Clinton Hill Crowd Cheers Marathon at Mile Nine
Thousands gathered on Lafayette Avenue for a 23-year-old watch party as runners passed mile nine of the NYC Marathon.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Running
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Thousands of spectators packed the brownstone-lined streets of Clinton Hill near mile nine of the NYC Marathon, many still in Halloween costumes from the previous night. The race, held the morning after Halloween, drew some 60,000 runners through all five boroughs toward a Central Park finish.
Why it matters
The Mile Nine party shows how a neighborhood gathering can grow into a fixture of a major citywide event, drawing visitors and residents alike to the course. It also highlights the community volunteers who keep the tradition running for runners and spectators.
The race covered 26.2 miles with about 60,000 runners, and winners Andreas Almgren and Sheila Chepkirui finished in just over two hours. Attendance at the Clinton Hill party was reported only as thousands, with no official count.
The players
Danielle Strle
Strle, 45, is the organizer of the Mile Nine watch party in Clinton Hill, which has grown from an accidental neighborhood gathering into a long-running tradition.
Andreas Almgren
Almgren is a Swedish long-distance runner who won the men's race of the NYC Marathon.
Sheila Chepkirui
Chepkirui is a Kenyan marathon runner who won the women's race of the NYC Marathon.
The details
Locals began the Mile Nine party by accident, and it grew each year along Lafayette Avenue. Early on, volunteers handed out bodega sandwiches; today the party offers a grill, waffles, egg sandwiches, coffee, and orange juice.
Timeline
The Mile Nine party began on Lafayette Avenue 23 years ago.
The NYC Marathon was held on November 1, 2026, the morning after Halloween.
Season Trajectory
The NYC Marathon's route through all five boroughs and its Central Park finish have made it a fixture of the city's fall calendar. Neighborhood watch parties like Mile Nine extend that citywide event into local streets year after year.
Runners and spectators planning for future NYC Marathons can use the Mile Nine party's grill, waffles, and coffee as a familiar stop along the course. The race's Central Park finish means course-adjacent neighborhoods like Clinton Hill see heavy foot traffic on race morning.
The takeaway
Volunteer-run traditions like the Mile Nine party show how a neighborhood can turn a citywide event into a lasting local custom. Spectators who plan ahead can find the best spots along the route without missing the finish.
Further reading
Explore more on Running coverage from around the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gothamist.
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