The TCS New York City Marathon always delivers drama: Veteran champions hunting repeat glory, rising stars making their debut on the world’s biggest city course, and human stories that extend far beyond times and placings. This year’s race, hyped by a deep elite field announced by New York Road Runners and a stacked lead-up weekend that includes the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, promises the same mix of high stakes and heart.

NYRR’s big announcements and race-week events give us five captivating storylines to follow that capture why the 2025 New York Marathon matters for more than just medals.

The Defending New York Marathon champion: Annie Rodenfels

In a tweet by Citius Mag on X explicitly mentions Rodenfels’ 2025 New York Marathon participation as one of the upcoming race’s biggest highlights. The 29-year-old will be a familiar name to fans of road racing this fall. She’s the defending champion of the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K and ran a sharp 15:20 to win the 2024 New York Marathon, evidence of her kick and tactical sense over short, fast courses.

Her presence in the Dash field (and as a proven front-runner domestically) is a reminder that athletes who shine on the fast 5K stage can also bring critical race-smarts and speed to marathon week storylines.

From new mother to elite racer: Elle Purrier St. Pierre’s return to action

This year’s New York Marathon will have a lot of compelling storylines. Among them, one would undoubtedly be Elle Purrier St. Pierre’s incredible backstory. The 2024 World Indoor Championships 3000m gold medalist’s arc is one of modern elite sport’s most gripping narratives. The two-time Olympian gave birth to her second child in early May 2025 and is already back on circuits and in the conversation for high-profile road events during marathon week. Her journey of balancing parenthood, farm life, and top-level training perfectly epitomizes how elite athletes are rewriting expectations about postpartum returns. Watch how she approaches the Dash and whether that sharpness translates into stamina across the longer fall events.

Parker Valby: A pro debut with big eyes on the New York Marathon

Parker Valby, a U.S. Olympian on the track, is slated to make her professional road-racing debut in New York’s Dash-to-Marathon weekend. A notable transition from her usual habitat, indeed. Moving from elite track distances to competitive road races (and eventually marathon distances for some athletes) is a common modern pathway. Valby’s first professional outing will be packed with marathon energy and is worth keeping tabs on.

Rookie year to World Championship test and onward for Taylor Roe

Taylor Roe has been one of the season’s breakout performers: She won the USATF Half Marathon title and set a string of impressive road marks before representing the U.S. at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. There she ran strongly in the 10,000m final, finishing inside the top 20 with a time of 32:12.19 (18th place in Tokyo), evidence that her fitness and endurance are race-ready for longer road events in the fall calendar. Her momentum, produced by national titles, course records, and international appearances, makes her a runner to watch in any fall road context.

The big-picture field of the New York Marathon

From the New York Road Runners’ 70-year legacy fueling the city’s fitness culture and economic growth that ultimately spilled onto the New York Marathon scene, to Ali Truwit planning her return after a horrific injury in 2023, the New York Marathon is going to be full of scintillating moments. But it’s also going to be so much more than that.

Beyond the Dash and the weekend’s short-course excitement, the NYC Marathon’s elite roster (announced earlier in August) includes big names and repeat champions that will shape race tactics, everything from early break attempts to a patient, sit-and-kick strategy when the bridges climb. The presence of high-profile entrants (coupled with recent marquee announcements that include world-class stars joining the race) means the New York Marathon will again be a tactical chess match where individual storylines of comeback bids, first-time major attempts, and championship defenses will converge on a demanding, undulating course.