The New York City Marathon: A 26.2-Mile Fashion Show

Before 50,000 runners are unleashed onto the streets of New York, they congregate in Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and face an hourslong wait. In those early hours, marathon runners linger, grapple with pre-race jitters and admire what others are wearing.

Call it the Fort Wadsworth fashion walk.

It’s an exercise in layering made more complicated by the lack of a bag check. Any clothing that runners bring and choose not to run in must be discarded before or during the race.

As the start time draws near, those layers fly into donation bins. Flannels, Halloween costumes, space blankets and winter jackets are tossed into donation buckets. Several thousand pounds of clothing are donated to Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey. Six UPS trucks were on hand this year to transport the donated clothing.

This year, unusually high temperatures meant that there were fewer runners layered up. But many still showed off a quirky style. Superman capes, Wonder Woman outfits and tutus abounded.

Here’s what some runners were wearing, and thinking, before hitting the starting line of the New York City Marathon:

Heather Johns

Age: 72

Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia

Can you tell us about how you chose your outfit today?

I always try to find something kind of unique to wear. This will be donated and somebody will get it. It’s close to Christmas, so I thought this would be fun.

Where did you pick this piece up?

Our local Salvation Army store.

How many marathons have you run? Today will be my 19th.

Have people been commenting on the outfit today? I’ve been getting a lot of comments. Just so you know, I’m actually turning 73 next week.

How would you describe your costume’s aesthetic?

My sister is with me and she said, “I think ‘The Grinch’ was filmed in New York City.” So she said it’s really appropriate for New York City to pick something like “The Grinch.” Did you read the backside?

What does the backside say?

I can’t actually remember.

It says, “I’ll be good next year.” Are you sad to be parting with it?

No, not at all. I’m excited for someone else to have this.

Tracey Rouse

Age: 48

Hometown: Memphis

What inspired your look today?

The colors, first of all, so somebody could recognize me since I’m here by myself. My brother lives in Long Island. He’s going to try to find me. So I figured the brighter the better.

I’m also part of Black Girls Run.

Tell me about Black Girls Run.

Black Girls Run is a women’s organization that helps people, women, just get off the couch to 5K, and it inspires them to do more than just 5K — like a 10K, 15K and half-marathon.

How are you feeling about the temperature today?

I’m coming from out of Memphis, Tennessee. I’m chasing states. Black Girls Run inspired me to do the 50 states. So I have one more state, and I’m going to Hawaii next Saturday.

Wait, so you’ve done 49 states? You’ve done races in 49 states?

A half-marathon in every state.

What’s the last state?

Hawaii. Saturday. I’m going to work for the rest of the week from here remotely. Saturday I’ll be in Kauai. And then I’ll be on vacation in Honolulu.

Yuki Chorney

Age: 50

Hometown: Mont Vernon, N.H.

Can you tell me about your outfit?

I am going as Lady Liberty, in all her glory.

Are those blue contact lenses?

They are. I’m truly committed to this costume. I have a prop as well.

What’s the prop?

The torch. Critical piece of the costume.

Did you make that?

I did.

Are you committed to wearing the whole thing for the full 26.2 miles?

For the entire 26.2 miles.

Are you going to carry the torch?

The whole way.

Won’t your arm get sore?

It doesn’t matter.

Eddie Antonio

Age: 57

Hometown: Hartsdale, N.Y.

Tell me about your look.

Well I’m a chef. I love food. This is to celebrate health and nutrition.

And you’re a chef for your profession as well?

I’m actually a P.A.

Is that a piece of bread?

It is, yeah.

And what’s in the bottle?

Water.

Are you going to run the full 26.2 in the outfit?

Yes, of course. Yes.

Is the hat going to stay on?

It will stay on.

What if it falls off?

It won’t because it has an elastic adjustable band. If it falls off, I’ll just come back and pick it up and put it back on.

You’re committed to the look.

I’m not going for time. I’m just going for the fun. Enjoy the people, enjoy the fans and not hurt yourself.

Moshe Lederfien

Age: 69

Hometown: Rishon LeZion, Israel

Are you going to run the full marathon with the pineapple on?

Ask the pineapple if he’s ready.

The world is in a bad crisis and we have the secret of how to balance the world.

Is the theme of your outfit balance?

Yeah.

Did you consider another object?

Yeah, you can give me a bottle of wine in the middle of it if you’d like.

In the middle of the race?

Yeah. No problem.

So during the race you might switch the pineapple?

People like pineapple.

Yannick Reyneaud

Age: 37

Hometown: Béziers, France

Are you going to run 26.2 miles in this outfit?

We will see. We will try, but I’m not sure we’ll run with that until the end.

You may shed it as you go?

Yeah, probably yes.

What’s the inspiration for the outfit?

We’re from the same company, and so we wanted to make something special in order to symbolize the fact that we are here.

What was the process like for painting these?

It’s a painting combination. We are painting some paints in blue and red.

How would you describe your outfit?

We have a wig. Blue, white and red for the French flag. We have some jewelry and glasses for the French flag as well.

Are you going to carry the flag as you run?

Probably. We’ll remove the plastic and just take the flag with us.

Spider-Man

Age: 29

Hometown: Dallas

What’s your name?

Spider-Man.

Amazing.

The amazing Spider-Man.

What inspired the look?

I just wanted to go out and make someone’s day a little better. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man just trying to encourage people to get up and run.

Have people been coming up to you asking for any help?

Not yet. The boys in blue seem to be taking care of that very well today.

But you’re on the lookout?

I’m on call all the time.

Are you going to run the whole 26.2 miles in this?

As long as no one yells at me.

Interviews have been condensed and edited.