The New York Half Marathon has to be one of the most exciting and cherished half marathons in the United States. The course takes runners through some of the most iconic destinations in the city.
15,000 runners are now able to hit the streets for this event, with thousands more showing up each year to celebrate and cheer on the athletes.
If you are looking for a half marathon that feels more like a major celebration, this could one to lace up your sneakers for next March.
Race History
The New York Half Marathon is offered through the New York Road Runners.
This community organization was founded to advance and encourage long distance running, but today it gives back to the community through charity programs and many running-based programs for youth.
They sponsor the biggest races in the state, with hundreds of thousands of runners signing up to run the city each year.
While the organization is clearly New York based, it has collected memberships from runners all around the United States. Their races are now among the most respected in the U.S., with many runners coming from other countries just to participate.
Race Course
This is one of the best race courses you will find in the United States. You can definitely turn your race experience into a vacation, and even bring the entire family along if you want to stay after the race for some fun.
The course goes through Central Park and then ventures into Times Square. It ends at the seaport, where a massive celebration is launched in honor of the runners.
If you have always wanted to see New York City, this race will give you that dream. You go through the city and the best landmarks while enjoying the cheers of the massive crowd lining the streets. It is definitely a party atmosphere and a fast course that should easily keep your feet moving.
Signing Up for the NY Half
Getting into the New York Half Marathon could be a bit of a challenge for some. Even with 15,000 runners allowed on the starting line, the guaranteed tickets sell out long before the event is to be held in March.
There is a drawing that grants some lucky runners entrance if they are lucky enough for their names to be drawn, and there are some spots reserved for charities. Those charities are able to sell their tickets to runners willing to pay the price to get in on the race.
If you want to run this race, you will have to watch closely to determine when entries will start being accepted, and you will have to be one of the first to sign up. If you do not get your entrance in prior to the end of the current year, you can assume tickets will be sold out for the next year’s race.
Training for the NY Half Marathon
There is a strict three hour time limit for the New York Half Marathon. Racers who take longer than this will not be allowed to officially complete the race, so it is important for beginning runners to train with the appropriate pace in mind.
The minimum pace should be a 13:45 mile. Runners who do not think they can train to accomplish that pace should think about training more before signing up for this half marathon. There are others that allow more time or that do not enforce a strict minimum finishing time.
Though race organizers prefer runners not wear mp3 players or other electronic devices while completing the race, it is not forbidden. Some races do not allow these devices at all, but there is no rule against it for this one.
If you use music to keep yourself going on your long runs at home, you may also need to music to keep you going to the finish line on race day. Just make sure you are paying adequate attention to the course and other runners.
Of course, with so much excitement in the heart of New York, you may find that you don’t even want the music! You will find entertainment offered all along the course and there will be thousands of people taking pictures and cheering you on to the finish line.
Most runners do not need any more distraction or encouragement than what is readily found around them in the race.
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