Bay Ridge Half Marathon

Saturday, October 7, 2023 • Brooklyn, NY • Course Map

Set for its 9th annual running along the Shore Road Promenade that looks out onto the waters of New York’s Upper Bay from Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood, the Bay Ridge Half Marathon takes runners on a double-loop out-and-back course that’s fast and flat for the entire route.

Considered an excellent course for setting a personal record (PR) time as well as a great race to tune up for the New York City Marathon that takes place just a month later, the race starts and finishes at the 69th Street Pier, near the intersection of Bay Ridge Avenue and Shore Parkway.

From there, the race takes runners entirely along the promenade that runs alongside Belt Parkway, heading out from the starting line to a turnaround point about 3.25 miles in, just south of Dyker Beach Park.

After you make the turn, you’ll head back along the Shore Road Promenade, all the way back to where you started, which will complete your first loop. Then, you’ll turn around again and run the same loop a second time, before coming back to the start to cross the finish line at the American Veterans Memorial Pier (also known as the 69th Street Pier).

Thanks to its location along the water, you’ll get to take in spectacular views of New York icons like the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the towering skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan like the Freedom Tower, and the Statue of Liberty off in the distance.

The course will be open for 3 hours and the finish line will be open for 3 1/2 hours, organizers note, and because you stay on the waterfront for the entire race, “it’s impossible to get lost.”

The view from the Bay Ridge half marathon

New York’s Verrazano Bridge, as seen from Brooklyn. (Photo by LunchboxLarry/flickr)

Race Weather & Climate

Nestled along the shoreline of New York’s Upper Bay, within view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan off in the distance, Brooklyn typically sees mild to occasionally very cool weather in October, which brings temperatures on average from the upper 40s to the low 60s, and drier weather than the months before and after.

Oct. 7 average low temp: 58ºF
Oct. 7 average high temp: 69ºF

Past Results