Someone just built the coolest spectator guide for the New York City Marathon

Spectating the New York City Marathon is an experience in running like no other. Sure, other cities have their marathons, and sure, Boston is often viewed as the peak of racing, but finding your loved one more than once on the point-to-point route that is Hopkinton to Boylston Street is nearly impossible.

New York, though, is another beast entirely. With five boroughs to run through, it should, in theory, be possible to see your runner a couple of times. Maybe that's right at the start and then there at the finish, or maybe it's as they turn off the bridge into Manhattan. No matter your goal, you need to have an airtight plan.

For a long time, making that plan was largely a case of picking out a few spots along the route and hoping for the best. Now, though, there's a shiny new runner-made guide to make life oh, so much easier. Conveniently, it's called nycmarathonguide.com, and it has tips for runners and spectators alike.

Let's get into what looks like the most helpful platform ever made for the New York City Marathon.

Nail your race-day strategy

Above all else, the New York City Marathon is a morning (or rather a full day and then some) for the runners. So, it only makes sense that nycmarathonguide starts with a strategy for those 50,000 or so on their way to Staten Island first thing in the morning, conveniently split into six parts.

Up first, pacing. I mean, before you do anything else, you have to know how you're going to approach the race itself. It's what you've trained for, and it's what you have to worry about once you press start on your watch. The guide lets you enter a goal pace, choose your start wave, and even decide on a pacing model to plan for an even race, a negative split, or taking the dreaded bridges strategically. 

From there, the guide splits the course itself into 12 segments so that you never have to think about more than a few miles at a time. And yes, you can print out the mile splits for any of the plans you might choose.

Then, it's time to plan your transit. The guide walks you through catching your bus or the ferry, as determined by your starting wave. You will, of course, have to input your assigned ferry or bus time, but then the guide can take the wheel.

Last, but certainly not least, the NYC Marathon Guide offers a few helpful tips and reminders that are often overlooked. There ain't no bag check at the start, so remember a fleece or a poncho, and don't forget that the race can start as late as 11:30 AM, so your morning nutrition might differ from the race strategy you're used to.

You can, of course, see all of this at the button below, so maybe stop reading my words and check it out for yourself.

Set Up Your Race Plan 

Find your runner early, find your runner often

Alright, now that the stressed-out runners have their steps, let's talk to you, the equally stressed-out spectator. After all, the roads aren't closed for you, nor is there a definitive route from point A to point B when you're trying to spot your runner. You might need planes, trains, and/or automobiles to get where you need to go. Well, probably just planes, but still.

The NYC Marathon Guide makes it about as easy as can be to track your runner, and it starts with a box that looks a whole lot like their pace guide. In fact, you'll have to put in their name, bib number, and what they're wearing, along with their pace, to get a full, detailed breakdown of when and where to find them.

Perhaps the most important choice to make, though, is how many times you want to see your runner. Maybe the answer is twice, maybe it's three times... or maybe it's more. Simply pick your number, plot your points along the course, and the guide will tell you how to get there. It goes right into choosing which side of the street you want to be on, as well as which corner of the intersection you want to stand on. Seriously, the guide doesn't miss.

By the way, you might only have about 20 seconds to spot your runner before they're gone, so be ready. Be loud, have your sign (or camera) up, and be ready to yell as loudly as you can. Then, book it to the next stop or maybe the finish, and get ready to celebrate with the rest of the Big Apple.

As above, be sure to hit the button below to check out the NYC Marathon Guide for yourself, and consider buying the creator a gel (or a coffee) while you're there.

Set Up Your Spectating Plan