NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer on World Marathon Majors Expansion and a Potential Two-Day NYC Marathon

It’s New York City Marathon week, and in this bonus episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, host Michael Doyle sits down with Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and a board member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Rob explains why NYC Marathon demand is so hard to meet. Close to a quarter million people applied for the lottery, and only about 1% got in through the drawing. He covers why NYRR capped the 9+1 program and how the race balances charity entries, international runners and its 100,000+ members. Rob also shares his view on how many World Marathon Majors there should be, with Shanghai on deck, open questions about South America and India, and how the majors plan to protect the Six Star medal. He gives a rare look at how the WMM board operates.

Michael also asks Rob directly whether New York could follow London and become a two-day, 100,000-runner event. They talk about how NYRR handles celebrity runners and security, and whether Harry Styles plans to run the TCS New York City Marathon the morning after his final Madison Square Garden show. Rob closes with what’s planned for the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, the best places to watch on race day, and his favorite moment on the course: the quiet climb over the Queensboro Bridge.

Chapters
00:00 – Intro: NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer joins for NYC Marathon week
02:53 – What keeps the NYRR CEO up at night during race week
05:29 – 50 years of the five-borough NYC Marathon course
08:27 – Rob’s NYC Marathon history and his Six Star quest
13:20 – What NYC is borrowing from Berlin, Tokyo, London and Sydney
15:53 – How many World Marathon Majors? The expansion debate
20:42 – Inside the Abbott World Marathon Majors board
24:30 – A tiered system for marathons? Age Group World Championships
26:32 – NYC Marathon lottery odds, demand and changes to 9+1
31:33 – Could NYC become a two-day marathon like London?
33:32 – Celebrity runners, security and tracking at the NYC Marathon
36:19 – Is Harry Styles running the NYC Marathon?
38:29 – Marathon running as sports entertainment and NYRR’s content studio
45:39 – 50th anniversary plans: Grand Central, Kids Kickoff and past champions
48:00 – Best spectator spots and Rob’s favorite moment on the course
52:07 – Marathon Handbook live events in NYC: shakeout run, live show and watch party

Come see us live! NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, Oct 31, Tickets:
eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574

NYC Shakeout Run, Oct. 31 Tickets:
eventbrite.com/e/wahoo-x-marathon-handbook-nyc-shakeout-run-tickets-2003193817633

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