THE RACE
Join us for the 2025 Central Park Half Marathon and 5K! Take a wintry tour of the spectacular urban park’s rolling hills, and test your fitness going into the spring season.
If you haven’t raced in Central Park in winter you’re in for an off-season treat. While you’re running the course, you’ll forget all about the crowded streets of 5th Avenue and Central Park West a few yards away as you get swept up in the magic of running in one of the city’s most beloved spots. Picture a quiet and peaceful park, with the sounds of runners’ footsteps inspiring you to keep on keeping on.
THE COURSE
The half marathon begins on West Drive near 96th Street, and will have you run two and a half loops of the park across 72nd Street and up Harlem Hill before finishing on the 102nd Street transverse. The 5K begins a bit further south and finishes in the same spot.
All NYCRUNS courses are USATF-certified.
5K Course Map | Certification
Half Marathon Course Map | Certification
TRAINING
The Official Half Marathon Training Program will help you Win Your Race! This 12-week customized program is based on your running history, racing goals, and schedule. Lose the one-size-fits-all PDFs and let us help you get to the starting line feeling healthy and ready to crush it.
The program is fully automated and will kick off 12 weeks before the race.
Program features include:
Customized training program that will incorporate various types of training including intervals, hills, tempo, and long runs as well as easy runs and days off.
Goals and program content that update based on your ongoing training journey.
Ability to log your miles manually or via MapMyRun, Garmin Connect and Strava (not officially supported.)
Other training content including cross training, strength training, and nutritional guidance.
HANDCYCLE/WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES
Due to the fact that this is a multi-loop course, we do not advise handcycle or wheelchair athletes to register for the half marathon distance. We’d suggest registering for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon, the New Jersey Half Marathon & 5K or any of our 5K races in Prospect Park or Central Park.
AMENITIES
Bag Check – If you plan on checking a bag, you must use the single clear bag provided by NYCRUNS. You may not put another full bag/backpack/briefcase inside the clear bag. All items must fit inside the clear bag. NYCRUNS reserves the right to search your bag at any time.
Toilets – Portable restrooms will be available for use throughout the event.
Refreshments – Water and electrolyte beverages will be available on the course and at the finish. Bagels, spreads and fresh fruit will make up the usual great NYCRUNS post-race spread so you can begin refueling soon after you cross the finish line.
Swag – The giveaway for this race will be a medal and a long-sleeve tech shirt. Shirts may be picked up on race day only. In order to cut down on waste, we avoid ordering more than we need; thus, sizes are not guaranteed. If you have your heart set on a size, we recommend picking up your shirt before the race starts.
Photos – Photography will be available for purchase within a week of the race. You will receive an email from MarathonFoto several days after the race with information about how to claim your photos.
BIB DISTRIBUTION
You may pickup your bib in the festival area on race day. NYCRUNS does not host a pre-race bib pickup for this event.
If you register thirty days or more before the event using a domestic address, you can also have your bib mailed to you. This service is free if you are an NYCRUNS Member, and you can become one at checkout. You can also add this service to your registration for $20. Please make sure the shipping address provided at the time of registration will be valid in the month preceding the race.
If you register less than 30 days before race day, or you have an international address, you must pick up your bib on race day no more than an hour before your start time.
If you need to switch distances, please do so on your NYCRUNS dashboard. You may only switch distances if the distance you are looking to switch to is not sold out. You may need to contact customer service if there is a difference in price.
You also must pick up the appropriate distance bib on race day from the Bib Pick-Up tent if it was not shipped to you. Runners who participate with a bib designated for a different distance (e.g., you run the 5K with a Half Marathon bib or vice versa) will not be scored, eligible for awards or appear in race results.
RESULTS & AWARDS
Results will be emailed and the full results will be posted on our Results Page after the race. If you do not see your result online or receive an email with your finish time, please fill out this form.
Awards will be given to the top three male, female and non-binary runners overall in each race.
Age group awards in the Half will be awarded to the top three male, female, and non-binary finishers in each of the following age groups (by net time): 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 and over.
Age group awards in the 5K will be awarded to the top three male, female, and non-binary finishers in each of the following age groups (by net time): 9 and under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and over.
Awards will be given to the top three overall male, female and non-binary finishers (by gun time) as well as the top three male, female, and non-binary finishers in each of the following age groups (by net time): 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 and over.
Additional information about awards can be found in our help section here.
PRIZE MONEY
Within the Half Marathon division, athletes meeting the following criteria will be eligible for prize money:
You must be an NYCRUNS Member and your account must be in good standing prior to and on race day.
Men: 1:20:00 or faster (gun time)
Women: 1:30:00 or faster (gun time)
Non-Binary / Gender Non-Conforming: 1:30:00 or faster (gun time)
You must have competed only in your registered gender in the 90 days prior to the event
Your gender must not have been changed on your NYCRUNS profile in the 90 days prior to the event
Prize money will be distributed as follows:
First Place: $1,000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250
Fourth Place: $200
Fifth Place: $150
Sixth – Tenth Place: $100
Additionally, any athlete who meets or exceeds the times above in one of these races will receive discounted entry to all NYCRUNS races until the end of the calendar year.
Additional information about our prize money program can be found in our help section here.
COST
See chart below. NYCRUNS members receive a 10% discount on this race, race withdrawal rights, and other perks. You can become a member when you check out.
Race Credit may be used to pay for up to 50% of this race.
Race day registration (if available) is online only.
Half Marathon Members Non-Members
Through 11/20 $81 $90
Through 12/25 $90 $100
Through 1/29 $99 $110
Through 2/12 $108 $120
Until Online Registration Ends $112.50 $125
5K Members Non-Members
Through 11/20 $45 $50
Through 12/25 $49.50 $55
Through 1/29 $54 $60
Through 2/12 $58.50 $65
Until Online Registration Ends $67.50 $75
DIRECTIONS
To get to the main festival area (for bib pickup, shirts and bag check), take the C train to 102nd St. or the 6 train to 103rd St. and enter the park. The Festival is located at the center of the 102nd St. transverse near the finish line.
To go directly to the start, take the C train to 96th street and enter through the 96th St. ramp. There are portable toilets at this entrance but no other amenities.
Please check MTA Trip Planner for up-to-date and detailed mass transit directions and Google Maps for driving directions. Parking is limited at all of our events; we strongly encourage all participants to use mass transit.
POLICIES
The standard no-refunds, no-transfers policy applies. Withdrawals for race credit are only applicable to those signed up for the NYCRUNS Membership Program.
Strollers and dogs are not allowed in NYCRUNS races.
You may be disqualified if earbuds or headphones hinder your awareness.
You must remain on pace to finish within the time limit in order to receive course support and an official finish time. Should you fall behind pace, you may be directed off the course by a race marshal.
Please familiarize yourself with our complete rules of competition.
