NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon
Brooklyn, NY
- Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join over 25,000 runners for Brooklyn’s most authentic running experience. This one-of-a-kind run is one of America’s most popular half marathons. You’ll start in hip North Brooklyn, winding around the East River waterfront under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges, experiencing eye popping views of the Manhattan skyline. From … MORE
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From Brookline to Brooklyn
I don't really know why I decided to do a half marathon 6 days after the Boston Marathon but it seemed like a fun double with the WCS Run for … MORE
I don’t really know why I decided to do a half marathon 6 days after the Boston Marathon but it seemed like a fun double with the WCS Run for the Wild and I signed up for this before I got a Boston bib as I wasn’t sure I would get one. This race is produced by NYCRUNS. It is not the more famous NYRR race which I think led to some confusion in some of the earlier reviews and also why this race has a long, complicated name. Maybe they fixed a lot of things from prior years but I thought this was an excellent race and hands down the best half I’ve done in NYC that does not require lottery or charity to enter. There was good pre race communication. For the weekend I was staying in Manhattan as I had a race in the Bronx Saturday and this race in Brooklyn Sunday. I initially planned to pick up my packet Saturday but they communicated packet pick-up information before it was too late to mail your bib and when I saw the pick-up location was in Brooklyn decided to add on bib mailing as it would be a pain to go from the Bronx to Brooklyn and back to Manhattan. It was easy and not too expensive to add on and my bib and shirt arrived a couple weeks before the race. The shirt is fine. A black tech T-shirt with the race logo. A little underwhelming especially compared to some of the wacky shirts I have from NYCRUNS but a wearable shirt. I was surprised I was in wave 4 not wave 5 as I put a pretty slow finishing time knowing this was the week after the marathon and I was also confused as there was a stated time limit of 3:30 but they said the finish closed at 12:30 but my wave left at 9:00am so the last wave wouldn’t have 3:30. It turns out that what they did was put the slower runners in the back of wave 4 and the waves left every 30-40 minutes so there was space between when we left and the faster people left from wave 5. I do wish this was communicated as I think some people who were injured were assigned wave 5 and stressed that they had to change waves but personally I thought this was great as it meant I could experience the middle of the race full of spectators and allowed the race to keep the streets open for us. I wish more races would do this instead of just have 3 hour time limits. Race morning was really smooth as there was clear communication about where to catch the subway. I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express Times Square South which was very convenient to get to Brooklyn. Outside the subway there were volunteers with signs letting us know where to go which was very appreciated. The race start was very similar to Boston where there was an “athlete’s village” type area where you waited until your wave was called. There were porta potties both in the general area and in the corral area. It was a smooth start for a race with close to 3000 runners. This also meant there was complicated corral system with corrals on many different streets as each wave used the same corral. I was in the last corral of wave 4. I was hoping to cross pretty fast as we were to start at 9:00am and they said the finished closed at 12:30. I’m sure they weren’t strict but I always get nervous and I had no idea how fast I would be. It took about 10 minutes for all the corrals to go through so it was pretty efficient. The course was pretty nice. It was all through Brooklyn and went through several neighborhoods. It started in Greenpoint and went through Williamsburg and a few other neighborhoods and by the Brooklyn bridge and into downtown Brooklyn by the Barclay’s Center and ended in Prospect Park. The part from Brooklyn bridge area to Prospect Park was similar to running the Brooklyn section of the NYC half in reverse. It was mostly interesting scenery going through all the neighborhoods though some areas were definitely more scenic than others. The first few miles had plenty of space and I ran walked the best I could at around a 3 hour half marathon pace. It got more crowded around mile 4 when the wave 5 participants caught up but as we were already spread out and they were already spread out it wasn’t too bad for such a big race. The race was well organized. It was a very easy course to follow. With mile Markers and frequent aid stations though they only had water and Gatorade not nutrition. There were a ton of spectators which made this really fun. There was almost as much as Boston in some parts. The best parts were downtown and leading up to Prospect Park where there were so many spectators. My legs were sore and having crowds helped. One annoying thing about the course is the elevation profile. It’s actually a pretty flat race for NYC with less than 400 feet of elevation gain so it is less hilly than a race in Central Park. However this race is net uphill and the first half is pretty flat and the second half very hilly especially Prospect Park. There is a huge hill around mile 12ish. I finished the first half just under 1:30 but knew there was no way my tired legs could keep up the pace for the hills at the end. My mile with the bad hill was slower than all of my miles in Boston including the heartbreak hill mile. I ended up a few minutes over 3 hours but I was quite happy with my finish time for the circumstances. The medal is nice and Brooklyn themed. I do agree with other reviews that the post race area was a bit awkward a closed off section in a field in Prospect Park with poor reception but things were well labeled and they did add clear signs for which exits to go for which subways. Food included apples and bagels typical of NYCRUNS races. Plenty of cream cheese left when I finished. I honestly am not really a post race party kind of person and just left and met my mom at the Prospect Park zoo afterwards. Overall I thought this was a really good race. It was well produced and had great crowd support and running through Brooklyn neighborhoods is much more interesting than loops in Central Park. While I don’t think this is as good of a race as the NYC Half, this one is a lot easier to get entry for. If you want to do a half marathon in NYC and not deal with a lottery or charity bib, then I would definitely recommend this one. I would definitely do this race again but hopefully not next year as I am hoping to do the London Marathon instead next year.
