NYCRUNS Verrazano Half Marathon
Brooklyn, NY
- Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Back by popular demand after a 3 year absence, the original Shore Road Half Marathon, the NYCRUNS Verrazano Half Marathon! If you’ve never run one of our Shore Road halves before, this course is fast and flat. You can run hills with us some other time; if conditions permit, this … MORE
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Brooklyn race returns
I was happy to have a new (to me) hometown half marathon to run. And I'm a sucker for running along the water--especially when the path is flat. The course … MORE
I was happy to have a new (to me) hometown half marathon to run. And I’m a sucker for running along the water–especially when the path is flat.
The course goes along the southern edge of Brooklyn and runs under the Verrazano Bridge. There is a nice view of the Manhattan skyline. It’s an out and back course that is nice and flat.
NYCRuns is still mailing out bibs and shirts this year (2021) which is great. No doubt that will change back soon. The medal was nice. NYCRuns favors race shirts in loud colors that IMHO don’t look great on anyone, but they do standout!
Saw Pre, Snow White, Waldo
So I was looking for the start line for the Haunted Half Marathon in Brooklyn. I passed a guy who looked as if he had just been brutally attacked, with … MORE
So I was looking for the start line for the Haunted Half Marathon in Brooklyn. I passed a guy who looked as if he had just been brutally attacked, with injuries still bleeding, like the Joker played by Heath Ledger — apparently that is called a Glasgow smile. I thought, man, I am not approaching that guy to ask directions. Only later I realized it was a Halloween costume. He was another runner. He also alarmed the check in volunteer at the race.
The more eerie costume I wonder how many recognized. It was a young guy with a 1970s mustache, long flowing hair, and an University of Oregon t-shirt. I was freaked out by the uncanny resemblance. He was the late Pre, Steve Prefontaine, the greatest runner in American history, dead in an auto accident at 24. It was like seeing a ghost. This guy was a middling runner. When he passed me the second time, I told him he had a terrific costume. He got a big smile at that. So I am guessing only a few understood who he was meant to be.
The route was not hipster Brooklyn. It went along the water though, out and back twice. The weather was perfect. The course was flat.
I blame Apple for my poor time of 2:30 and change. I had headphones. But I forgot the adapter for Bluetooth connectivity. Thus the race had no pace music.
I did finish ahead of Snow White. She complained of overheating. I have no idea if costume choice correlates to athleticism. But I believe I beat most of the Imperial Stormtroopers and was beaten by all but one of the Waldos. I think I am too old for Waldo. But it must have had some influence. I saw at least five Waldos, male and female.