NYC Half Marathon Training Heats Up
Runners are prepping for the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon this Sunday, including an NYU grad and nurse training while fasting for Ramadan [https://abc7ny.com/post/2026-nyc-half-nyu-grad-nurse-training-united-airlines-marathon-fasting-ramadan/18706984/]. Experts recommend tracking workouts in a running journal, with the Day One app being a free option [https://tomsguide.com/wellness/running/marathon-training-you-should-keep-a-running-journal-heres-the-free-app-i-use-for-mine]. Some runners find half marathons tougher than full marathons due to the intensity required [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/nyregion/half-marathon-nyc.html].
More than 30,000 runners are expected to participate in the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on March 15. The race starts in Brooklyn near Prospect Park and ends in Manhattan's Central Park, taking runners over the Brooklyn Bridge and through Times Square. The event brings nearly $1 billion to the city's economy. The race uses a staggered start to manage the large number of participants, with the wheelchair division beginning around 7:00 a.m.. Elite runners start around 7:20 a.m., followed by general runners in waves starting at 7:20 a.m. and continuing until roughly 9:00 a.m.. A youth event, the Times Square Kids Run, starts at 8:00 a.m. in Manhattan. The course has a minimum pace/cutoff time policy of 3 hours. Participants must reach certain checkpoints by specific times to ensure timely bridge and road re-openings and to be listed as official finishers. For example, access to the Brooklyn Bridge closes at 10:20 a.m..
