Pelham Half Marathon
Pelham, NY
- Half Marathon, 10K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Pelham Half Marathon and 10K are community-organized races on Thanksgiving weekend for families, enthusiasts, and competitive runners alike. Both races start and finish in downtown Pelham at 8am (half) and 8:15 (10K), and take runners through the two villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor. The half marathon course is … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Nov 30):
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| H (°F) | 43 | 50 | 58 | 40 | 64 |
| L (°F) | 34 | 34 | 38 | 30 | 46 |
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Nice local race
This year's weather was cold, but sunny with no wind. I was originally supposed to run the half, but had to drop to the 10k due to the time limit … MORE
This year’s weather was cold, but sunny with no wind. I was originally supposed to run the half, but had to drop to the 10k due to the time limit not being inclusive to back of the pack runners. The RD did offer me an early start, but with open roads and having run 18 miles last weekend, I thought dropping to the 10k to be the best option. Why the race didn’t just offer early start in general, which would attract more runners, I don’t know.
Despite your bib having a tear off for post race food, there was no real post race food to speak of…just mandarin oranges, bananas, and frozen granola bars.
All racers, no matter the distance, get the same medal and long sleeve tech shirt. The shirts were to be picked up after the race and the bib had a tear off for the shirt, but they were just laid out on a table before the race so anyone could just grab one and then even grab another after the race, which seemed like a bad idea to me. Had I run the half, I’m sure there would’ve been no shirt for me.
Logistically, this is an easy race having the start/finish right by the train station so you can either take the train in or just park there. Will I do this one again? Maybe. I ran it in 2018 before its 5 year hiatus, so I would like to run the half again, but not with such an elitist time limit.
Nice local race
The race offered advanced packet pickup for about 2 weeks before the race at a pop up shop in downtown Pelham, but you could also pick up on race morning. … MORE
The race offered advanced packet pickup for about 2 weeks before the race at a pop up shop in downtown Pelham, but you could also pick up on race morning. The race also has a 10k that gets the same medal as the half, which is a very nice medal for a 10k.
Parking is super easy at the train station as well as taking mass transit on the New Haven Line of Metro North (start/finish being about .2 miles from the station). Pre-race, there is a building runners can huddle in to keep warm as well as a bunch of porta potties and a pre race yoga warm up.
The race itself was well run and turns were well marked. Most streets were open to traffic, but runners either had a roped off lane or the road was a side street with little to no traffic and police were at all intersections. The race winds its way through Pelham and Pelham Manor, even out to the beautiful view from Shore Park where you exit the road for a dirt path around the park. The rest of the course is primarily through residential areas, some of which are very pretty. Pelham is hilly, however. The race advertises that there are 7 hills, but let me tell you there are more than 7 hills (apparently only 7 qualify for hill status based on grade and length, the others are considered “inclines”). There were a bunch of water stops, the last few of which had Gatorade, and a table in the latter half of the race with orange slices, but no gels were given out on course.
Runners were given long sleeve tech shirts in both men’s and women’s sizes and the medal is locally made with a classic design.
The post race spread included water, orange slices, bananas, bagels, and hot food provided by DeCicco’s (a local grocer) included manicotti, penne marinara, mini grilled veggie wraps, grilled chicken, rice, and beans. Since the grocer is across the street from the race start/finish, food was plentiful.
In years past, race photos weren’t free, but they were much cheaper than at most races and the money raised from selling them goes to the Pelham Community through the Civic Association, so you feel better about shelling out the money for them. This year, they were free.
I’ll definitely come back next year! The race has early registration for $30 (which is a steal) and usually the half marathon sells out.