Percy Sutton to Enter Road Runners Hall of Fame
The former Manhattan Borough President will be honored on November 1, 2026, for his role in the city marathon.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Running
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Percy Sutton will be inducted into the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame on November 1, 2026. This honor recognizes his foundational work in establishing the citys modern five-borough marathon course.
Why it matters
Sutton played a critical role in 1976 by convincing city leaders to close bridges and streets, allowing the race to expand beyond Central Park. His efforts transformed the marathon into the massive international event that serves over 50,000 runners today.
Sutton secured $25,000 from the Rudin family in 1976 to launch the five-borough format. The event now draws 50,000+ runners annually and approximately 2 million spectators.
The players
Percy Sutton
He was a former Manhattan Borough President, Freedom Rider, Tuskegee Airman, and attorney for Malcolm X.
Keisha Sutton-James
She is a former Deputy Manhattan Borough President and will serve as the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Honorary Grand Marshal.
The details
As Manhattan Borough President, Sutton coordinated with the mayor and other borough leaders to secure the necessary street and bridge closures for the event. The 1976 transition from Central Park loops was originally planned to celebrate the United States bicentennial.
Timeline
1975: Percy Sutton sought marathon funding from the mayor.
1976: The first five-borough New York City Marathon occurred.
2026: Percy Sutton enters the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame.
Season Trajectory
The event marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 five-borough New York City Marathon, which established the citywide race format. This milestone honors the organizational architecture that allows the race to maintain its current scale.
The race will accommodate 50,000+ runners across the five-borough course. Spectators should plan for citywide bridge and street closures as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The takeaway
Suttons legacy proves that local civic leadership is essential for hosting large-scale international sporting events. Residents can look for marathon-related pop-up events throughout Harlem leading up to the race.
What happens next
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is scheduled for November 1, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the city's race history and upcoming events, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rolling Out.
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