New York > New York City Half Marathon New York, NY addthis
Date
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Event
Details
Amazing as it may seem, the New York City Half-Marathon (sponsored by
Nike) celebrated just its second annual running in 2007, welcoming an
estimated 10,000 runners for the event that begins on Central Park's
East Drive and starts off the 13.1-mile course with a clockwise loop
around the park. From there, the race takes the field along Seventh
Avenue toward Times Square, and then along 42nd Street and 12th Avenue
toward the Hudson River waterfront and onto lower Manhattan, and
finishes on West Street near Battery Park.
As might be expected from a course that spends its first half within
the lush green meadows and trails of Central Park, the first half of
the race is the hilliest, with the most signficant hills coming around
miles 3 and 5. The course's hills are never too difficult, however, as
the change in elevation ranges from a peak of 125 feet above sea level
to about 25 feet at the lowest point in the first 6 miles. In the
second half of the race, which takes runners along the Hudson River
waterfront, the elevation is almost all right at or about sea level.
This race is definitely for serious competitors as well as more
leisurely runners, and is seen as an excellent warm-up for the full
26.2-mile ING New York City Marathon each November. Participants are
treated to many of the city's world-famous sights, including Broadway,
Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty, just to name a few. For
spectators, Nike also sets up several cheering zones for fans, to
benefit the Fresh Air Fund (between miles 8 and 9) and Team in Training
(between miles 10 and 11).
Runners' scores in this race count towards the nine races New York Road
Runners Club members
are required to gather in order to earn guaranteed entry into the full
New York City Marathon.
Race
Weather & Climate
Manhattan weather conditions were unseasonably mild for the 2007
running of the NYC Half, as temperatures hovered around 70°F
with clear skies and 61 percent humidity. Typically, late July
weather can be very warm in the city, as temperatures during the month
average between 83°F and 68°F, while rainfall averages
about 4.17 inches for the month.
Fees
$75 for U.S. residents
$100 for non-U.S. citizens
$5 processing fee for all applications
Registration
Registration is now closed for the 2008 running of the New York City
Half Marathon, but you can check and verify your registration in the
entrant database at the New York Road Runners site.
