By Marnie Kunz

After more than 10 years of running in New York City, I’ve compiled my list of the top 20 races in NYC that you don’t want to miss. New York City is an exciting place to run, full of unique races ranging from the world’s largest marathon to urban street races and midnight runs. Whether you’re planning a trip to New York or are a resident and want to get motivated to run more, these 20 top races in NYC will have plenty of great options.

Best Races in NYC

1. New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon is the world’s largest marathon, with over 50,000 runners. The international race draws people from around the world to come and run 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of New York City. The NYC Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors, which includes 6 high-profile marathons around the world. I’ve run the NYC Marathon, coached runners for the marathon, and cheered for runners in the race. The New York City Marathon is always an amazing event. I’ve never seen so much energy and support for runners. It feels like the whole city comes out to cheer for the marathon runners every November, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (You can read more about my NYC Marathon experience here).

The NYC Marathon is the biggest race in NYC and the most epic event, with the whole city of New York behind you. The race begins in Staten Island and crosses the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn. Then you will run through Brooklyn (and hear bands, boomboxes, cheering, and see creative signs), then cross over into Long Island City, Queens (more cheering!) before hitting the Queensboro Bridge and running in Manhattan up to the Bronx. The race finishes along Central Park in Manhattan (epic cheering!).

The New York City Marathon is not easy to get into, but it is possible. You can qualify by meeting a specific qualifying time. You can also qualify by running 9 qualifying New York Road Runner races and volunteering at one NYRR race or fundraising for an approved charity.

Race Date: First Sunday in November
Sign Up: New York Road Runners

2. Brooklyn Half Marathon (NYRR)

The Brooklyn Half Marathon is one of the most popular races in NYC. The 13.1-mile race begins in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park with a loop of the iconic park before heading south down Ocean Parkway all the way to Coney Island. Ending on the Coney Island boardwalk is one of the race’s most unique and fun aspects. With the cheering crowd and the sandy beach on one side and Coney Island amusement park on the other, it is a fun way to celebrate spring and Brooklyn running. I’ve run this race more times than any other half marathon. I may be biased (I live in Brooklyn), but I love the energy and celebration of Brooklyn that make this race one of a kind. Everything from the bib pick-up party at iconic Brooklyn Bridge Park to the post-race celebrations on the Coney Island Boardwalk makes this race a fun Brooklyn experience. This race fills up quickly, so stay updated on the NYRR website for registration announcements.

Race Date: Mid-May

Sign Up: New York Road Runners

3. Brooklyn Half Marathon (NYCRUNS)

A “newer” Brooklyn Half Marathon is hosted by a different race organizer (NYCRuns). This Brooklyn Half happens in April and also has a Brooklyn Marathon option. The NYCRuns Brooklyn Half Marathon has a scenic course, with a tour through north Brooklyn, along the Brooklyn waterfront (one of my favorite places to run), and ends in Prospect Park. I like this course’s varied scenery and waterfront views, which goes by the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge.

Race Date: April

Sign Up: NYCRuns

4. New York City Half Marathon

The New York City Half Marathon is an iconic race that passes through Times Square, half of Manhattan, and part of Brooklyn. Over 20,000 runners from around the world come to experience New York City for 13.1 miles of adrenaline-pumping fun for this race every March. The race fills up quickly, so sign up for NYRR alerts to ensure you sign up when it opens, or you can raise money for a charity to qualify.

Race Date: March
Sign Up: NYRR

Related: NYC Half Marathon Tips

5. Brooklyn Mile

The Brooklyn Mile is one of my favorite races celebrating Brooklyn, street racing, and speed. The race, organized by the local Brooklyn Running Company, benefits Girls on the Run NYC and has a strong community feel. New York City run crews come out in droves for this event to battle it out and see who is the fastest. The race takes place on the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, along Kent Avenue. You will see lots of cheering, graffiti, and the Williamsburg Bridge along the waterfront course if you can catch your breath fast enough to look.