2nd time better than the 1st
Last year when I reviewed this race I said that it might be a "one and done." I decided to give it another chance this year. There were some improvements. … MORE
Last year when I reviewed this race I said that it might be a “one and done.” I decided to give it another chance this year. There were some improvements. My experience at last year’s expo was awful (long line to get in that didn’t move, at all, for 30 minutes). This year, there was a line but it was orderly and moved relatively quickly. I liked this year’s swag better, too. The shirt was black this year (last year’s shirt was an odd green color) and the medal was great.
Everything else I shared about last year’s race applied to this year’s race, too. Bottom line: I still believe that there is an opportunity to elevate this race. It’s run as if it is a scrappy, local endeavor. But with nearly 25,000 runners, from nearly all 50 states plus many international runners, it is now a major race. It needs to operate as one.
Brooklyn
Awesome aid stations and incredible crowd support throughout the course. The finish line goodies were well thought out: a Smartwater, energy drink, bagel, apple, oat bar, and a finisher's medal. … MORE
Awesome aid stations and incredible crowd support throughout the course. The finish line goodies were well thought out: a Smartwater, energy drink, bagel, apple, oat bar, and a finisher’s medal. Great atmosphere from start to finish!
$145 for this Race? Felt Ripped Off
I really thought that *NYCRUNS would put on an awesome race, but this was a huge letdown (*NYCRUNS isn’t NYRR*). The expo was held at the ZeroSpace in Brooklyn and … MORE
I really thought that *NYCRUNS would put on an awesome race, but this was a huge letdown (*NYCRUNS isn’t NYRR*). The expo was held at the ZeroSpace in Brooklyn and it was meh. The only cool thing was the was writing where runners got to write why they run. The only “free” swag we received was our t-shirts. We also got to sample some protein drinks, which was nice. There was a beer garden, but it cost $7.00 (UGH).
Getting to the start of the race was easy enough. They offer suggestions to take the subway, which were very helpful! The spectators were amazing! There were zero dead spots, so I felt welcomed throughout the race!
As for the fluid stations, the only options they offered were water and nuun. I wish they offered things like pickle juice, gels, bananas, etc. The finish line was in Prospect Park and it was very underwhelming. The runners received smartwater, bagels + cream cheese, and apples. I really could’ve gone for a banana at least! At least there was live music, so you could relax a bit. It was also hard to figure out how to leave the park.
As for my performance, the course wasn’t hard, it was just HOT. Additionally, I had stomach bug issues, so I wouldn’t have performed that well in the first place. I really wish I participated in a different NY half marathon. I have paid far less for other half and full marathons, and I feel like I get my moneys worth from those races.
Mixed bag with potential
This may have been a one and done race for me. I definitely didn't love it. EXPO: -Friends went on Friday and had no wait or problems. I went Saturday … MORE
This may have been a one and done race for me. I definitely didn’t love it.
EXPO:
-Friends went on Friday and had no wait or problems. I went Saturday morning and the line went completely around the block and did not move (at all) for nearly 30 minutes. Then we all were let in at the same time.
-The “official merchandise” area was mostly cleared out by Saturday morning.
-The rest of the expo was pretty light. There were “photo ops” areas and a beer garden.
START:
-I found it easy to get through security and into the start area.
-The holding area (post-security & pre-corral area) was crowded. It was hard to tell if people were on line for the port-o-potties or standing still just hanging out.
-Once the Wave was opened and we could go to our corrals, that all was fine.
COURSE:
-I found the course relatively flat but I know many other runners talked about it being hilly. Maybe I zoned out on the hills?!?!
-I thought we were going to be running closer to the river and we’d be able to see the water and have beautiful views. That wasn’t the case. So to me the scenery was lacking, especially in the beginning.
-There were 3 blocks of running on cobblestones.
-There were 3 sharp turnaround points on the course, which can slow you down if you are going for a PR.
-There were enough water stations throughout the course. Nuun was the electrolyte drink. I don’t recall there being any gels/bananas/food given out.
-There was a lot of spectators, which was great! And there was music on the course. So the vibe was good.
FINISH / SWAG:
-I didn’t like the shirt (bright green color) this year but the color changes every year. It’s also not the best made shirt material-wise.
-The medal is nice, if a bit busy.
-The finish area was a bit odd. After getting your medal and a bottle of water you are dumped into an open park area (which is just for runners–family & friends are excluded from this area). Heat sheets and food were located on the opposite end the park area.
-I would suggest that the race organizers create signs for the exit that show runners where to go to get out of the park. There were apparently runners from most of the states and several countries & cellphone service was iffy, so pulling up Maps wasn’t necessarily an option.
