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New York Road Runners to Highlight Its Year-Round Commitment in “The Greenest Borough” at NYRR Staten Island Half

New York Road Runners to Highlight Its Year-Round Commitment in “The Greenest Borough” at NYRR Staten Island Half

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BYNYRR Staff
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Runners in the shadow of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the NYRR Staten Island Half

More than 10,000 runners to participate in the nonprofit’s premier event in the TCS New York City Marathon’s first borough

Notable runners include TV personality and Staten Island native Vinny Guadagnino and members of Team Inspire 2026

Nearly 200 kids ages 2–11 to take part in Rising NYRR at the NYRR Staten Island Half at SIUH Community Park

New York, Oct. 7, 2026 — New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races and providing free youth and community programming, will host more than 10,000 runners in Staten Island, Sunday, Oct. 11, at the sold-out 31st running of the NYRR Staten Island Half, the nonprofit’s premier event in the borough.

Just three weeks ahead of the TCS New York City Marathon, the NYRR Staten Island Half is the perfect opportunity for the thousands of runners taking on both races to get in one last long run before the best day of the year, in the best city in the world on November 1. The New York City Marathon is celebrating 50 years of the race’s iconic 5-boro course, which has famously started on Staten Island’s Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge for five decades. This is the final New York Road Runners–hosted race before marathon week.

“For the past 50 years, Staten Island has played home to thousands of runners preparing to take on the TCS New York City Marathon,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “The NYRR Staten Island Half is the perfect opportunity to celebrate what this great borough means to athletes all over the globe and to highlight all of those who take part in New York Road Runners’ community programs on this side of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.”

The NYRR Staten Island Half is the sixth and final event in New York Road Runners’ Five-Borough Series—a showcase of the organization’s commitment to the individuals and communities throughout the city with borough-specific races that also include the NYRR Manhattan 10K in February, the United Airlines NYC Half in March, the RBC Brooklyn Half in May, the Citizens Queens 10K in June, and the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile in September. The race is also the last opportunity for runners to complete this year's 4 Out of 6 program, which qualifies them for guaranteed entry into the 2027 United Airlines NYC Half.

The course passes by the historic Fort Wadsworth and several of the island’s 170 parks, showcasing why Staten Island is known as “ the greenest borough.” Runners will be treated to panoramic views of New York Harbor and the city skyline as they take on the 13.1-mile course.

Notable and Inspiring Runners

This year’s race will feature several notable, inspiring, and local Staten Island runners, including:

  • Vinny Guadagnino: A television personality best known for MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” Vinny is originally from Staten Island and is returning to his home borough to run the NYRR Staten Island Half for the second time. He will be running alongside Pedro Mendez from Goldfinger Track Club.
  • Members of the TCS New York City Marathon Team Inspire, a group of marathon runners with 26 of the most compelling, moving, and inspiring stories:
    • Mildred Baker (80, Bronx, N.Y.): When Mildred joined NYRR Striders, a program for older adults, in her late seventies to stay active and healthy, she had no idea the community would transform her life. She ran her first half marathon in 2025 at the United Airlines NYC Half and will run her first marathon at the age of 80.
    • Julianna Mangano (26, Staten Island, N.Y.): Born and raised in Staten Island, Julianna began running after her cousin, and best friend, suffered a cardiac event while out on a routine run. She has since been inspired to become a professional sports athletic trainer and EMT, running to “finish the run that he never got to finish.”

Rising New York Road Runners at the NYRR Staten Island Half

New York Road Runners will also welcome nearly 200 youth participants ages 2–11 to take part in Rising NYRR races and dashes at the NYRR Staten Island Half, on the field at SIUH Community Park, the home of the Staten Island FerryHawks.

The event is one of more than 20 free youth events the nonprofit hosts throughout the year, offering fun and rewarding experiences that encourage kids to be physically active and build their confidence to cross any finish line. Rising NYRR serves more than 200,000 students nationwide, including more than 100,000 students in New York City.

New York Road Runners’ Year-Round Impact in Staten Island

Staten Island is home to more than 1,100 NYRR members. In addition to the NYRR Staten Island Half and the TCS New York City Marathon’s start on Staten Island, New York Road Runners offers year-round programming and free opportunities to be active in the borough, including:

  • NYRR Open Run: Free, weekly community-led runs hosted at Conference House Park in Staten Island that are regularly attended by more than 50 community members of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.
  • Rising New York Road Runners: Free running-based youth program that helps more than 4,700 students from Staten Island build the skills, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life.
  • NYRR Striders: Free walking and fitness program that helps more than 160 Staten Island–based older adults lead a more active life and meet new people in their community across sites at Anderson Neighborhood Senior Center and West Brighton Neighborhood Senior Center.
  • NYRR Race Free: Provides race fee assistance and training to those who financially qualify to make running more accessible for 1,000 participants, including 14 Staten Island residents, with complimentary race entries to events like the NYRR Staten Island Half and the TCS New York City Marathon.

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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)    

A New York City–based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running—serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features nearly 60,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.