There are lots of fast runners in the heats of the Brooklyn Mile. If you’re seeking a more relaxed vibe, sign up for the Quita Francique Friends and Family Mile and run with your family, kids, dog, or friends.

Race Date: August

Sign Up: Brooklyn Mile

6. Runstreet Art Run

If you’re looking for a fun 5K, check out a Runstreet Art Run event. Our fun 5K Art Runs show you the best street art in NYC, and almost every Art Run has a non-profit beneficiary (the National Audubon Society and Big East Akita Rescue are some of our recent causes). You will meet new friends and have fun in these small community events while seeing amazing local murals, with Art Runs held in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Dates: Once per year
Sign Up: Runstreet

7. Frontrunners New York Pride Run

The Frontrunners New York Pride Run is a 4-mile run in Central Park every year that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. The Central Park run fills up quickly every year and is a favorite of the NYC running community. The 2019 event broke the Guinness World Record for the largest pride charity run, with over 10,200 finishers. The run is hosted by NYRR and Front Runners New York, New York City’s biggest LGBTQ+ running and multisport club. The club is one of the largest LGBTQ athletic clubs in the world. The race is a fun and colorful celebration of diversity in NYC.

Race Date: Saturday on NYC Pride weekend in late June

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Sign Up: NYRR

8. Queens 10K

The Queens 10K is one of the popular races in NYC held in Queens. The race happens at beautiful Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The course is flat and fast, with a 10K loop through Queens’ largest park. This summer race counts as a qualifying event for NYC Marathon entry.

Race Date: Mid June
Sign Up: NYRR

Related: How to Train for a 10K

9. Bronx 10 Mile

The Bronx 10-mile is one of the most popular races in NYC during the fall. This challenging race has lots of energy and runners. Many people run the Bronx 10-mile for their NYC Marathon 9+1 qualifying races. The course is an out-and-back, T-shaped course, with a large section along Grand Concourse, one of the main streets in the Bronx. There are scenic sections of parks stretched along some of the race course. This race is a great training run to prepare for a half marathon or longer race.

Race Date: Mid September
Sign Up: NYRR

10. 5th Avenue Mile

The 5th Avenue Mile is an iconic race down Manhattan’s famed Fifth Avenue. This short, fast race draws elite runners and amateurs alike to come out and test their mettle in a race along 20 blocks of Fifth Avenue. The run passes iconic landmarks along the Upper East Side’s famed Museum Mile. Kids are welcome too at the accompanying race, the Back to School Mile.

Race Date: September
Sign Up: NYRR

11. New Year’s Eve Midnight Run

If you’re looking for a unique way to run into the New Year, the NYRR’s Midnight Run is perfect. This annual race includes a countdown at 11:59 on New Year’s Eve and fireworks at midnight. Then the invigorating 4-mile race kicks off in Central Park. The race is also a qualifying one that counts toward NYC Marathon entry. Bundle up and come out ready to celebrate with a festive run with thousands of running friends.

Race Date: New Year’s Eve
Sign Up: NYRR

12. Prospect Park Turkey Trot

The 5-mile Prospect Park Turkey Trot is one of Brooklyn’s most popular and festive races. It happens every Thanksgiving weekend at Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The course is a lap and a half on the main running loop in Prospect Park. People come out in turkey costumes and holiday wear to kick off the holiday season with an invigorating 5-mile fun run. This race fills up fast, so stay tuned to the organizers, Prospect Park Track Club, for updates.

Race Date: Thanksgiving weekend
Sign Up: Prospect Park Track Club

13. OSR Midnight Half

For a truly urban running experience, try the Orchard Street Runners Midnight Half. This half marathon winds through the streets of NYC on a Saturday night in June every year. The streets are not closed for the race, which begins at 11 pm, but some of the fastest runners in the city gather to compete, as well as thrill-seekers and night runners who come out to run in the dark.

