Peter Ciaccia, the new race director of the New York City Marathon, may not know his marathon time (3:15? 3:30?), but he knows how to give a party. Now he will have to determine the existential course of the world’s biggest marathon: Should it be more race or more social event?

Ciaccia maintains that the race is for everyone, across the world, or at least as many as can make it under the ever-expanding cap, which is now 50,000 runners. (The lucky ones do not tend to be poor; just as property values have soared in New York City over the past decade, with more demand than supply, marathon entries will continue to cost at least $227, and fewer than one in five of those who apply for the lottery receive one.)

“My goal is to put on a race where no matter where you’re from or how fast you are, it’s going to be a sound, safe experience,” Ciaccia said. “I believe anyone can do this marathon, and I want them to have a great time.”

After Mary Wittenberg, the current chief executive of New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, announced her plans on Tuesday to become the global chief executive of Virgin Sport, a new venture, two deputies were named to succeed her. Michael Capiraso, 52, as president and chief executive, will build Road Runners from within, and Ciaccia, 61, will share the role of president while serving as the race director of the marathon.