United Airlines NYC Half

United Airlines NYC Half

United Airlines NYC Half

( 35 reviews )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • New York,
    New York,
    United States
  • March
  • 13.1 miles/Half Marathon
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Jessica

New Jersey, United States
11 12
2015
"A Half Unlike Any Other"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Jessica 's thoughts:

One of the best, well-organized races I've ever run, especially for an event of its size! I was so nervous going into it, with the unexpectedness of the possible lines, security issues, crowds - but all of my fears were for nothing. Everyone was super friendly and very efficient; even he cops at the metal detectors to get into the race could tell I was anxious and even joked around with me!

Once we started (nearly exactly on time), there were awesome, friendly volunteers about every quarter mile clapping and offering high-fives, which I found really encouraging. For a back of the packer like me, it really means a lot to see smiling faces and hear real enthusiasm. And in Central Park, the hills are really no joke - but it was a good kind of challenging. After the first 6 or so miles through the park, however, you get to the really fun part of the race: running through the city streets!

Once I got out of the park I heard a cheer go up – It really was a whole mess of people lining the streets on either side of me, cheering us on and taking pictures! I can’t lie – I cried a bit here. This was the part of the race that made it all worth it: running through the crowded streets of NYC, stopping traffic in Times Square and taking over the pavement while crowds cheer you on… it was surreal. Seriously, in every one of my race photos from the Times Square part of the race, I look like a fresh off the boat immigrant, marveling at the wonders of this place they call New York City.

Except for the wall of wind once we got to the West Side Highway, the course was totally smooth sailing from miles 8-12. Yes, it was a pretty straight, boring shot along the water, but the fuel/cheering station support was like no other race. Seriously, each stop was like its own little town, with coordinated costumes, signs, wigs, big cardboard hands for high fives, and music. One guy gave me the biggest fist bump of my life and screamed out “We have a BAAAAD ASSSS HERE!” which I laughed at for a good quarter mile!

In my race prep, I received lots of good advice from folks who ran this race before me, including this: the last stretch along the highway can get pretty boring if you let it, so tie a mental lasso around the Freedom Tower and pull yourself towards it for those 4 miles. It really worked for me.

Once you get close to the finish, you can see the crowds getting thicker again, and the enthusiasm is so encouraging. They do say that there's a "little underpass” and small hill right before the finish - the underpass is more like “the length of the Lincoln Tunnel, surprise!” but the hill isn't as scary, and it's really nothing once you realize how close you are to the pot of gold at the end of the tunnel. Once you get to the final turn, it's all adrenaline and crowds once again - just in time for your gorgeous medal, fantastically smooth finisher's chute experience, a shiny new superhero cape, and a bag with water, an apple, pretzels, and gatorade.

All in all, thank you for a great race, NYRR! I can’t wait to see you guys again soon!

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