United NYC Half Tips

It’s United NYC Half RACE WEEK!

In just a few days runners from around the country will converge on NYC and run the streets from Brooklyn to Manhattan in the United NYC Half!

This is one of my absolute favorite races of the year.

And for the second year in a row, the course is changed up. This time we’re spending a little more time in Brooklyn and a little less on the hills of Central Park.

Here’s what the course looks like this year:

As you’ll see from the elevation chart, most of the hills are stacked up front in the race. That said, there are some hills on the back end too, so plan your race accordingly.

Here are a few things you can do to make your race day less stressful.

Plan to Get to the Start of the United NYC Half Early

Especially if you’re checking a bag. This is the second year the race runs from Brooklyn to Central Park (and WOW, what a course) so there’s bound to still be a little confusion. You’re already going to be stressed out so why add to your stress by potentially being late and missing the close of your corral.

Your best bet to get to the start is and will always be the subway. Make sure to check the MTA Planner to see about construction (as of this writing, none is planned).

Here are the lines and the stops:

Waves 1-3
- F/G to 15th Street/Prospect Park or Fort Hamilton Parkway
Wave 4-5
- Q to Parkside
- Q/S to Prospect Park

Here’s the chart showing wave times that include baggage and corral openings and closings.

So, a few things to keep in mind for race day.

Download the App!!

Whether you’re running or spectating, you’ll get the latest news, updates, maps of the course, baggage area, expo and more.

I’ve found that the race predictor is scarily accurate. You a bunch of metrics like how accurate you were with sticking to a training plan, the pace of your tempo runs, your furthest run – and it spits out a prediction for your race. Check it out.

Also, if you’re spectating, you can track your runner and know where to be when on the course to see them. Also, if you’re running and meeting other runners after, it help to know if they’ve already finished (and between you and I, it’s also where you can find out if you beat your friends).

Wear Layers to the Start

I’ve run the race for the past nine years and since it’s moved to March have worn a pair of light tights and pullover every year.

Keep in mind this is March in NYC and if you live anywhere in the Northeast, you probably ran in shorts for your training because of the wacky weather we now have. But that doesn’t mean that the weather on race day will cooperate. Right now it’s predicted to be a high of 52 and low of 37. To me, that means shorts for the race, but layers to get to the start and hang in the corral until gun time.

But it’s going to be cold at the start, so you’re going to want to bring some throwaway clothes.

Just like the NYC Marathon, I go to a discount store before the race and for $30 get sweat pants and a zipped/hooded sweatshirt (the hood offers a little extra warmth). I’ll take the sweatpants off just before the start and I’ll chuck the jacket when I get warm enough. I also wear the cap and pair of throwaway gloves, but hang on to them a bit longer.

While you’re at the discount store, buy yourself a pack of long athletic/tube socks, you know, the white ones with stripes that you used to wear as a kid up to your knee (if you’re the same age as me that is). Take one pair, cut off the toes and voilà! You have a pair of arm warmers that you won’t worry about throwing away during the race. Make sure when you put them on that you pull the elasticized opening on first, with the elastic at the top of your arm they won’t slide down.

Follow the NYRR on Social Media

While the app is great, nothing can beat the quick notices you get from keeping an eye on Facebook and Twitter (and while you’re at it, make sure you’re following me too).

You can game the algorithms a bit, go to the NYRR profiles and click around, this’ll help posts to show up in your timeline more often.