Stay tuned as we explore which stars you might find at the starting line of these exhilarating events…

1. Claire Holt

Running has always been a significant part of Claire Holt’s life, but it wasn’t until 2022 that she took on the challenge of her first marathon. Leading up to the iconic New York City Marathon, she dedicated herself to 20 weeks of rigorous training. By the time she crossed the finish line, she had raised an impressive $162,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital. Since that remarkable achievement, Claire has participated in several other marathons, continuing her fundraising efforts, although she currently claims to be retired from marathon running.

“I’ve loved to run for as long as I can remember… I never imagined that I would voluntarily sign up for a marathon — and even more surprising is the level of dedication I developed,” she shared on her website in 2023. “After hundreds of miles, countless bagels, and plenty of tears, I’m truly grateful I did it, mainly because my beautiful family, friends, and wonderfully generous strangers helped me raise $162,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital.”

2. Nev Schulman

Nev Schulman is not just a television personality; he’s also a committed runner who has participated in the New York City Marathon on numerous occasions since 2015. He’s often one of the fastest celebrities, managing to clock in an impressive time of 2:58. Reflecting on his journey, Nev realized in his 30s that running was his “best medicine” for happiness, a realization that became crucial after he suffered a near-fatal bike accident in 2024.

Despite being hospitalized and undergoing intensive surgery, Nev found motivation in his desire to participate in the New York City Marathon as a guide for a blind runner, Francesco Magisano. His recovery was miraculous, and just months after the accident, he received the green light to start training again. The two managed to condense three months of training into just eight weeks.

“My body really bounced back,” he told People. “The first few runs were tough; I was moving at a much slower pace than usual and working far harder than I typically would. However, once I found my rhythm, by the third or fourth run, I felt strong again. I’m not at 100%, but I feel great, truly.”

3. Kevin Hart

As a dynamic entertainer, Kevin Hart has also embraced the world of marathon running, participating in several races. Before his first major marathon, he hosted pop-up 5K events during his comedy tours, running alongside hundreds of fans. In 2017, he set a goal to complete the New York City Marathon, which marked his entry into the world of long-distance races. His training was intense, often requiring him to rise at 4 AM to complete 11-mile runs. Since then, he has trained for multiple races, including the Chicago Marathon.

“During a long run, there’s no thinking. I’m in an amazing space with great music,” he told Runner’s World. “Some of my best ideas come to me while I run. The peace that comes from running is the perfect time for creativity… I’m doing this to show that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. I put my mind to it, and I’m going to get it done. It’s that simple.”

4. Casey Neistat

YouTuber Casey Neistat has consistently been one of the fastest celebrities to run in the New York City Marathon. His journey began in 2007 when he suffered a scooter accident that required surgery to insert a metal rod into his femur. Doctors doubted he would ever run again, but he was determined to prove them wrong, aspiring to complete a sub-3 marathon. To date, he has completed over 25 marathons, and in 2023, he finally achieved that goal.

“You do a lot of meaningless, purposeless silly things,” he says. “You get obsessed and spend years focused on them, and really no one cares but you. But you persist anyway. You keep running. You don’t quit. You die trying because when you add up all these silly, meaningless obsessions and accomplishments, what they equal, what they add up to, is your life,” he shared with Runner’s World.

5. Karlie Kloss

While Karlie Kloss has always been athletic, running wasn’t initially her favorite activity. She excelled at short-distance events in various sports but decided to challenge herself in 2015 by training for her first half marathon. After successfully completing a race in Paris, she set her sights on the New York City Marathon. She participated in this prestigious event in 2017 and has since taken part in several more half marathons.

“I love doing things that push me out of my comfort zone, and the idea of running a half marathon was incredibly daunting but definitely took me out of my comfort zone,” she told Runner’s World. “Running a marathon is something I never dreamed I would do.”

6. Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez grew up with a strong athletic background, yet it wasn’t until adulthood that he truly embraced running. He gradually built up his endurance from just a few miles with a friend to running five to seven days a week, often exceeding 10 miles. In 2002, he completed his first race, the Boston Marathon, to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Since then, he has participated in numerous marathons, including the New York City Marathon.

“I started out running just a couple of miles a day with a friend who was a cross-country runner. He taught me how to do track workouts. Nowadays, I typically run five to seven days a week, usually three or four miles each time but longer runs on weekends, around 10 or 12 miles. I love how it makes my body feel, giving me energy and endurance,” Mario shared with Runner’s World.

7. Christy Turlington

When Christy Turlington ran her first marathon in 2012, she did not consider herself a runner; she merely wanted to raise awareness for her nonprofit, Every Mother Counts. Since that pivotal moment, she discovered a profound passion for running and has successfully completed all six major world marathons: Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, Boston, London, and New York. She has participated in the New York City Marathon an impressive ten times.

“With every race, I strive to be as prepared as possible and avoid getting attached to a specific outcome. I simply aim to enjoy the moment,” she stated in an interview with The Cut. “People are in such great spirits, and you witness incredible acts of heroism out there. I always recommend running for a charity. While running for yourself is rewarding, having a charity or a team can provide that extra motivation, especially during those long races.”

8. Matt James

For former Bachelor star Matt James, running has been a lifelong passion that intensified over the past few years. In 2019, he completed the Chicago Marathon, and in 2021, he participated in the New York City Marathon, which he has completed four times now. He has also run in the London Marathon.

“I love exercising. I love competing. I enjoy the community of it, and many of my friends are involved. Particularly, I appreciate the training aspect. Marathon day has an incredible energy, but everything leading up to that moment is what I find most fulfilling. The entire process is a reminder that I — we — are all capable of achieving more than we think,” he told GQ.

9. Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys has completed several marathons, the first of which took place during her visit to Greece. Reflecting on the experience, Alicia noted that Greece is the birthplace of the marathon, making it the perfect location for her inaugural race. Initially, she thought this would be her only marathon, but in 2015, she participated again in the New York City Marathon to support Keep a Child Alive.

“I thought, ‘This is my city, so why not?’” Alicia shared in a blog for Refinery 29. “I considered all the times I rode a train through the boroughs or drove through them, and it struck me that I had never run through all five boroughs. So why not? This is my new motto: AND WHY NOT? I’m all about breaking mental barriers, and training for a marathon fits perfectly into the Jedi mind-training I desire.”

10. Zac Clark