NYRR Fred Lebow Half Marathon

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

We at New York Road Runners believe running should be accessible to everyone. To help, we created NYRR Race Free to provide race fee assistance to those who qualify financially.

In 2026, we will offer 1,000 spots in the NYRR Race Free Program and more than 3,000 complimentary race entries, including entry for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Accepted NYRR Race Free participants will receive up to 6 complimentary entries to our weekly races and the opportunity to access training for free.

The 2026 application period is now closed. We invite you to apply for the 2027 NYRR Race Free program, which is expected to open in October 2026. Please visit the NYRR Race Free page for updates.

NYRR offers Protecht, a refund program that provides registration fee protection on all paid events. This includes races and Group Training, and it will protect NYRR x Runna fees if it is an add-on to a race. To learn more, click here.

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.
• If you wish to pay in cash for your race entry, please reach out to our Runner Services team for assistance. Please be sure to include the event name and the email associated with your NYRR account.
• This race is a 9+1 program qualifier.

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, January 10, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
• Sunday, January 11, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
• Monday, January 12, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 13, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 14, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 15, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Friday, January 16, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, January 17, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
• Sunday, January 18, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.



**The RUNCENTER will be closed on Monday, January 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. **



• Tuesday, January 20, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 21, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 22, 9:00 a.m.– 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, January 23, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, January 24, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Runners are encouraged to pick up their bibs at the RUNCENTER to avoid race day lines. 

All participants will receive a New Balance beanie at number pickup.

On race day, number pickup will be available from 6:30–8:00 a.m. at Race-Day Central, located near the 102nd Street Cross Drive and East Drive in Central 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.

Join us in person at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub for the NYRR Fred Lebow Half Course Strategy event on Thursday, January 22 at 6:00 p.m. as NYRR coaches will share tips and tricks on how to conquer the race.

Register for the free event here.

The race starts on East Drive in Central Park just south of the 102nd Street Crossing and brings runners over two-plus loops within the park. Participants will run north on East Drive through the Harlem Hills and continue south on West Drive to the lower loop of the park before heading north on East Drive and passing the start line. There will be a Maurten Gel Depot on the course at Fluid Station #3 (near East 85th Street).

Runners will complete a second loop of the same route, and then run a shortened third loop—a third and final time up and over Harlem Hill—before finishing on the 102nd Street Crossing near West Drive.

As they're about to complete the race, runners need to stay to the left of the finisher lane sign. The right lane will be for runners with a few more miles to go.

We strongly recommend checking mta.info before you travel. You can also message the MTA using the chat feature on the MTA app.

On race day, number pickup will be available from 6:30–8:00 a.m. at Race-Day Central, located near the 102nd Street Crossing and East Drive in Central Park.

Bib pickup will close 10 minutes after the start time of the race. Runners arriving to pick up their bib after that time will not be issued a bib and will not receive 9+1 credit for the race.

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. 

The NYRR Pace Team members are some of the most experienced runners in New York City and the most knowledgeable runners on the course. They have an average success rate of 94% of hitting their target finish time. Pacers will be on hand to guide participants toward specific goal times over the 13.1 miles. Pace Team members will lead groups at various paces between 6:62 per mile and 12:35 per mile (between a 1:30 finish and a 2:45 finish).

If you choose to run with a pace group, you can look for the NYRR Pace Team members in the start corrals wearing their blue-and-white-striped NYRR Pace Team singlets. Each Team member will carry signs that correspond with their respective finish times and paces. There is no fee to run with the pace team or to sign up.

Bag check will be available at Race Day Central, on the 102nd Street Crossing near East Drive, starting at 6:30 a.m.

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.

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.

*Except 2025 NYRR Midnight Run

The following race-day amenities will be provided and are subject to availability.

Pre-Race:

• Water

Course:

• Water at all fluid stations
• Gatorade at all fluid stations
• Maurten Gels will be available along the course. We recommend carrying your own fuel and using the Maurten Gel Depots to supplement your nutrition. Please note that gels are limited and not guaranteed—take just one per Gel Depot and be mindful of runners behind you.

Finish:

• Heatsheets
• Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels
• Limited quantities of gluten-free Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels will be available upon request at the post-race amenities area.
• Apples
• Gatorade
• Water

For a full list of Prohibited Items, please click here.

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.

All prize money amounts are equal for men, women, and nonbinary categories and subject to all applicable rules and policies regarding prize money. To be eligible for prize money and time bonuses, a runner must have had a valid paid NYRR membership since at least three months (October 25, 2025) prior to race day, including the date of the race, and must complete the course in 1 hour, 30 minutes or less.

NYRR Member Division 40+

NYRR Member Division 40+ prize money is for men, women, and nonbinary athletes who meet the NYRR Member Division requirements and are 40 years of age or older. NYRR Member Division 40+ prize money will be paid based on Net Time.

NYRR Member Division Time Bonuses

$100 Race winner who meets the NYRR Member Division requirements and breaks the existing event record, based on Gun Time. Bonus is available to the race winner, only, and they must break, not tie, the mark.

$100 Top three finishers who meet the NYRR Member Division requirements and complete the course under the following standards, based on Net Time.

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.

No Refunds: Entry fees are non-refundable and may not be deferred or transferred.