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Taking On the Virtual United Airlines NYC Half

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BYNYRR Staff
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Running crossing the starting line of the United Airlines NYC Half.
Taking On the Virtual United Airlines NYC Half


Get ready for the Virtual United Airlines NYC Half Powered by Strava and prepare to run anywhere, anytime between March 8 and March 16. The race is part of the NYRR Virtual Racing Powered by Strava and by participating you’ll be part of a global community of runners taking on the One to Run. There are three ways to participate in this year’s virtual race: the Guaranteed Entry tier, the Finisher Medal tier, and the free Love of Running tier, which is still open for registration. Learn more about each of the tiers here.

Whether this is your first time racing virtually or you’re a seasoned pro, here are some tips to help you run strong, have fun, and feel connected to a global running community.

Train Virtually

Get race ready with NYRR x Runna. NYRR is excited to team up with Runna, the top-rated running training platform, to offer you a personalized and adaptable half marathon training plan to get you ready for your virtual race. This collaboration blends NYRR’s running expertise with Runna’s advanced training technology to enhance your training experience no matter your running experience or where you are in the world.

Map Out Your Course

  • Find a route that motivates you. Do you want a peaceful locale to relieve stress or a more stimulating cityscape? A flat route for a fast time or hills to showcase your strength? Knowing what will get you excited to run 13.1 miles will help you enjoy your virtual race experience.
  • Make your run part of marathon training. If you’re prepping for a marathon later in the season, you can log your 13.1 miles as part of a long training run. You may choose to run the 13.1 miles at your goal marathon pace or go for an all-out effort to simulate racing conditions.
  • Scout out a marathon route. You can use your virtual half to run part of your upcoming marathon course. You might also consider a course run-through on a bike or by car, so you can experience the terrain, especially if it's unfamiliar to you.
  • Depending on where you are, running outside in the winter months may not be ideal because of the weather. You can do your virtual race on a treadmill. Check out these tips to get the most out of running on a treadmill

Gear, Hydration, and Fuel

  • Check the weather forecast and select your gear accordingly.
  • Plan your hydration by following these tips from Hospital for Special Surgery.
  • If you expect to run for more than 90 minutes, plan to consume nutrition along the way. A good rule of thumb is to have some fuel every 45 minutes. Practice fueling during a run before your race to let your body adapt to digesting nutrition mid-run.
  • Plan how you want to carry your fuel. You can use a fuel pack, carry product in a pocket or belt, or race in loops so you can grab nutrition and drinks mid-run.

Race Day

  • Share your route with family and friends beforehand so they can come out and cheer you on. Sharing the race with others will make it extra-special.
  • Make sure your GPS device has enough memory and is fully charged.
  • Before you start, turn on your tracking device, acquire a GPS signal, and make sure you’re recording your activity. As you run, check periodically that your device is recording your distance.
  • Pace yourself in the early miles, holding back so you can have a strong finish. Without a pack of runners around you, it’s on you to monitor your effort. Aim to feel smooth and controlled. If you wish, pick it up the last 3.1 miles as you approach the finish and kick in the final .1 for a fun, fast finish!

Celebrate and Recover

  • Make sure you run a little over 13.1 miles to ensure the activity is counted as a half marathon.
  • Save your activity as a Race on Strava and set your privacy settings to “Everyone” so your race will appear in the leaderboard. Read more tips about recording virtual races in Strava here.
  • Share your accomplishment on social media.
  • Have some fuel and fluid within 30 minutes. A combination of carbohydrates and moderate amounts of fat and protein is best. Remember to rehydrate as well. Plan a meal within two hours of completing your run.
  • Treat your body kindly—rest with your feet up, roll and stretch your body, and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done! Get tips about how to recover for a marathon that also apply to a half marathon here.
  • Share your achievement by using hashtag #UnitedNYCHalf on social!

Most importantly, enjoy the experience knowing that you are part of a global running community!