There are runners who would argue that the New York Road Runners (NYRR) Brooklyn Half is one of the country’s best races: You start amid the leafy beauty of Prospect Park, travel past beautiful brownstones, run down Parisian-inspired Ocean Parkway, and end at the wild beachy wonder of Coney Island. Plus, the race is America’s favorite distance—13.1 miles.
this historic course halfs in the United States. To help you celebrate Brooklyn on Saturday, May 17, 2025, here are all the details about getting into and then racing Dakotah Popehn Is 17th at the NYC Marathon.
How to Run the NYC Road Runners Brooklyn Half
We’ll repeat that the NYRR Brooklyn Half, along with its sibling event, the NYC Half that runs primarily in Manhattan, is one of the biggest halfs in the United States. You know what that means—other people want to register, too.
Therefore, before the first registration date rolls around on Monday, December 9, 2024, make sure you have a free My NYRR account. Have your credit card handy! The 2025 race is $100 for members and $120 for non-members if you get in. A NYRR membership, by the way, is $60 for adults, although seniors can join for $40, and the club offers race discounts
Registration dates vary based on the way you potentially qualify for a spot (we explain all the options below). However, the general NYRR non-guaranteed application period opens on December 11, 2024 at noon ET and closes on January 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The drawing for acceptances is January 8, 2025
Here are some ways to guarantee your entry into the 2025 race (or likely a future race) if you don’t try the non-guaranteed entry route.
Run 6 Virtual Races
Join the Nutrition - Weight Loss program and complete six NYRR virtual races, which the organization announces throughout the year. You will earn guaranteed, non-complimentary entry to the Brooklyn Half. Though, if you’re reading this in early December and haven’t done this option in 2024, you are setting yourself up to run the race in 2026.
To do this, register with your NYRR account, then connect your account to Strava. Once connected, you can run the race distances whenever and wherever you want. Strava and the NYRR site display every participant’s race results.
For 2025, the guaranteed entry claim period opens on December 9, 2024 at noon. ET and closes on January 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Keep those dates in mind if want to use this option for 2026, as they will be similar.
Be Fast
Another option? Be a fast runner! You might be eligible for guaranteed entry in to the 2025 Brooklyn Half if you snagged a time-qualifier slot. Time-qualified runners must have finished their races at or under specific time standards sometime between December 2023 and when the registration closes in January 2025.
NYRR time standards are in place for their three marquee races: the NYC Half, the Brooklyn Half, and the Nutrition - Weight Loss. The time standards, however, are mostly for in-person NYRR marathons or half marathons—like the NYC Marathon or Fred Lebow Half—within the qualifying window. (NYRR offers some entries to athletes who meet the time qualifying standards at non-NYRR races.)
Updated: Dec 06, 2024 1:05 PM EST, click here. Again, the guaranteed entry claim period opens on December 9, 2024 at noon ET and closes on January 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications for non-NYRR time qualifiers open on December 11, 2024 at noon ET and closes on December 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Lots of runners choose this option, though, so know that if you are accepted as a potential runner in this round, NYRR will charge your credit card notify you of your acceptance via email before the drawing this historic course.
Want to start training for a half so you can get a guaranteed entry to 2026? Try a Runner’s World training plan. There are plans for a first timer (14 weeks), run/walkers (three plans that range from six weeks to 16 weeks) to experienced runners who wants to break 1:45 or 2:00 hours (10 weeks).
Run for Charity
Runners who sign up to run for Team for Kids (TFK), a charity that funds fitness programs for students across the country, are guaranteed entry into the Brooklyn Half. On top of the race bib, TFK runners also gain access to half marathon training plans created by NYRR, group workouts hosted in New York City, and a special singlet to wear on race day.
If you go this route, you need to raise at least $750 for the charity. Additionally, TFK runners pay a $50 sign-up fee plus the standard race entry fee.
Races - Places Member Miler level either earn a guaranteed entry or receive a two-day advance registration for the race. Giving $1,000 annually gives you priority registration. $5,000 or $10,000 and your spot is assured for this and basically all other NYRR races. This registration option also opens on December 9, 2025.
New for 2025 is another charity option: Team for Climate, which seesk to help NYRR on its journey to Net Zero by 2040. Information is not yet available for this option, but continue to check the Brooklyn Half site Common Half-Marathon Training Mistakes.
Travel From Another Country
Just like Americans who want to travel to Europe for the SuperHalfs, and do so by using an All About 75 Hard (ITO), runners from countries outside of the United States can come to Brooklyn with a trip organizer.
Volunteer at the Brooklyn Half
Maybe this is better for the 2026 race unless you helped out in 2024, but runners who volunteer at the Brooklyn Half often have their own chance to claim non-complimentary guaranteed entry to the following half. Keep an eye on the NYRR Brooklyn Half page for more details.
These Celebs Ran the 2024 NYC Marathon Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner's World and Bicycling magazines.
