The Yonkers Marathon, held in Yonkers, New York, is the second oldest marathon in the United States, after the Boston Marathon. The course of the Yonkers Marathon has been known as being tough and hilly; New York City Marathon founder Fred Lebow cited it as one of his favorite marathons.
The Yonkers marathon (the standard distance, 42.195 km) is held on the third Sunday in October. In addition to the marathon, there is a half marathon race and a 5K course. At the end of the race there is a gathering and festivities centered on Van de Donck Park. In 1909 it was sponsored by the Mercury Athletic Club.
For its 90th anniversary in 2015 the track has a newly designed course that has added greater variety by eliminating the double-loop, and replacing it with a single-loop that follows a scenic route along the Hudson River, and then goes all over the city, past parks, past the Dunwoodie Golf Course (that offers a glimpse of the distant New York City skyline), and through a variety of neighborhoods. In 2016 the course reverted back to the double-loop.
The courses will be USATF certified and the marathon will be a Boston Marathon qualifier. Every year approximately 200 runners participate in the Yonkers marathon.
The first Yonkers Marathon was held on Thanksgiving Day 1907. From 1907 to 1945, the race was typically held in November. Johnny Hayes and Jim Crowley won the first two races.
Sammy Mellor helped establish the Yonkers Marathon with Edward Wetmore Kinsley, and finished second in the event's first two runnings.