It’s near the 8-mile mark of the NYC Marathon, so you can make it back in time to meet your runner in Central Park. And, it’s easily accessible by a whole slew of subway trains via Atlantic Terminal.
The crowds in Queens tend to be less overwhelming than those in Manhattan during the NYC Marathon. See runners here before they tackle the big Queensboro Bridge.
There's a retaining wall on the 59th Street side that you can stand on to watch runners coming off the bridge during the NYC Marathon.
There are far fewer crowds so you get a better view of the NYC Marathon. And if you're watching someone, you can easily jog over to Fifth Avenue and see them again.
The NYC Marathon route includes three of the four sides of the park, eventually rejoining Fifth Avenue. You can walk across the park to see friends or family members who are running a second time.
You often see the NYC Marathon being won behind the museum, where only one or two runners will be holding on at the front. The crowds aren't too thick, and you're not far from the family meeting area.
If you get here early enough, you can get a spot near the front to watch the elites finish the NYC Marathon. It gets crowded as the day goes on.
