New York Road Runners to Host More Than 27,000 Athletes at the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Sunday, March 16
New York, March 10, 2025 – Nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR) will host more than 27,000 athletes of all ages and abilities during the United Airlines NYC Half Sunday, March 16. For nearly two decades, the United Airlines NYC Half, one of 60 annual adult and youth races the nonprofit produces, has been the world’s premier half marathon, and will take athletes on a 13.1-mile tour of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The race, known as the One to Run, will feature an iconic new course dedicated to an iconic city, with athletes starting near the Brooklyn Museum, going over the Brooklyn Bridge—marking the first time an NYRR race has run across the Brooklyn Bridge—into Manhattan, up the FDR, continuing through Times Square—one of only two times a year it is closed to traffic—and finishing in Central Park.
The United Airlines NYC Half will bring together professional athletes, notable and inspiring runners, and members of New York City government agencies for the race, as well as nearly 1,500 youth in the accompanying Times Square Kids Run.
“As the nonprofit that runs New York City, our focus every day is on building healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running,” saidRob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “The United Airlines NYC Half is the epitome of our vision, uniting athletes from around the globe in this iconic city for the world’s premier half marathon. This event showcases the best of New York City, and we are thrilled to welcome more than 27,000 adult athletes and 1,500 kids for an inspiring day of health and fitness.”
Highlights and initiatives featured during the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half include:
United Airlines Extends Its Partnership
For the last decade, United Airlines has served as both the exclusive title partner and exclusive airline partner of the United Airlines NYC Half, activating on race day as well as at the pre-race festivities. The nonprofit and airline have collaborated since 1994, making United Airlines one of NYRR’s most enduring partners, with the partnership now extended through 2028. United will host more than 100 MileagePlus® members who received the opportunity to run as a VIP through the company’s MileagePlus Exclusives platform. United Airlines flight attendants will hold the finish tape, greet runners, and hand out finisher medals on race day.
Introducing an Iconic New Course
Since 2018, the United Airlines NYC Half has taken runners over the Manhattan Bridge, but due to ongoing construction, the course will now cross the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in NYRR race history. With the new course, once runners reach the junction of Flatbush Avenue and Tillary Street in Brooklyn, they will turn left onto Tillary, then right onto Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, taking the exit ramp off the bridge to join the FDR Drive in Manhattan.
Download the New Year-round NYRR App
In time for the United Airlines NYC Half, New York Road Runners is beta launching a new year-round app to enhance the race-day experience. For the first time, participants, spectators, and supporters will use one app for all New York Road Runners events, including the United Airlines NYC Half, the TCS New York City Marathon, and every event on the NYRR calendar. The new NYRR App Developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) keeps