New York City Marathon runners are criticizing organizers over rising race fees and accusing the organization behind the annual event of making it harder for everyday runners to participate.

The New York Road Runners (NYRR) is a nonprofit organization that operates the marathon and introduced changes to its popular 9+1 program, which allows local runners to secure a spot in the race by completing nine qualifying races and volunteering at one additional qualifying opportunity.

Participants must also maintain an active NYRR membership through December 2026, which costs $63.45 per year. Through the program, races that qualify are identified on the event pages. 

However, the updated requirements and increasing costs have left some runners questioning whether the marathon is becoming less accessible. 

The race registration fee is now $269.66 for NYRR members and $333.11 for non-members. 

The marathon, scheduled for November 1, marks the 50th anniversary of its five-borough course this year.

While the event remains one of New York City’s largest community sporting traditions, growing demand and stricter entry requirements have created tensions between organizers and runners.

According to New York Magazine, a record number of people applied to run the marathon this year, and a record number were rejected. 

The competition for entry has intensified concerns about the cost of participating and whether ordinary runners can keep up with the financial and logistical demands of NYRR events.

Stephanie Fidis, a 33-year-old publishing professional who has participated in NYRR races since 2018, said the process has become increasingly difficult.

'Between watching your computer all day to try to get into races before they sell out and all the fees, it feels like these races are becoming more elite all the time,' Fidis told New York Magazine.

NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer, 55, defended the organization’s approach, arguing that it could charge substantially more for races but chooses not to maximize revenue at the expense of accessibility.

'If we were a for-profit organization that was focused on maximizing our revenue, we could charge twice or more for races,' Simmelkjaer said, according to New York Magazine.

'But we don’t make that choice, because that’s not what we are. We’re a nonprofit organization.

'Accessibility is a huge part of what we want to achieve,' Simmelkjaer said.

The changes come as running events worldwide face a surge in popularity. According to New York Magazine, applications for the London Marathon increased 35 percent between 2025 and 2026, while its lottery acceptance rate fell to 1.5 percent.

New York’s applications have also climbed, rising from 185,000 in 2020 to more than 240,000 this year.

For nearly 40 years, the 9+1 program has given local runners a way to improve their chances of securing a marathon entry.

However, some participants believe the latest changes are shifting opportunities away from community runners and toward other entry routes, including charity fundraising.

Simmelkjaer said the organization must balance demand from 9+1 participants with other groups seeking marathon spots. 

He specifically pointed to the charity program, through which runners gain entry by committing to raise money for nonprofit organizations.

'If it was allowed to grow in an unlimited way, it really starts to threaten other important groups in the marathon, most notably the charity program,' Simmelkjaer said.

'This year, we’re looking to raise $100 million for nonprofits,' said Simmelkjaer.'

Beyond the race itself, the marathon is an important source of economic activity for New York City, generating an estimated $800 million in spending.

The restriction has highlighted tensions between the organization and independent running clubs that have helped build New York’s grassroots running culture.

Some community leaders acknowledge NYRR’s efforts to make the sport more diverse.

Others argue that its financial power gives it too much influence over the local running scene and sponsorship opportunities.

Parmila Phillips, who leads the Manhattan-based New York Flyers running club, has criticized NYRR for what she describes as 'cannibalizing' sponsorship dollars that could otherwise support smaller nonprofits, according to New York Magazine.

Maria Solis Belizaire, founder of Latinas Run, also questioned how marathon entries are distributed.

'They’re denying more regular people access to the marathon and allocating more bibs to charities,' Belizaire told New York Magazine.