New York City runners are expressing significant dissatisfaction following announced changes to the New York Road Runners' (NYRR) 9+1 program, a long-standing pathway to guaranteed entry into the New York City Marathon. The alterations, set to take effect for the 2027 program which grants entry to the 2028 marathon, have been labeled a "money grab" by critics.
Previously, the 9+1 program allowed NYRR members to secure guaranteed entry for the following year's marathon by completing nine NYRR races and volunteering at an additional event. Under the revised system, runners must first win a free "9+1 Eligibility Drawing." Those selected in the lottery will then need to pay $99 for a "9+1 Passholder" status, and only 15,000 of these passes will be issued. NYRR stated that Passholders will receive guidance on race registration and volunteer opportunities through a new "Passholder Race Selection Process."
NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer told Runner's World that the changes are intended to manage the high demand for race spots and reduce the pressure on local races that were being oversubscribed by participants solely focused on the marathon entry. "It is setting a cap on how many people can attempt 9+1 in the calendar year of 2027, and by doing so, allows us to control how many people are doing this, and we know that will cause a significant reduction in the demand that we’re seeing for those race spots," Simmelkjaer said. He added that the organization aims to create "equal footing" for its members, as many regular participants have struggled to gain entry into races.
However, the changes have been met with anger online. Many runners criticized the $99 pass fee, viewing it as an additional barrier on top of membership and race registration costs. "So let me get this straight: you need to pay for the membership, pay for the 9+1 pass (if you win the raffle) and then pay for marathon entry. Why the paywall for 9+1 pass?" one commenter wrote on Reddit. Others expressed frustration that a program designed to reward loyalty is now behind a lottery and an extra fee.
NYRR announced the updates on Instagram, stating, "To improve access to races throughout the year and streamline member benefits, New York Road Runners is making updates to NYRR membership and the 9+1 program." This explanation was met with skepticism, with one user commenting, "‘Improving access’ is a funny way to say ‘adding another paywall and guaranteeing nothing’…"
To be eligible for the new 9+1 lottery, runners must have been an NYRR member as of September 16, 2026, and maintain that membership through the drawing date of October 1, 2026. The application window for the lottery is set for September 17–29, 2026. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old by November 5, 2028. The current 9+1 program remains in effect for securing entry into the 2027 New York City Marathon.