The Brooklyn Half Marathon is the largest half marathon in the United States, drawing over 27,000 runners through one of New York City’s most vibrant boroughs. Organized by New York Road Runners, the course starts at Prospect Park, winds through the leafy neighborhoods of Flatbush and Crown Heights, and finishes on the Coney Island Boardwalk — where the Atlantic Ocean, the Wonder Wheel, and the Cyclone roller coaster greet you at the finish line. It’s one of the most iconic finish experiences in American road racing.
The May timing catches Brooklyn at its best — warm enough for spectators to line the streets in t-shirts, cool enough for comfortable racing in the low 60s. The race sells out quickly and entry is through a lottery, which speaks to how coveted a spot in this race has become. The field is massive but NYRR’s organization keeps things moving, with wave starts that spread runners across the course.
Getting around New York on race weekend is all about the subway — the 2/3 trains to Prospect Park for the start and the D/F/N/Q to Coney Island make logistics straightforward without a car. Brooklyn’s dining scene is world-class, and neighborhoods like Park Slope, Williamsburg, and DUMBO offer pre-race dinner options that rival anything in Manhattan.
