updated 11/28/23
You know the “don’t wear anything new on race day” and all the basics… now, let’s do the United NYC Half Marathon as well as we can. I have done this race 12 times so far -since 2006, its first year, to last year, 2023 and I keep running into people who haven’t raced it and have lots of questions (post in the comments section below if you have any questions not covered here!).
If you just want to see RACE STRATEGY scroll through to the section in green.
And in case you want to see photos and/or read my race reports, here is the 2019 race report, the 2019 race video, the 2017 race report, the 2016 race report, 2015 NYC Half report, here is 2014 NYC Half and 2013 NYC Half.
PRE RACE LOGISTICS
Make a race prep list of what you’ll need a week or two before and sort it all by stages, here is a Marathon Packing List to start with. Whether you’re traveling or not, get everything in the list ready as soon as possible. Start prepping 2 weeks out.
Plan your nutrition waaaay ahead. You can buy gels at the expo if necessary, but get bagels/oatmeal/bananas and whatever you need for race day the day before as there will not be a lot of delis open at 4, 5, or 6 am. Some may be, but not a lot.
If you need any last-minute things, you can buy most stuff at the expo/bib pickup (don’t forget to bring your photo ID, and your NYRR account QR code, or here is an organized list with all the running stores by area.
I promise you this look is totally normal at the start!!!!
Prep some cheap or throwaway clothes for the start. Find a mylar blanket from your last half or marathon (and don’t throw away the one you’ll get at the finish here!). You will need them until the last minute in the corral (I wear one as pants with tape and one as a cape). I wear my throwaway cardigan or a sweater (cut in the front for easy peeling, kept it in place with a safety pin!) during the first mile too! Go to the dollar store and get knee-high socks, cut the foot part and you’ll have throwaway arm warmers! I keep half of it on until I warm up, it can be windy and cold at the start!
Gear/What to wear… the weather can be anything from 50s to 30s so prepare (aka, train in) a few options and decide the day before. Or that morning. Be smart, and make sure you can peel off layers comfortably. If you don’t want to carry your phone, at least carry a $20 bill, a metrocard, and an ID with you, just in case. My rule is if it’s over 42 degrees, I do just singlet and shorts. PS that garmin+apple pay works on subways and buses!
This is what the weather looked like the last few years:
- 2023: 30 DEGREES, 30% HUMIDITY, WIND 9 MPH (GUSTS OF UP TO 20 MPH). (what I wore) unusually FREEZING!!
- 2022: 54 DEGREES, 59% HUMIDITY, WIND 6 MPH. (what I wore) unusually hot!!
- 2019: 34 DEGREES, 46% HUMIDITY, WIND 6 MPH. (what I wore)
- 2018: 28 DEGREES, 31% HUMIDITY, WIND 9 MPH NW
- 2017: 34 DEGREES, 70% HUMIDITY, WIND 18 MPH (what I wore)
- 2016: 34 DEGREES, 35% HUMIDITY, WIND 14 MPH (what I wore)
- 2015: 42 DEGREES, 60% HUMIDITY, WIND 10-18 MPH (what I wore)
- 2014: 31 DEGREES, 40% HUMIDITY, WIND 18 MPH (what I wore)
- 2013: 30 DEGREES, 64% HUMIDITY, WIND W 7 MPH (what I wore)
- 2012: 47 DEGREES, 90% HUMIDITY, WIND 3 MPH.
- 2011: 37 DEGREES, 41% HUMIDITY, SUNNY
- 2010: 53 DEGREES, 55% HUMIDITY, SUNNY
- the ones before that, 2006 to 2009 were in the summer, so weather was SO HOT.
The temperature has been preeeetty consistent… but, you should assume it’ll feel 10 degrees under that temperature (hey wind!). So, depending on the wind/humidity/lack of sleep/whatever, you can add a hat, arm sleeves, leg warmers, etc. Always add things you can get rid of easily and won’t miss. If you’re not sure about a layer, keep in mind that once you leave Prospect Park and get to the Manhattan Bridge or the FDR, it can get a little windy there. Also, check the wind direction in the morning!
Headphones or not? If you are used to racing with headphones, bring them. I sometimes leave them on my ears (with the music off), and turn them on only when necessary. Make sure you can still hear everything around you though, that is key. I just wear one on low and have the other ear ready for anything!
If you need a short run before the race, go to Central Park. You’ll see many of your race buddies and get to enjoy the best place in the world for runners.
Find a mantra, or two, you might really need them. I write them in my hand where I am sure I will see it.
RACE LOGISTICS
Memorize your Start Schedule (or write in your hand like I do). 2023 version as example, this will be updated once available.
Getting to the start/Baggage Check. The easiest way to get there is to take the train.
Also, check the Start Map carefully. 2023 version as example, this will be updated once available.
Give yourself ample time (as this is a weekend schedule) and check MTA for weekend alerts, or try any subway app: make sure your train is running! Avoid a last-minute mad rush: NO RACE BEFORE THE RACE. Also, if you are not sure where to go, I am 100% confident that if you just head over to the closest train stop, you’ll see someone you could follow to the race start.
