SPORT The final countdown to NYC marathon

Each year, the TCS New York City Marathon transforms the streets of the Big Apple into a global stage, where 50,000 runners chase their own limits against the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic cities. On November 2nd, 2025, anticipation will again be electric. Runners sharpen their focus, spectators line the streets, and the city itself seems to quicken its pulse. 

As the Official Timekeeper of the race, TAG Heuer is well aware of this tension. For more than 160 years, the Maison has measured ambition in fractions of a second, from Olympic finish lines to Formula 1 circuits. At the TCS New York City Marathon, this heritage translates into a shared language of performance, precision, and endurance. Yet as race day approaches, the secret is not in running harder, but in preparing smarter.

The final stretch before a marathon is no longer about building fitness. It is about conserving energy, calming the mind, and letting the body peak at the right moment. Coaches call it tapering: reducing mileage so muscles can repair and glycogen reserves can build. Too much effort and the tank will be empty on race day; too little structure and the body risks stiffness. The art lies in balance.

Nutrition takes centre stage. In the last three or four days, experts recommend a gradual shift to carbohydrate-rich meals — pasta, rice, potatoes — to fill muscle stores without overloading the stomach. Avoid heavy fats and excess fibre, which can compromise digestion. Hydration is just as critical: small, regular sips of water balanced with electrolytes keep the system primed while avoiding the dangers of overhydration, which can dilute sodium levels and sap energy.

Sleep becomes an ally. What matters is not only the night before, but the consistency of a week of quality rest. Turning off screens, keeping regular hours, and practicing simple breathing routines can help ease the nervous tension that builds as the race draws near. Even short naps can reinforce recovery.

Throughout these preparation days, less is more. Training should focus on light runs, easy stretching, and mobility work. Visualization techniques — picturing the route, the bridges, the cheering crowds — help channel nerves into energy. By race morning, the goal is simple: arrive at the start line rested, fuelled, and ready.

In this delicate phase, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is a true partner in precision. Its sensors track physical activity and training load, ensuring athletes taper without drifting into overexertion.

Stress management, too, becomes tangible. The smartwatch guides wearers through breathing exercises designed to calm pre-race jitters and regulate heart rhythm. On the final training jogs, dual-frequency GPS guarantees pace and distance accuracy, while heart-rate monitoring helps keep runs in the right zones. Afterward, post-run analysis provides insights that can fine-tune pacing strategy for the marathon itself.

The integration of the New Balance training plans brings an added edge. Runners can preview their session plan, follow guided steps with clear outdoor readability, and even enjoy gamified “chasing diamonds” prompts that keep them within target intervals. A countdown feature shows exactly how long remains in each stage, removing uncertainty and sharpening focus.

Beyond the technical, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 carries the codes of TAG Heuer design. Its steel, titanium, or rose-gold finishes adapt as naturally to a carb-loading dinner in Manhattan as they do to the final jog in Central Park. In New York, style and performance walk hand in hand.

A marathon is never won in the last training session, but it can be lost in the final days of poor preparation. This is where precision matters most — in the meals, the sleep, the hydration, and the calm that carry a runner to the start line. With the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5, runners get more than metrics. They benefit from clarity, balance, and confidence when it counts most.

In New York, as thousands surge forward over the Verrazzano Bridge, every runner carries their own story. With discipline, preparation, and the right partner on the wrist, they carry something else too: the assurance that when the city demands their best, they are ready to give it.