Once again, the New York City Marathon is quickly approaching. On Sunday, November 5, around 50,000 runners will take to the streets to complete the exhausting 26.2-mile course from Staten Island to Central Park.
Stars from the past who are running this year include Amy Robach from “GMA3” and her boyfriend, T.J. Holmes; Sheinelle Jones from “Today” who will be running her first marathon; Nev Schulman from “Catfish,” who will be doing his seventh NYC Marathon; and Luke Macfarlane from “Bros.”
Of course, more than simply well-known people run to showcase their athletic abilities and generate millions of money for global charity. But in celebration of this historic day, we’re taking a look back at a select few of the famous people who have previously triumphed in the New York City Marathon.
Celebrities who have participated in the New York City Marathon
Ryan Reynolds
In remembrance of his father James, who suffered from Parkinson’s and passed away from it in 2015, Ryan Reynolds completed the marathon in 2008.
The ‘Deadpool’ actor finished the marathon in three hours and fifty minutes, raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which seeks to find a treatment for Parkinson’s.
“When I saw Michael J. Fox on 5th Avenue, I gained around fifteen pounds in goosebumps,” he recalls at the time. “It kind of pushed me over the last six miles or so.”
Katie Holmes
With the help of her daughter Suri and her ex-husband Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes ran the marathon in 2007.
She listened to Kanye West’s music (many years before the rapper’s bad conduct and occurrences) and used it as motivation to finish the race in five hours and 29 minutes.
She remarked in 2019 at the Hoka One One’s Women Who Fly Panel, “My brother makes me a playlist, which is great because he runs marathons. It was a lot of Kanye West’s ‘Stronger.'” And while I was racing to the finish line in the end, I kept playing that.”
Ashton Kutcher
During his first marathon, Ashton Kutcher raised almost $1 million for Thorn, his previous non-profit charity. In three hours, 54 minutes, and a second, he completed the race.
Following a serious “autoimmune flair-up” in 2019 which left him hospitalized with no ability to walk, he set out to test himself.
“I thought to myself, ‘Oh my goodness, if I can go from not having been able to walk to running a marathon in three years, then I can put that behind me and say, ‘I’m back.'” “I’m fine,” he declared in 2022 on The Checkup.
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes
It is said that T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, the former stars of “GMA3,” fell in love with one another while preparing for the marathon last year. Holmes and Robach just revealed on November 1 that they will be hosting a new podcast.
Amy finished the event in four hours, twenty-five minutes, and thirty seconds, while T.J. finished in four hours, twenty-five minutes, and thirty seconds. The couple’s times were nearly similar.
When Amy posted about her win on Instagram at the time, she included pictures of her running group and stated, in part, “We encourage one another, train together & finish together.”
Pamela Anderson
Prior to her five hours and forty-one-minute finish in the 2013 Boston Marathon, Pamela Anderson had never run. “I’ve never run before. Six weeks prior to the event, she told NY Daily News, “I’ve never even run over the street hardly before.”
“I’m just moving my body for as long as I can,” she said. “My legs feel solid, I feel like a muscular machine.” For Sean Penn’s J/P Haitian Relief Organization, the former “Baywatch” star raised $288,492.
Hart Kevin
In 2017, Kevin Hart completed his first marathon in 4 hours, 5 minutes, and 6 seconds.
“The marathon is over. My gold medal arrived. It’s a wonderful sensation. After the event, he posted on Instagram, saying, “I can cross this objective off my list.
Will Ferrell
In November 2001, less than two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Will Ferrell decided to run the marathon.
Following his five hours and four-minute finish time, the “Anchorman” actor told reporters, “Running a marathon is never a matter of whether it is going to be painful, rather when it will be painful.”
Al Roker
In 2010, weather anchor for “Today” Al Roker finished the marathon in seven hours and nine minutes. “I didn’t realize how many hills there are in New York until I was running through Brooklyn,” he later told Runner’s World.
Al and his former co-star Meredith Vieira, who participated in the event, received foot massages, champagne, and roses when they returned to work.
Alicia Keys
In 2015, Alicia Keys finished the Keep a Child Alive charity run in five hours, fifty minutes, and twenty-two seconds.
She told Refinery29 at the time, “I had done it for Keeping a Child Alive and for my own personal mental strength.”
“Afterward, we had a Colombian celebration, relayed our best and worst moments, & hugged each other a million times filled with the pride of a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment,” she continued, describing her post-race activities.
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton, the former first daughter, ran the marathon in 2021 and finished in three hours and fifty-nine minutes, to the cheers of her parents, Bill and Hilary Clinton. She ran in 2022 as well, although it took her a little longer—four hours, 20 minutes, and 34 seconds.
“I will say, the enthusiasm in the Bronx — cause you come across the bridge with like, six more miles to go as well as the Bronx is like, ‘Welcome to the BRONX!'” she remarked following her first run. And I’m like, “Thank you, the Bronx is my favorite!” I’m able to make it!”
Ellie Kemper
Ellie Kemper, the actress from “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” broke down in tears after finishing the marathon in 2022 in five hours, seventeen minutes, and forty-nine seconds.
After the marathon, she expressed her thanks on Instagram, writing in part, “It is truly appreciated by all of the people who were out on the streets, encouraging, yelling, giving high fives, and giving out bananas. I am amazed by the resilience and fortitude of New York City, as yesterday was truly remarkable on all fronts.”
Willie Geist
In 2021, “Today” anchor Willie Geist ran his first NYC Marathon, finishing in three hours and fifty-eight minutes.
After learning more than 30 years ago that his father, TV journalist Bill Geist, had Parkinson’s disease, he started running to help raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
During the race, Willie had ‘Dad’ written across his arm to serve as a reminder of why he was racing. “It effortlessly carried me to the finish line,” he remarked on “The Jimmy Fallon Show.”
Turlington, Christy
In 2021, supermodel Christy Turlington finished her tenth NYC Marathon in four hours and one minute. However, the race was made even more memorable by the fact that Grace, her then-18-year-old daughter, was running with her for the first time.
“The true highlight was running the race with my daughter @graciebrns & hugging her when she crossed the finish line of her first marathon at 18!” the mother-of-two posted on Instagram at the time. Very pleased of the entire team, Team. We appreciate all of your support, no matter how small. It’ll be difficult to defeat this one!”
Marcus Mumford
Marcus Mumford, the vocalist of Mumford & Sons, raised money for Children in Conflict by participating in his first marathon in 2021. In three hours, 53 minutes, and 22 seconds, he completed the race.
He posted on Instagram Story the next day, saying, “Saw the best of NYC yesterday.” “Very appreciative of a wonderful day off. Humans are amazing. Many thanks to everyone who helped us, both locally and internationally. back to work now.”
Teri Hatcher
In 2014, Teri Hatcher, an actress from “Desperate Housewives,” completed her first NYC Marathon in five hours, six minutes, and forty-two seconds.
She completed the feat in five hours, 51 minutes, and 21 seconds in 2018. Emerson, her daughter, accompanied her on this occasion, clocking in five seconds later.
Teri had previously addressed Runner’s World about her difficulties completing the marathon, saying, “I wouldn’t call myself a committed runner because running is a challenge for me. I consider myself to be someone who strives to run in order to reap the rewards later. It lifts my spirits.”