a weekend of it.

2:09 Events
Alternatively you could let 2:09 Events take the hassle out of organising your trip so that you can concentrate on being race-fit for the world’s greatest marathon.

2:09 Events are an official Travel Partner of the New York Marathon and have an allocation of guaranteed race entries that are available to runners taking a travel package.

Your race entry fee includes the following:

• Entrance to the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo
• Race t-shirt & poster
• Entry to the Continental Airlines International Friendship Run
• Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner & Fireworks Presented by  Poland Spring
• Private bus to the start on race day
• Guaranteed entry to the New York Marathon
• Post-Race Party
• Results Magazine

To learn more about 2:09 Events New York Marathon travel packages check out their site.