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Sunday, November 1, 2026 · Race day guide

Cheer on Team Learning Ally

Our runners are taking on the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon for students with dyslexia. We’re cheering in two groups, one for each wave. Both groups go to the same two spots in East Harlem, a short walk apart, so there’s less travel and more time cheering.

Find your team See the route
Run for Dyslexia: Team Learning Ally, TCS New York City Marathon.

Clocks fall back an hour at 2 AM on race day. Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1. Your phone updates by itself, but check any watch that doesn’t.

Which team are you with?

Find your group below. Tap a bib number to copy it for the app.

  • Team Anna

    Morning · Wave 1

    M. Anna BuserStarts 9:10 AM · finishes about 12:17 PM

    Meet your group at the Charity Cheer Zone by 11:00 AM

    Stop 1 11:26Stop 2 11:47Finish 12:17

    Group lead: Usman Khan

    Text Usman Call Usman

  • Team Jess & Esayas

    Afternoon · Wave 5

    Jessica MadisonStarts 11:30 AM · finishes about 5:30 PM

    Esayas WuretaStarts 11:30 AM · finishes about 5:30 PM

    Meet your group at the Charity Cheer Zone by 3:20 PM

    Stop 1 3:51Stop 2 4:32Finish 5:30

    Group lead: Jhara Navalo

    Text Jhara Call Jhara

All times are estimates. Runners speed up and slow down, so your group lead will watch the app and keep everyone moving.

Track them live

The free New York Road Runners app shows where each runner is on the course in real time.

App Store (opens in a new tab) Google Play (opens in a new tab)
  1. Open the app and tap Track in the bottom menu.
  2. Choose 2026 TCS New York City Marathon from the list of events at the top.
  3. Tap Charity under the event name and enter Learning Ally to follow the whole team.

    Or

    Tap Runner and search by name or bib: Anna Buser 5584, Jessica Madison 72177, Esayas Wureta 61096.

Route & times

Both teams cheer at the same two spots, 15 minutes apart on foot. That’s about 1½ miles of walking in total, all on flat streets, or under a mile if you stay at Stop 1. Times are estimates for when each team’s runners pass. Stay with your group.

  1. Before you go

    Meet your group at Stop 1 by

    Team Anna
    11:00 AM
    Team Jess & Esayas
    3:20 PM
    • Use the restroom before you head out. The portable toilets on the course are for runners only.
    • Check mta.info (opens in a new tab) for changes to the 6 train before you leave.

  2. Getting to Stop 1From wherever you’re starting

    1. Head for the 6 train. It stops all along Lexington Avenue, including Grand Central–42 St.
    2. Ride an uptown 6 to 116 St.
    3. Walk east to 1st Avenue, then north to 120th Street (about 10 min).

    Take the 6, not the 4 or 5. Those are express trains and don’t stop at 116 St. Coming from the Times Square area? Take the S shuttle or the 7 to Grand Central for the 6.

    Directions from where I am (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Apple Maps (opens in a new tab)
  3. Up next

    East Harlem · Mile 19

    Stop 1: Charity Cheer Zone, 1st Avenue & 120th Street

    Anna
    11:26 AM
    Jess & Esayas
    3:51 PM
    • Stand on the west side of 1st Avenue. That way the group can walk to Stop 2 without crossing the course.
    • NYRR’s official cheer zone for charity runners, so expect a big, loud crowd.
    Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab) Apple Maps (opens in a new tab)

  4. Stop 1 to Stop 2 on footAbout 15 min, 0.7 mile

    1. Walk west along 120th Street, away from 1st Avenue.
    2. Keep going to Fifth Avenue, at the corner of Marcus Garvey Park.

    Team Anna: about 20 minutes before Anna reaches Stop 2, so leave as soon as she passes. If the group would rather not rush, stay at Stop 1.

    Team Jess & Esayas: about 40 minutes before they reach Stop 2, so there’s time for an easy walk.

  6. Heading backAbout 10 min to the train

    1. Walk east to Lexington Avenue, away from the park.
    2. Take a downtown 6 from 116 St, or a 4, 5 or 6 from 125 St.

    Both stations are on this side of the course, so you won’t need to cross it.

Maps

Official course map

Mile markers and subway stops, from New York Road Runners. Spectators aren’t allowed on any of the bridges, and you can only cross the course at official crossing points.

Course map (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Show the interactive course map

From New York Road Runners. Open it full screen (opens in a new tab)

Race day contacts

Running late, joining partway or separated from your group? Text or call your group lead.

Team Anna group lead

Usman Khan

314-402-0699

Text Usman Call Usman
Team Jess & Esayas group lead

Jhara Navalo

646-305-8309

Text Jhara Call Jhara

Emergencies

  • Emergency911
  • NYRR race emergency hotline (a runner needs help)866-705-6626
  • Medical information hotline (asking about a runner who got medical care)855-697-7786

Every mile is for a reader

Team Learning Ally runs to support students with dyslexia with human-read audiobooks, trained teachers and help for families. Send this page to someone in your group, or give to the team.

Support the team
Official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon

Course and spectator details are from New York Road Runners (opens in a new tab) and may change. Always follow directions from race officials and police on the day.