NYRR members are eligible for guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon through the 9+1 program. Here’s how it works:

• Become a member by January 31 of a calendar year.
• Complete nine (9) scored, qualifying races during that calendar year.
• Volunteer at one (1) NYRR event during that calendar year or donate $1,000 to NYRR’s Youth and Community Services programs, which provide free and low-cost running programs to kids in NYC and around the world

…and then run the ING New York City Marathon in the next calendar year!

For example—you will be eligible for guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon 2013 if you:

• Are a member of NYRR as of January 31, 2012, throughout calendar year 2012, and at the time you submit your application to the marathon.
• Complete nine (9) NYRR-scored, qualifying races during 2012. Remember, you must be an NYRR member on race day in order for a race to count.
• Volunteer for one (1) NYRR event (a weekly race, pre-race registration/pickup, etc.) in 2012, or make a $1,000 donation to NYRR in 2012. Your donation supports NYRR’s long-standing and significant commitment to providing free and low-cost programs to those who need them most.

About Volunteering

Volunteer capacity is limited for each race. Over the course of the year, about 12,000 volunteer spots are available—more than enough to accommodate the number of NYRR members seeking guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon. In fact, more than 1,500 volunteer spots went unfilled in 2011—most at races early in the year (January-March) and at larger races, such as half-marathons.

Races late in the year tend to reach their volunteer capacity early. Due to this limited capacity, register to volunteer early in the year to ensure you get a spot in 2012. Remember—you can volunteer at any time; you do not have to complete your nine races first.

When a race reaches its volunteer capacity, it will be removed from the online listing. Volunteer opportunities are usually posted no later than one month before an event.

Volunteering in 2012 satisfies the volunteering requirement for the 2013 marathon only—not the 2012 marathon.

Volunteering on race day (November 4) at the 2012 ING New York City Marathon does not count towards the 9+1 guaranteed entry requirements, but volunteering at any race-week activity (such as the ING New York City Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, the Marathon Eve Dinner, or the Dash to the Finish Line 5K) does meet your volunteer requirement.

Volunteering is not limited to race day. Volunteers are also needed for pre-race registration, the NYRR kiosk, and other events throughout the year.

You may send a substitute to volunteer on your behalf and still meet your 9+1 requirement. Simply have your substitute inform the volunteer coordinator that he/she is volunteering on your behalf.

You may not, however, send someone to volunteer for you at a race in which you’re competing. If you do, you will not receive credit for the volunteer requirement or the race.

We look forward to seeing you on a race course this year, and on Staten Island in 2013!