What to get someone who just ran the NYC Marathon

They spent months getting up in the dark for this, and on November 1 they ran from Staten Island to Central Park. By now the medal is hanging off a doorknob, and you'd like to give them something that lasts longer than the soreness.

We make course posters, so we have a stake in the first idea on this list. We don't sell any of the others.

Before you buy, find their time

Anything with a finish time on it should use the official one. Look the runner up at results.nyrr.org and use their net time, which starts when they crossed the start line. The gun time will be longer, sometimes by a lot in a race this size. Write down the bib number while you're there.

1. A poster of the course they ran

2026 was the 50th year of the five-borough course, and it brought the first route change in 15 years, in Mott Haven between miles 20 and 21. Our NYC Marathon poster maps the 2026 route from Fort Wadsworth to Tavern on the Green, with their name and finish time on it.

Prints start at $25 with free shipping, and frames come in black ash, white or solid oak. If you only know their name and the year, send that and we'll find the bib and time in the results. The proof comes to your inbox, so they won't see it early. Most orders arrive within 5 to 7 business days of approving the proof. If you need it by the holidays, ask us first and we'll tell you whether we can make it.

2. A display that fits this year's medal

The 2026 medal is 3.5 inches across, a little bigger than the 2025 one, and it hangs from a ribbon with a 1970s design worth showing off. Measure any shadow box against those numbers, and leave room for the ribbon to fall without folding. The medal is zinc, so a light adhesive hook won't hold it for long.

3. A photo from the course

MarathonFoto has covered the race in recent years and sets up a personal ordering page for runners after an event. Check whether they already bought a package before you pay for one. Then print and frame the shot where they look happiest to be alive.

4. The official Finisher's Jacket

New Balance makes the race's 2026 Finisher Collection. The Finisher's Jacket is $150, in men's and women's versions, and only people who ran this year can wear it with a straight face. Ask around to see if they bought one at the expo, and check stock at newbalance.com, since race gear can sell out quickly.

5. A sports massage

The worst of the soreness has passed by now, and their legs would still like the help. A gift card lets them book it around work and any return to running.

6. The entry fee for their next race

Getting back into New York is hard. NYRR now picks its 9+1 participants by drawing, and the people selected are running for a spot in 2028. Pay the registration for a race they've mentioned wanting to run instead, somewhere they can sign up today.

7. A note about where you saw them

If you stood on First Avenue with a sign, write that down: the mile, the weather, what their face was doing. Runners forget most of the day. Tape it to the back of the frame and they'll find it years from now.

One to skip

Hold off on running shoes unless you know the exact model and size. Someone who just got through 26.2 miles has strong opinions about what goes on their feet.

Marathon Map Art isn't affiliated with New York Road Runners, New Balance or MarathonFoto. Other companies' prices can change, so check before you buy.