New York City Half Marathon

The New York City Half Marathon (branded as the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon) is an annual half marathon road running race. It passes through and by famous landmarks such as Central Park, Times Square and Grand Central Station. New York Road Runners administers the race.

New York City Half Marathon
Runners going through Times Square in the inaugural New York City Half Marathon in 2006.
DateUsually the 4th Sunday in March
LocationNew York City
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Primary sponsorUnited Airlines
Established2006 (2006)
Course records59:24 (men)
1:07:41 (women)
Official sitenyrr.org

Course

2006–2008

From 2006 through 2008, the course started in Central Park near East 85th Street and looped clockwise for approximately 7.6 miles (more than one full loop) until runners exited Central Park onto Seventh Avenue and through Times Square. Runners made a right turn onto West 42nd Street, followed by a left turn onto the West Side Highway, adjacent to the Hudson River. The race ended on the West Side Highway by Rector Street, near the southern tip of Manhattan.[1][2]

2009–2017
The official 2016 New York Half Marathon finisher medal.

From 2009 through 2017, the course started near East 72nd Street with a counter-clockwise 6.2-mile (10 km) loop around hilly Central Park.[3] The course then flattened and went along Seventh Avenue to Times Square, where it followed 42nd Street to the West Side Highway, adjacent to the Hudson River. The race passed through Battery Park and finished at Wall Street near the southern tip of Manhattan.[4]

2018-2019

In October 2017, New York Road Runners announced a course change for the 2018 race.[5] The course begins in Prospect Park and heads northwest along Flatbush Avenue, and then crosses the Manhattan Bridge. Runners then proceed through the Lower East Side towards FDR Drive, and exit onto 42nd Street. At Times Square, the course heads north on Seventh Avenue into Central Park. Runners follow the main loop in Central Park clockwise, cut across the park on the 102nd Street Transverse, and then finish near 75th Street on the west side of the park.

History

Numerous world class runners have participated in the race, including marathon record holders Haile Gebrselassie[6] and Paula Radcliffe, Olympic marathon medalists Catherine Ndereba,[7] Meb Keflezighi,[8] and Deena Kastor,[9] 2008 U.S. Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein,[10] and American half marathon record holder Ryan Hall.[11]

Gebrselassie set the men's course record in 2007, with a time of 59:24.[6][12] On March 20, 2016, Molly Huddle set the women's record with a time of 1:07:41.[13]

In its earlier years, the event was run on various dates in the summer; in 2010, it was moved to March. The 2010 race had a field of 14,821 registered runners and 11,604 finishers.[14] Mary Wittenberg, president of the NYRR, said in 2010 that she expects a possible growth of over 20,000 participants in future years.[15]

On October 8, 2014, United Airlines, which was the sponsor of much of the New York Road Runners races, became the title sponsor of the NYC Half Marathon.[16]

On March 10, 2020, it was announced that that year's race would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

Winners
Runners passing the Park Central Hotel, Seventh Avenue (2008).
Passing Port Authority Bus Terminal in 2013.

Key:   Course record

Edition Year Date Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 2006 August 27  Tom Nyariki (KEN)1:01:22  Catherine Ndereba (KEN)1:09:43
2nd 2007 August 5  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)59:24  Hilda Kibet (KEN)1:10:32
3rd 2008 July 27  Tadese Tola (ETH)1:00:58  Catherine Ndereba (KEN)1:10:19
4th 2009 August 16  Tadese Tola (ETH)1:01:06  Paula Radcliffe (GBR)1:09:45
5th 2010 March 21  Peter Kamais (KEN)59:52  Mara Yamauchi (GBR)1:09:17
6th 2011 March 20  Mo Farah (GBR)1:00:23  Caroline Rotich (KEN)1:08:52
7th 2012 March 18  Peter Kirui (KEN)59:39  Firehiwot Dado (ETH)1:08:35
8th 2013 March 17  Wilson Kipsang (KEN)1:01:02  Caroline Rotich (KEN)1:09:09
9th 2014 March 16  Geoffrey Mutai (KEN)1:00:50  Sally Kipyego (KEN)1:08:31
10th 2015 March 15  Leonard Korir (KEN)1:01:06  Molly Huddle (USA)1:08:31
11th 2016 March 20  Stephen Sambu (KEN)1:01:16  Molly Huddle (USA)1:07:41
12th 2017 March 19  Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)1:00:04  Molly Huddle (USA)1:08:19
13th 2018 March 18  Ben True (USA)1:02:39  Buze Diriba (ETH)1:12:23
14th 2019 March 17  Belay Tilahun (ETH)1:02:10  Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN)1:10:07
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[17]

See also

References
  1. "Kopac's Corner: 2007 NYC Half-Marathon". www.mhrrc.org. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  2. http://nyc-half-marathon.runnerspace.com/members/photos/4/12620_full.jpg
  3. Monti, David (2009). "NYC Half-Marathon Confirmed for August 16". LetsRun.com. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
  4. Hanc, John (July 24, 2008). "Fitness – When It Comes to Marathons, Half May Be Better Than Whole". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  5. "New York Road Runners Introduces Iconic New Course and Expanded Field for 2018 United Airlines NYC Half, Set for Sunday, March 18". New York Road Runners. 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  6. "10,000 Runners for NYC Half-Marathon". WABC-TV. August 14, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  7. "Familiar Champions Shine at the NYC Half-Marathon". New York Road Runners. August 17, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  8. "NYC Half Marathon 2006 – Inaugural Run". Marathonguide.com. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  9. "Paula Radcliffe to Continue Recovery in New York Half Marathon". The Guardian. August 12, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  10. "Running 'Ritz' Takes 3rd in NYC Half-Marathon". Daily Camera. July 28, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  11. "Radcliffe's NYC Win Boosts World Title Bid". CNN. August 16, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
  12. Freeman, Rick (August 5, 2007). "Haile Gebrselassie Wins NYC Half Marathon to Keep Unbeaten Record". USA Today. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  13. Dutch, Taylor (March 20, 2016). "Molly Huddle Battles Joyce Chepkirui For NYC Half Win". flotrack.org. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  14. "Kamais, Yamauchi Win at NYC Half Marathon". WABC-TV. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  15. Denman, Elliott (March 17, 2010). "NYC Half-Marathon: Humble Beginning, Grand Plans". Universal Sports. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  17. NYRR (March 10, 2020). "NYC Half Cancellation". New York Road Runners. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
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