NYRR Gridiron 5K Presented by The FLAG Art Foundation
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AvailableNYRR Gridiron 5K Presented by The FLAG Art FoundationScoredSaturday, February 21, 2026 at 09:00 AMDistance: 5KEntry Fees: This is a free event
Chase away your winter blues at the FREE 2026 NYRR Gridiron 5K Presented by The FLAG Art Foundation.
This event is not eligible for a 9+1 race credit toward non-complimentary guaranteed entry to the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon. It is eligible as a +1 volunteer opportunity.
Originally sidelined by below freezing temps, this race is back on!
Keep the game-day energy going with this free fun, football-themed 5K race in Prospect Park. Wear the race T-shirt designed by artist Jim Hodges and test your skills at the longest football throw contest. This high-energy event brings together runners, football fans, and art lovers for a truly unique winter racing experience.
Each year, The FLAG Art Foundation commissions a special artist to design the commemorative race T-shirt.* This year's shirt was designed by artist, Jim Hodges. Hodges is known for transcending the conventional boundaries of found materials, such as artificial flowers, paper napkins, discarded clothing, etc., in his mixed-media sculptures and collages. The artist transmits emotions and narratives to everyday objects, creating poignant and delicate artworks exploring themes of fragility, temporality, love, and memory.
The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting contemporary art to diverse audiences. Founded in 2008 by Glenn Fuhrman, FLAG presents rotating exhibitions, thematic group shows, and solo projects while providing curatorial support and a platform for artists. Based in Manhattan’s Chelsea art district, FLAG and all its programs are free and open to the public.
*Subject to availability. This race premium will be available to runners who were registered for the cancelled race. New registrants for this free event will receive a generic bib and no premium.
Warm up your arm and get ready for the return of the Longest Football Throw contest before the race at Center Drive. Between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., you can take one attempt at a Hail Mary toss to prove your quarterbacking skills. The longest thrower in each division (women, nonbinary, men) will take home a prize!
Plus, don’t miss the runners-only prize drawing happening at 8:25 a.m. in the same area, featuring exciting giveaways, including one guaranteed complimentary entry to the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, one of two $200 gift cards to Tavern on the Green, and more!
When you run with NYRR, you do more than compete in a world-class race—your support and participation play a role in fulfilling our vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running, and benefit NYRR’s free youth and community programs, including Rising New York Road Runners, NYRR Striders, Open Run, and more.
All event information is subject to change.
Check out our training resources that'll help you prepare for race day.
- In-person Group Training, geared toward local New York City runners who enjoy running with others
- Virtual training through NYRR x Runna, the world's top-rated running coach app, to train anywhere, anytime
- Free training guides and tips through our Runner Resources
NYRR strives to host inclusive, sustainable, and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage. To request reasonable accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility for attending this event, please email accessibility@nyrr.org.
To learn more about NYRR accessibility, please visit the NYRR Disability Inclusion & Accessibility Resource page.
If you are an Athlete with Disability who needs a guide or support runner to participate in a NYRR event, please follow the process explained here. To request to register a support runner, the runner must fill out the following form.
All requests must be placed by runners at least two weeks prior to the event.
- Review the NYRR policy on start and finish cutoff times here.
- Runners can register as woman, man, or nonbinary. Visit our FAQ page for more information on how to update your profile.
- This race is NOT a 9+1 program qualifier.
Canceled Gridiron 4M participants
- If you already picked up your bib for the canceled 4-mile event, please keep your bib to run with on February 21.
- If you did not pick up your bib we will have one for you, along with a participant shirt at either the NYRR RUNCENTER or on race day.
New 5K participants
- Runners who were not originally registered for the 4-mile event will receive a generic bib for this free event.
- There is no race premium for this free event.
Numbers (which include your timing tag) may be picked up at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub at 320 West 57th Street (between Eighth and Ninth avenues) on the following dates:
- Saturday, February 14, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 15, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 17, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 18, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 19, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 20, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
**The RUNCENTER will be closed Monday, February 16 for Presidents' Day.**
Runners are encouraged to pick up their bibs at the RUNCENTER to avoid race day lines.
On race day, number pickup will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Race-Day Central located located on the Nethermead near Center Road in Prospect Park.
Show your race confirmation email or the QR code from your NYRR account to pick up your race materials. Proxy bib pickup is available for this race, so a friend or family member can pick up your race materials. The person will need the QR code for your NYRR account, along with a form of photo identification that corresponds to your NYRR account.
On race day, number pickup will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Race-Day Central located on the Nethermead near Center Road in Prospect Park.
Onsite race registration will be available at this event (subject to availability).
Bib pickup will close 10 minutes after the start time of the race.
The race will start on West Drive near the intersection with Well House Drive and will head south along Prospect Park Lake as West Drive turns into East Drive. Runners will reach the one-mile mark after passing the LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park.
From there, runners will head north on East Drive, reaching the two-mile mark just beyond the hill near Grand Army Plaza, as East Drive becomes West Drive. Runners will continue south on West Drive and will reach the three-mile mark just before turning onto Center Drive. The final tenth of a mile will be on Center Drive.
We strongly recommend checking mta.info before you travel. You can also message the MTA using the chat feature on the MTA app.
All New York Road Runners races from November 2025 through March 2026, plus the 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half, will have clothing donation bins in the start corrals and alongside the course right after the start line. Extra layers placed in the bins will be donated to All of Us Clothing, which distributes them to New Yorkers in need. We encourage you to bring only what you need into the corrals and keep the items in good condition so that we can limit waste and increase impact.
Bag check will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Race-Day Central, located on the Nethermead near Center Road in Prospect Park.
Planning to check a bag on race morning? While we will continue to have clear plastic bags available at number pickup, we encourage you to use your own clear reusable plastic bag, no larger than 17" wide x 20" high x 7" deep, with the tag affixed. Only clear bags may be checked at bag check, we are unable to check opaque bags of any size.
NYRR is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen bags or items from bags checked at NYRR bag check.
The following race-day amenities will be provided and are subject to availability.
There will be no water pre-race.
Course
- Water
Post-Finish
- Water
- Pretzels
- Bagels
Live, unofficial results/runner tracking will be available in the NYRR App during the event. Please note: Runner tracking is available at all scored races.
After the conclusion of the event, official results will be posted on results.nyrr.org.
Awards will be presented on site to the top three finishers in the overall men, women, and nonbinary divisions. Runners who place in the top three of their age group will be able to claim an award in the days following the race by filling out our Age-Group Awards Claim Form.
In case of an emergency during the race (including in the start or finish area), call 866-705-6626.
If NYRR cancels an offering on the direction of local, city, or state authorities, participants will be informed as soon as possible, including communication of participant resolution options. Events will not be rescheduled.
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The Flag Art Foundation
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New Balance