With some organizational improvements (to the expo, start & finish) and some tweaks to the course, the race could be more enjoyable.
Great Race Great Vibes
An absolutely GREAT race and entertainment along the course. The crowd support was top notch. I want to shout the RD for granting me a bib two days before the … MORE
An absolutely GREAT race and entertainment along the course. The crowd support was top notch. I want to shout the RD for granting me a bib two days before the race. I used this as a training run, so I got a chance to slow down and really enjoy the route and the course.
The only downfall was waiting around for a long time for the race to start.
Mixed bag, but overall would recommend.
Pros: Pretty easy course. I am from Western Maryland and we have HILLS. When they say this is a “hilly” course it just depends on what you’re used to. I … MORE
Pros:
Pretty easy course. I am from Western Maryland and we have HILLS. When they say this is a “hilly” course it just depends on what you’re used to. I think there was maybe one actual hill and the rest were slight inclines. But if you’re used to someplace completely flat this could be more challenging.
Views were nice. Great crowd support! Tons of hydration stations, I didn’t even need my bottle.
Cons: The “expo” was really disappointing. For a race this size I expected more. There were some (3) health places giving out cheap freebies and I got a Celsius. I was expecting more vendors, running gear available to look at and buy, etc. It’s one of the most expensive races I’ve entered and the expo felt like an afterthought.
There were no snacks available on the course. After the race we were kind of rushed through and told to go to the grass. I have no idea where the snacks or heat blankets were because we were moved through so quickly..
This is just personal preference, but really hated the color shirt this year. It’s a great quality shirt but I won’t wear it again, it was so bright.
Nice tour from DUMBO to Prospect Park
Race day weather was rainy and in the low 50s/ high 40s. I was happy I grabbed a poncho as we stood in the rain in the staging area for … MORE
Race day weather was rainy and in the low 50s/ high 40s. I was happy I grabbed a poncho as we stood in the rain in the staging area for 75 minutes before we started our wave (we were delayed 20 minutes).
One we started, the temperatures were actually fantastic for a run. The first few miles of the race headed towards DUMBO while meandering under the Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.
From there the course turned and headed into a series of climbs heading towards Prospect Park. Before entering the park the course took a turn for a rolling out and back section which ran by the Brooklyn Museum.
The finish line was in a tree lined area of the Park. There were bagels and other food items at the finish line. The race coordinated finish line photo service in the finish area.
The medal and shirt were high quality. The shirt logo featured artwork from an established graffiti artist from Brooklyn whose work is on display on the exterior of several business in the area.
Overall this was very nice race and, as an out of state visitor, I thoroughly enjoyed the running tour of Brooklyn that the race provided.
Beautiful course - poorly managed.
Course Difficulty - I live in Brooklyn and was fully prepared for Flatbush Hill and the hills in Prospect Park. I still severely underestimated how difficult the second half of … MORE
Course Difficulty – I live in Brooklyn and was fully prepared for Flatbush Hill and the hills in Prospect Park. I still severely underestimated how difficult the second half of the race is. The race is nearly flat for the first 4Mi, a small hill a little past 5Mi. Then, you climb about a 150ft of elevation from 6.5 – 7.5mi and the rest of the race is made of two out-and-backs of brutal rolling hills. The turn arounds on both the out-and-backs were at the bottom of the hill, killing any momentum you had to take the uphill because you are forced to a 180 turn. I clocked in 505ft total gain – nearly all in the second half. Save gas in the tank.
Scenery: Hills aside, it is a beautiful course. You get to see many different neighborhoods of Brooklyn, run under 3 of the bridges, past Barclay Center, Brooklyn Museum, Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park. My family from out of town raved about the scenery.
Race Production – Sheesh. ROUGH. First, the expo was chaotic and left little to be desired, but in a neighborhood with a few breweries so that was a plus. Starting line was a complete mess: not enough toilets (took nearly an hour to use one), no announcements, started late. The finish line did not provide heat-sheets and it was 55 degrees and pouring rain – folks in my groups were shivering and lips turning blue. Actually incredibly dangerous. There were no signs at the finish so other folks in my group missed the food, others got lost going to the bag check. Also no nutrition on the course. IDK why when the fee was so high. Honestly, everything before and after the course was so entirely chaotic and poorly managed. The race itself is lovely. Just know what you’re getting into.
Swag – Cute running shirt but nothing to get too excited about. The medal also cheap.
Wonderful Tour of Brooklyn
The expo for this was pretty underwhelming especially for the long line we had to wait in! Morning of the race was pretty seamless and I really enjoyed the course … MORE
The expo for this was pretty underwhelming especially for the long line we had to wait in! Morning of the race was pretty seamless and I really enjoyed the course as a tour of Brooklyn! The New Yorkers were energetic and plentiful spectators. Mile 8 starts 5 miles of essentially hills which made the course pretty tough! The finish line was a little chaotic and there was no great place to meet up with your family or friends, but overall a great race!