The NYC Running Blog

NYRR has updated the calendar and added the information page for Half-Marathon Grand Prix: Queens. The course description for the race is the same as in the past, despite reports earlier this year that NYRR and College Point Road Runners may be unveiling a new, single-loop course through New York City’s largest borough. As usual, NYRR has the “course subject to change” disclaimer posted.

UPDATE: The course description has been updated to reflect the new, single-loop course through College Point and Whitestone.

The 2007 Queens Half-Marathon is now on the NYRR calendar. As previously posted, it will be taking place on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007. The link on the calendar currently takes the users to the Brooklyn Half-Marathon page, so there’s no new information yet about the possibility of a new course.

The Queens Chronicle published an article which gives specific information about the NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix: Queens:

• It will be taking place on September 23rd at 7:00 a.m.
• Instead of travelling around College Point twice, the race will start there and go through Whitestone before ending at MacNeil Park in College Point.
• The exact course will be announced later since all the Whitestone streets have not yet been agreed upon.

While not yet on the NYRR calendar, the NYRR race report for this weekend’s Brooklyn Half-Marathon states that the 2007 Queens Half-Marathon will take place in September:

The popular series began in Manhattan in January, continued in the Bronx in February, and will conclude with races in Queens in September and Staten Island in October.

A member of the Runner’s World forums posted the following about the possibility of a new course (emphasis added):

I did put in a call to NYRR and got a reponse [sic] from a race official there whose name did not come in clearly on my cell phone, but who indicated the race would be run this year, but it was a matter of getting approval for a new course in Northern Queens.

This person also points out that the only open weekend in September is the 22nd and 23rd.

4,847 runners finished the Brooklyn Half-Marathon this morning, 21% percent more than last year’s Brooklyn Half, which was held in mid-March in 33°F weather. Race results have already been posted to NYRR’s website.

Brooklyn Half race reports from around the web:

• The Realm of Moz
  
• ultraclay!’s photos
• Josh Morphew
• Boston or Bust!
• UptownGirl
• Runner NYC
• digitaltammi
• rundangerously on the Runner’s World forums
• News coverage from Courier Life Publications

This Saturday in Brooklyn is part three of the 2007 NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix. The race starts in Coney Island at 8:00 am and finishes in Prospect Park. NYRR has provided a PDF map of the course on their website. If you reviewed this map before this past Tuesday, you may want to double check the route, as the Prospect Park segment of the course has been corrected since then. The weather outlook for the race is very good for running, with clouds and a high of around 52°F for the day. If you are using the bus service to the start provided by NYRR, it leaves at 5:45 am from 5th Avenue and East 90th Street. According to the NYRR website, bus tickets are sold out and you must pick up your bus ticket from NYRR in advance (i.e., Thursday or Friday).

Photo by Graeme Maclean.

Today is the last day of discounted registration for the NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix: Brooklyn.

NYC Running Blog readers who have run at least four out of five half-marathons in the 2006 Half-Marathon Grand Prix Series are reporting that they have received e-mails informing them that they have guaranteed entry for the 2007 NYC Half-Marathon. This confirms the previously posted rumor.

Another rumor regarding the NYC Half-Marathon: Runners who have completed a four out of five half-marathons in the 2006 Grand Prix Series will have guaranteed entry as well as those with certain qualifying times. NYC Running Blog is unsure of the accuracy of these claims.