Bloomberg Businessweek Podcast Summary

Episode: New York Road Runners CEO on the TCS New York City Marathon
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec
Guest: Rob Simulcare, CEO of New York Road Runners

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the magnitude, community spirit, and economic impact of the TCS New York City Marathon with guest Rob Simulcare, CEO of the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit behind the iconic race. The discussion covers marathon logistics, what makes the event uniquely “New York,” its economic footprint, entry processes, inclusivity for athletes with disabilities, and compelling runner stories.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Marathon Logistics & Planning

• Massive Operation

  • The TCS New York City Marathon sees over 55,000 runners parade through all five boroughs of NYC.
  • Planning begins more than a year in advance, with preparation for the following year’s marathon starting months before the current one (02:37).
    • Rob Simulcare (02:37): “We’ve already been planning the 2026 marathon now for several months...It’s really like a military operation.”

• Volunteers and Staff

  • Hundreds of staff members and thousands of volunteers are involved to ensure smooth execution (02:37).

2. New York’s Community Spirit on Race Day

• A Day of Unity

  • Hosts and Rob underscore the rare, uplifting community vibe, with New Yorkers rooting for strangers from across the globe.
    • Host 1 (03:25): “It’s the way New Yorkers come together in a way that...there is nothing like the New York City Marathon.”
    • Rob Simulcare (04:00): “It’s a day that New Yorkers come out to cheer for total strangers...Everybody wants them to succeed...We’re rooting for everyone.”

• International and Local Participation

  • About 40% of participants are international, bringing a truly global element to NYC’s streets (07:04).

3. Popularity and Entry Methods

• Demand Exceeds Supply

  • Over 200,000 applicants vie for entry through the race’s drawing, with total yearly interest possibly nearing half a million (04:41).
  • Other entry ways include running for charities, and sweepstakes—proceeds support NYRR’s nonprofit mission (04:41).
    • Rob Simulcare (04:41): “We had over 200,000 applications to our drawing...Interest is probably close to half a million people.”

• “9+1” Program

  • NYC-area residents can guarantee entry by running nine local races and volunteering at one in a calendar year (05:58).
    • Rob Simulcare (05:58): “If you’re in the New York area and you run nine races in a calendar year, plus volunteer at one of them, you are guaranteed entry into the next year’s marathon.”

4. Economic Impact

• Huge Financial Boost

  • The NYC Marathon injects approximately $700 million annually into the city’s economy, with NYRR’s annual impact close to $1 billion (06:35).
    • Rob Simulcare (06:35): “The marathon contributes just about $700 million a year to the economy...more than all of the Mets and Yankees home games.”

• More Than Just a Race

  • Many participants make a vacation of it—bringing families, staying at hotels, dining out, and catching Broadway shows, especially important during New York’s non-peak tourist season (07:04).

• Local Business Boost

  • Restaurants, notably Italian establishments, thrive from pre-race carb-loading (07:51).
    • Rob Simulcare (07:51): “This is a good week to own an Italian restaurant in New York City...It’s a very good week for the pasta. And rice, too.”

5. Runner Culture and Post-Race Camaraderie

• Celebration and Recognition

  • Marathon finishers proudly wear their medals throughout the week, sharing moments of congratulations with strangers on public transit and even planes (08:22).
    • Host 1 (08:22): “There’s this cool...moment that you have with these people where you’re like, congratulations, that was a lot of work. You did it.”

• Community Beyond the Race

  • The marathon temporarily softens “sharp elbows” New York’s reputation, creating “such a community feel” (08:39).
    • Tim Stanovec (08:39): “It’s really, really sweet. Like, in a world where it feels like there’s a lot coming at people...”

6. History and Course Consistency

• 50th Anniversary Approaching

  • 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the five-borough race, evolving from its original course of laps around Central Park (08:55).
    • Rob Simulcare (08:55): “Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the five borough New York City Marathon...It starts in Staten Island and ends in New York City.”

• Stable Course

  • The course hasn’t changed much since adopting the five-borough format, maintaining the iconic start on Staten Island and finish at Central Park—allowing runners to compare times across generations (09:29).

7. Athletes With Disabilities (AWD)

• Inclusivity and Inspiration

  • The AWD program has grown, featuring athletes with different physical impairments, including visually impaired runners with guides and hand-cycle participants (10:04).
  • Partnership with Achilles International ensures extraordinary visibility and support for athletes overcoming daunting challenges.
    • Rob Simulcare (10:36): “They always wear this highlighter yellow shirt, and they always are...the stars of the marathon, people will yell out, ‘Go, Achilles!’...It’s what inspires people, is folks overcoming these incredible odds.”

• Runner Stories Highlighted

  • NYRR released a new short film, 26.2, showcasing runners’ personal stories—ranging from cancer survivors to stroke victims—reinforcing the spirit of perseverance (11:16).
    • Rob Simulcare (11:16): “It tells the story of four runners who ran the marathon last year...overcoming struggle and challenges that I think make it really special.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On New York’s support:
  “We’re obviously all really tough people in New York City...But it’s the day that we come out, we cheer for strangers, whether they’re from down the block or across the world.”
  — Rob Simulcare (04:00)

• On economic impact:
  “The marathon contributes just about $700 million a year...That’s actually more economic impact than all of the Mets and Yankees home games.”
  — Rob Simulcare (06:35)

• On runner resiliency:
  “It’s those stories of overcoming struggle and challenges that I think make it really special.”
  — Rob Simulcare (11:16)

• On the inclusive energy:
  “It’s so not New York. The New York that Rob was describing, right? The sharp elbows, like, give me some room on the subway here.”
  — Host 1 (08:39)

Important Timestamps

• Marathon Planning and Scale: 02:37–03:03
• Why the Marathon is Uniquely New York: 03:11–04:29
• Demand and Entry Process: 04:29–05:58
• Economic Impact: 06:14–07:51
• Camaraderie and Community Feel: 08:04–08:45
• 50th Anniversary and History: 08:55–09:29
• Course Consistency: 09:29–10:04
• Athletes With Disabilities and Inspirational Stories: 10:04–11:16

Concluding Remarks

The TCS New York City Marathon stands out as much more than a race—it’s a city-wide, even global, celebration of perseverance, unity, and the human spirit. The conversation with Rob Simulcare highlights how the event brings together people of all backgrounds, motivates tens of thousands through stories of courage, and brings enormous economic value to New York. With inclusivity and tradition at its heart, and a milestone 50th anniversary upcoming, the marathon remains both a local favorite and an internationally revered event.