I've been lucky enough to run this race twice. If I could, I would run it every year. The whole experience is like no other. The support, thematshalls, the whole race week filled with build up events. Everyone needs this race in their life at least once. 

I wrote a full review of the whole week/race experience fro the 2015 marathon, so i'm not going to repeat it. 

But I'm going to offer an opinion (if you are interested) on the things that people debate...

Bus v Ferry

I did the bus in 2015, ferry in 2016. Bus - very early start, on SI very early, but SI is brilliantly organised and fun. I was wave 4, got a 0630 bus, was on SI around 0800, my wave went off at 1100. I genuinely didn't notice the time passing. 

I took the ferry in 2016, I was staying downtown so it made sense. You can have a bit more time in bed!! Though, to be fair, not much. I took an 0700 ferry, which I thought would give me plenty of time.  The ferry is gorgeous. But it was chaos at the other side where you have to get a bus from the ferry terminal to the start. Chaos might be a bit harsh - it was actually very well organised, but there was a lot of trafiic/roadworks which meant that the buses weren't doing the trip as fast as they should have been, which basically backed everything up. So, massive q and loooong bus journey.  I made it to the start around 1000. My wave was 1040, but they close the corrals pretty early. I made it into my wave, but friedns on the ferry behind did not. They ran in wave 4, which is fine, but was not their plan.

If you are only going to do this race one - ferry - because it gives you an iconic view (but you could always ride this ferry another day, its free!) and you get to meet a million people from all around the world and chat to them.  BUT if my journey described above would stress you out, take the bus.  I'll take the bus in future. 

Bag drop v Poncho

Well, if you've seen the poncho, there's not even a question is there? Poncho, poncho, poncho.  You get to leave the park quicker, the poncho is fleece lined and has a hood. And its an amazing souvenir. And the lovely poncho people put it on you, fasten it, ask you if you'd like the hood up and do it for you. 

I did bag drop in 2015 - you have to walk further and theres nowhere to change anyway, so you just put your own warm stuff on over the top instead of a poncho. You don;t need post race food, they provide everything, recovery drinks, everything. Plus you are in NYC. If they don;t provide it, you can buy it on the next street. Unless you have a specific post race need eg medicines, I would not do this. 

Get this race in your life...