New York Road Runners (NYRR) has launched a new campaign called ‘The Trailblazers’ to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the five-borough marathon course.
The initiative honours Ted Corbitt, George Hirsch, Fred Lebow, George Spitz, and Percy Sutton, whose vision, leadership, and passion brought the iconic five-borough New York City Marathon course to life for the first time on October 24, 1976.
The launch coincides with the anniversary of then–Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton announcing that the New York City Marathon would span all five boroughs for the first time.
New York Road Runners is a New York City-based non-profit community running organisation that produces 60 annual adult and youth races, including the TCS New York City Marathon.
The Trailblazers will be highlighted in the lead-up to the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The campaign will feature across original storytelling, social content, signage, the race program, the official race broadcast, and the TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance.
Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO at New York Road Runners, said “This milestone anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate one of the most iconic events in sports and to honor the people who made it possible.
“The 5-boro marathon elevated New York City, transformed the sport of running, and created the blueprint for big-city marathons around the world. As we celebrate the course’s anniversary and the 50 years since, we are committed to telling the full story of how it came to be and ensuring that the individuals who brought this extraordinary idea to life receive the recognition they deserve.”
The collective efforts of the five founders transformed the New York City Marathon from a race run entirely within Central Park into a citywide celebration. NYRR categorises the five individuals as:
- Ted Corbitt – The Visionary who united five boroughs into one race
- George Hirsch – The Believer who bet on the idea from the start
- Fred Lebow – The Showman who turned 26.2 miles into an NYC tradition
- George Spitz – The Connector who transformed the dream into reality
- Percy Sutton – The Builder who secured the keys to the city
The campaign represents the culmination of a historical research project commissioned by New York Road Runners for the 50th anniversary. Independent researchers from the College of Staten Island conducted oral history interviews, reviewed archival materials, and examined public records related to the origins of the 1976 race.
The research concluded that Ted Corbitt, founding president of the organisation from 1958–1960, a pioneer in long-distance running, and the first African American to compete in the Olympic marathon, was the first person within the organisation to propose taking the marathon beyond Central Park.
Ted Corbitt discussed the concept with George Spitz, a political activist and passionate runner who believed the 1976 marathon should be a grand event to celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial. George Spitz then arranged a pivotal meeting with Percy Sutton, who immediately recognized the opportunity to showcase New York City during a challenging period in its history.
Percy Sutton was instrumental in securing political and financial support. He suggested utilizing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island to Brooklyn, creating the foundation for the route still used today. He also secured buy-in from New York City Mayor Abraham Beame, city agencies, and fellow borough presidents, alongside an initial US$25,000 contribution from the Rudin family.
While Fred Lebow, president and race director in 1976, initially questioned whether the undertaking could be accomplished, he quickly recognized its potential and became the driving force behind its execution. He transformed the race into a spectacle, recruiting elite athletes and promoting the event internationally.
George Hirsch, then publisher of New Times magazine who later became board chair, contributed financially, leveraged media relationships to host a press conference at Tavern on the Green on September 16, 1976, and paid star athletes, such as Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers, to participate.
The campaign launched around a meaningful date in event history. Fifty years ago, on June 21, 1976, Percy Sutton officially announced plans to expand the race through all five boroughs.
To honour their legacy, New York Road Runners has named George Hirsch and descendants of the founders as Honorary Grand Marshals of the 2026 event. This includes Gary Corbitt (representing his father Ted Corbitt), Keisha Sutton-James (representing her grandfather Percy Sutton), and Estee Stimler (representing her uncle Fred Lebow). George Spitz passed away in 2015 and left no close surviving relatives.
Gary Corbitt said “I’m happy to see my father finally getting the proper recognition for conceiving a New York City Marathon covering the five boroughs. He contacted Harry Murphy to recommend the route. George Spitz took the idea to Percy Sutton. My father served the sport in many ways, and he would tell me how he’d get awards for doing the work nobody else wanted to do. He accomplished this by having a totally supportive wife, my mother Ruth.”
George Hirsch said “I am thrilled to be honored at this year‘s 50th anniversary of the 5-boro New York City Marathon. I remember the excitement of that day in 1976 as we waited for the gun to go off at the start of the race. We knew it was something big. But how big it would become, we simply couldn’t imagine!”
Estee Stimler said “It means a lot that New York Road Runners is honoring this significant anniversary and celebrating Fred’s enduring impact on the running community. Fred’s legacy has always meant a great deal to me, and I’m honored to contribute to commemorating this special milestone.”
The Honorary Grand Marshals will participate in race-week events, such as the ceremonial Blue Line Painting, Night of Champions benefit, the Expo, the Opening Ceremony, and race-day celebrations.
Initially run in 1970 as four laps of Central Park with 55 finishers, the marathon left the park for the first time on October 24, 1976. This year, New York Road Runners is setting a goal of raising US$100 million for its Official Charity Partner Program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Today, the event brings together more than 50,000 participants and more than two million spectators annually.
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