During the race, please please be careful, stay alert, and keep the music down or off. If you need to stop for a walk or move sideways for water, please please please signal with your arms, and look around behind you before you make any moves, dO NOT just stop or go sideways. Be considerate of your fellow runners who could trip! The good side of having all these people around is you’ll always have someone to run with, pace off, or follow when you’re tired. Pick them up when you feel strong, encourage them when they need it, and keep your eyes peeled for anyone who might need help!!
There will be water/electrolytes around every mile or so, so if you miss one, don’t stress. Don’t go for the first table as everyone will do that. There are many tables: go to the last one. You’ll find the portapotties where the water is, so keep an eye out and don’t just dart sideways!
Think about joining an official pacer from the NYRR Pace Team, they’ll be wearing a blue and white striped singlet and will run even splits through all 13.1 miles of the United Airlines NYC Half.
RACE STRATEGY
The easiest way to tackle this race is to divide it into three parts:
-
start comfy and relaxed -the first 3 miles are a roller coaster of a warm-up.
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at mile 5.4 pick the shit up
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at 54th St, hit the gas, and light the torch
Because this is not your typical half, where you can actually pick it up and finish fast, you have to pick your battles and do the best you can. I would race part 1 at 70% effort (or heart rate), part 2 at 80%, and part 3 at 95% and up. Obviously, adjust as you please.
Here is the course profile elevation. yeah.
Quick look at the course map too!
PART 1
Now we start on the side of Prospect Park: it will be SUPER crowded and downhill for the first hundred meters so please be careful.
Also, ppl won’t be ready and still looking for GPS signal and discarding layers, a recipe for disaster, look out and keep your ears attuned.
Stay to the right and once you turn, HELLO FIRST CLIMB. You’ll be doing an out-and-back on Flatbush so relax and look at the runners on the other side. Those out-and-backs always get me super psyched. Keep yourself in a hard check.
At around Mile two you are starting the climb onto Battle Pass Hill. You will feel this one, it’s early in the race but at least you had two miles to warm up the legs. Don’t be scared, but don’t be a fool to try to race up the hill.
Then we have a nice run by Grand Army Plaza and there is the straightaway on Flatbush for a couple of miles towards the bridge. From 2.5 to about 4.6 you have the easiest stretch of the race. Downhill, spacious, and the best time to relax and enjoy the race.
We are heading straight towards the Manhattan bridge thru Flatbush, which is, quite, and literally, easy.
Mile four will go SOOOO quickly with the excitement of the bridge coming towards you, that you won’t even notice the climb that starts at 4.6 It’s uphill for about a mile, 4.7 to 5.5, pretty up/long but so amazing and worth it. I can’t even tell you how insanely scenic Mile five is. AH ❤
The top of the bridge actually happens at about 5.6, and you start dropping quickly. Into Manhattan. That’s when we come face-first into the second part of our plan.
PART 2
Let’s
GO
This is when we pick things up. HARD. Mile five, the downhill from the bridge is going to feel like SO amazing, ride it hard. There is going to be a very hard right turn off the bridge right before Mile 6, brace yourself, but also, take it and keep your eye out for gels, they’re right there, along with some AMAZING views of the bridge and Chinatown you don’t want to miss out on.
Beautiful, right? But FOCUS.
This is when you can bang out some really fast miles on the FDR. Miles 7 and 8 all the way to 9.6 are flat, use them up, you’re going to miss them later.
You might get bored. Find someone 20 meters (yards?) ahead and chase them down.
Focus on the United Nations Building ahead, because that is where we turn left. That is also, ehem, where we start climbing again, at mile 9.7. There is a ramp you’ll hate. This is when things will start getting tough. Hold the pace. Stay right there, same effort. Mile 10 at 42nd and Lex will start feeling hard, but enjoy the views and the crowds. It’s quite special.
Also, it might feel windy here, there can be a wind tunnel from the east river to the Hudson (remember I told you earlier to check the direction of the wind?) so tuck between people if you can and stay in your rhythm.
At 7th Avenue, we turn right onto… TIMES SQUARE. A few blocks over, it’s Mile 11, and now you’re just really really really close.
and what happens now…?
PART 3
At 54th St, we MOVE. Why 54th? Well… it’s a combo of reasons, there’s a downhill and we are close enough to take into account the bumps along the road and the amount of time we have left. This will obviously depend on how much gas you have left in you. But if you paced yourself properly, this is the moment you waited for, so go for it. In 2019 I had my friend Whitney waiting there to signal the start of the end:
We turn onto right Central Park South for a couple of blocks before entering the park and there’s Mile 12. 
A left onto the park, more rolling hills all the way to the 72nd transverse and IF YOU TRAIN IN CENTRAL PARK, I’D RECOMMEND YOU RAN THIS BIT ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE THE RACE. I promise it will make a huge difference to know exactly how it will feel (HARD, shocking, right?). The transverse is also an uphill until the middle, it will be (also) hard and I want you to be mentally prepared for it.
And then, right there on W 67th Street, is the finish line!
Get your medal obviously.
and walk. You have to walk to Columbus Circle to exit, that’s 59th St, so just keep moving.
Check the website for a map of the finish area. Then brunch, shower, ice bath, rest, eat more, sleeeeeep, all the stuff, you know!
For more, definitely check out the 2019 race report, and the 2019 race video.
Questions?? Anything to add? Anything you want to go over? Lmk in the comments below!
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