Blue line across five boroughs marks unity, spirit and the NYC marathoner's journey

VIDEO SHOWS: OFFICIAL CEREMONIAL PAINTING OF 2022 NEW YORK CITY MARATHON BLUE LINE  / COMMENTS FROM OFFICIALS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 29, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS PAINTING LINES IN PINK, PURPLE, ORANGE AND BLUE IN THE CEREMONIAL PAINTING OF THE BLUE LINE AHEAD OF THE TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 2) 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACE DIRECTOR OF THE TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, TED METELLUS, SAYING:     "The painting of the blue line is so significant because it brings together all of the agencies and agency partners that work with us year-round in the preparation of the marathon and all the events that we do. We do paint a blue line on the course that signifies the 26.2 miles that the runners will be taking from Staten Island, here to the finish." 3. PAINTED BLUE LIN / ROLLER COVERED IN BLUE PAINT WITH BLUE PAINT IN TRAY 4. PAINTED LINES 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACE DIRECTOR OF THE TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, TED METELLUS, SAYING:     "It shows that unity in action and it shows that unity in full color and display – can't ask for a more beautiful way to show the colors of this city and the people that make it that beautiful than by painting here in the blue line of the finish line." 6. PAINT COVERED ROLLERS IN TRAYS 7. EARLIER IN THE DAY, CEO OF THE NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS, ROB SIMMELKJAER, INTRODUCING METELLUS, AT PRESS CONFERENCE 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACE DIRECTOR OF THE TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, TED METELLUS, SAYING:     "A real special number to me is that 66% of the runners are going to be doing the TCS New York City Marathon for the very first time. Those runners will be crossing this finish line and this incredible medal will be waiting for them." 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACE DIRECTOR OF THE TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, TED METELLUS, SAYING:     "We look forward to seeing all of you on Sunday, celebrating you from our first to our final. The marathon's a special day. It's a reflection of what we want to see in the world. Our runners are being celebrated by strangers that are standing next to one another through all five boroughs and our runners are inspiring not just the people on every block and every neighborhood, every mile, but celebrating the world." 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CEO OF THE NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS, ROB SIMMELKJAER, AND NYPD COMMISSIONER, JESSICA TISCH, SAYING:     SIMMELKJAER: "For quite some time now, they (New York City Police Department) have been the defending champion of our annual Mayor's Cup and Commissioner's Cup competitions – commissioner of the NYPD, Jessica Tisch."     TISCH: "And I'm extremely competitive." 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NYPD COMMISSIONER, JESSICA TISCH, SAYING:     "The full resources of the New York City Police Department will be out here on Sunday making sure all participants and all spectators can have a beautiful, safe day. At the NYPD, there is huge support for the New York City Marathon. Between the police commissioner, the chief of department, and our chief of control, we have run the marathon nine times and… thank you. (applause) I'm not going to say how many of those were mine." (holds up one finger) 12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY FIRE COMMISSIONER, ROBERT TUCKER, SAYING:     "When he says 'close,' it was 1 second. I'd be nervous if I was in this competition and I was a cop." 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY FIRE COMMISSIONER, ROBERT TUCKER, SAYING:     "We're here. We're out there. You'll see us working in close partnership with Rob and his team, and we look forward to a wonderful day. I think Marathon Day, as a lifelong New Yorker, is the best day on the New York City calendar." 14. RUNNERS JOGGING PAST TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON'S FINISH LINE IN CENTRAL PARK /  METELLUS STANDING IN FRONT OF PAINT CANS AND FINISH LINE 15. SIGN READING (English): "TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON 16. JOGGERS IN CENTRAL PARK STORY: As New York City gears up to welcome runners from around the globe for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, city leaders and race officials threw down splashes of color at the ceremonial painting of the blue line on Wednesday (October 29). The blue line "signifies the 26.2 miles that the runners will be taking from Staten Island, here to the finish," said the marathon's race director, Ted Metellus. "It shows that unity in action and it shows that unity in full color and display – can't ask for a more beautiful way to show the colors of this city and the people that make it that beautiful than by painting here." Representatives from various city agencies painted strips of pink, purple, orange and blue lines at the course's finish line and posed for photographs. To create the actual, four-inch-wide blue line marking the marathon's route, the city's Department of Transportation will use 50 gallons of paint. About 55,000 participants will cross all five of the city's boroughs in the iconic race on November 2. "The marathon's a special day," said Metellus. "It's a reflection of what we want to see in the world. Our runners are being celebrated by strangers that are standing next to one another through all five boroughs and our runners are inspiring not just the people on every block and every neighborhood, every mile, but celebrating the world." More than 2 million spectators are expected to turn out, amid a heavy police presence. "The full resources of the New York City Police Department will be out here on Sunday making sure all participants and all spectators can have a beautiful, safe day," said New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch. (Production: Roselle Chen)

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