NYC Half Race Prep

United Airlines NYC Half: a rolling point-to-point course in New York City. Pacing by section, fueling, and race-day tips.

Use TrainPace to plan a simple, repeatable strategy for NYC Half: pacing targets, fueling basics, and course/elevation awareness.

Pace calculator: training zones + race pace
Fuel planner: carbs/hour + gel timing
Elevation analysis: hills, grades, and difficulty

How to prepare for NYC Half

Plan pacing, fueling, and course strategy for NYC Half using free calculators and GPX elevation analysis.

Pick a realistic goal time: Use a recent race result or time trial to set a starting point.
Set training paces: Calculate easy, tempo, threshold, and interval paces for your training block.
Build a fueling plan: Estimate carbs/hour and gel timing that you can practice in long runs.
Review course elevation: Upload a GPX to spot key climbs and decide where to adjust effort.

United Airlines NYC Half course guide

The United Airlines NYC Half is run by New York Road Runners. It goes from Prospect Park in Brooklyn over the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park in Manhattan. The race passes through Times Square and finishes inside Central Park.

United Airlines NYC Half at a glance
Fact	Value
Location	New York City, New York, USA
Distance	21.1 km (half marathon)
Usually held	March
Course	rolling, point-to-point
Official site	https://www.nyrr.org/

Course highlights

Start on Washington Avenue next to Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Loop around Grand Army Plaza and cross the Brooklyn Bridge
FDR Drive north, then 42nd Street to Times Square
Seventh Avenue and Central Park South
Finish on West Drive in Central Park near 68th Street

United Airlines NYC Half pacing strategy

The course crosses a big bridge early, then runs on a wide highway and city avenues. It ends with several hundred metres in Central Park, which has rolling hills. Run the first miles a little easy and keep something for the park.

Pacing by course section
Section	Terrain	Advice
mile 1–3	Prospect Park edge, Flatbush Avenue and the Brooklyn Bridge	Keep the pace calm in the crowd and do not race the bridge climb.
mile 4–9	Manhattan streets and FDR Drive	Settle into goal pace on the wide, open road.
mile 10–13.1	Times Square, Seventh Avenue and Central Park	Run by effort in Central Park and keep your stride short on the small hills.

Fueling notes

No aid-station positions were found in the sources we checked. Check the current race guide and carry a gel for the middle miles if you use them.

Race-day tips

Leave time to reach the start in Brooklyn, because the start area is on streets next to Prospect Park
Expect big crowds in the first mile; the field is over 25,000 runners
Wear throwaway layers, as March mornings in New York can be cold
Check the NYRR race page each year, because the route has changed before (the Brooklyn Bridge replaced the Manhattan Bridge in 2025)

Frequently asked questions

Is the NYC Half course flat?

Not completely. It crosses a bridge early and ends in Central Park, which has rolling hills. We found no official elevation figures, so we do not give a number.

Where does the NYC Half start and finish?

It starts on Washington Avenue next to Prospect Park in Brooklyn and finishes on West Drive in Central Park near 68th Street.

When is the NYC Half held?

It is usually held on a Sunday in March.

Facts checked 2026-10 against the sources below. Race details change from year to year — confirm with the official site before race day.

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