Race Date: June
Sign Up: Orchard Street Runners

14. Al Goldstein Summer Speed Series

The Al Goldstein Summer Speed Series is a fun, fast community 5K race series held every summer in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. The 5K course is most of the main loop at Prospect Park, and the race is super affordable and fun, with a community feel. It is also a unique series because the races are held every other Wednesday evening at 7:10 pm in the summer. These races are great training runs to help you improve your speed or can be a good way to meet fellow runners in the community.

Race Dates: Every other Wednesday evening from the end of May through August
Sign Up: Prospect Park Track Club

15. Soca Run Festival

The Soca Run Fest brings a celebration of NYC’s Caribbean and African American cultures to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The festivities include a 5K, soca music, and local eateries serving fresh Caribbean cuisine. The event has a fun, community-oriented feeling. It will help you enjoy a summer day in the park and meet people in Brooklyn’s diverse running community.

Race Date: Saturday in mid-June
Sign Up: Soca Run Fest

16. NYC Summer Parks Race Series

Explore NYC parks in this creative race series with themed runs ranging from 2 miles to 5K to a half marathon. These summer runs happen in July and explore some of the best parks in Brooklyn and Queens. With themes like the grunge 2-miler and the hip hop 5K and half marathon, the fun medals and community vibe make these races a great way to connect with New York City Parks and local runners.

Race Dates: July
Sign Up: Elitefeats

17. Haunted Island 5K & 10K

If you’re a big fan of Halloween, you won’t want to miss the Haunted Island 5K and 10K on Governors Island. These spooky races take place on the weekend closest to Halloween each year and happen on the deserted Governors Island (your race entry includes a ferry ticket to get there from Manhattan). Costumes are welcome, and you will want to run fast on the spooky course as you pass abandoned buildings and old cemeteries on the island with a history of military executions, accidents, tragedies, and more - buried in mass graves and abandoned cemeteries.

Race Date: Weekend closest to Halloween
Sign Up: NYCRuns

18. Women’s Half-Marathon

The Shape + Health Women’s Half Marathon in Central Park is one of the most popular half marathon races in NYC. Women runners can enjoy two laps on the beautiful rolling hills of the Central Park loop for this spring race.

Race Date: April
Sign Up: NYRR

19. 50 Mile Endurance Festival

If you’re amped up to run an ultra race, you can join the Prospect Park Track Club’s annual 50 Mile Endurance Fest in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. This race is not for the faint of heart — it’s 15 times around the 3.33-mile loop of the park. I helped pace my friend Mariel (#UberMariel) for this event for a few laps, and it has a definite trail-running community vibe. Enlist some friends to run with you for some of the laps, and it’ll make the uphill sections of the loop less grueling.

Race Date: December
Sign Up: PPTC

20. Goldfinger Track Club Track Meet

There are many run crews in NYC, and a lot of the crews compete in races but do not hold races. The Goldfinger Track Club in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, hosts regular weekly community runs and coached track practices and the annual GFTC Relays, a series of track races open to the public. If you love track and speed and want to get involved with a team or compete individually, check out the GFTC Relays.

Race Date: June
Sign Up: Goldfinger Track Club

Bonus: Summer Streets

Summer Streets is not a race but a community running, walking, and rolling event that’s a big summer tradition in NYC. Every year in August, 7 miles of streets in Manhattan are closed to traffic and open to pedestrians to move and celebrate. The festivities begin on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, go up Broadway, and continue to Central Park. This is the only time you can run along Broadway from downtown Manhattan to Central Park with closed streets. And there are fitness activities and water stations to enjoy along the way and thousands of people for good company.

Dates: Specific weekend days in August every year

Sign Up: NYCGov

Have you run any of these races in NYC? What is your favorite NYC race? Comment below.

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, a dog lover and Akita mom, and the founder of Runstreet.

20 Top Races in NYC You Don't Want to Miss