Pre-Race Activities, Course Attractions, and Entertainment
The NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE is a four-day festival of fun and fitness beginning on the opening day of the Runner Experience at Niketown on August 2. With a course like no other—as diverse and motivating as NYC itself—this year’s race features excitement and motivation for runners and their fans all along the 13.1-mile route.
Before the Race
Runner Experience at Niketown
There will be more than race numbers and scoring chips at the Runner Experience at the Atrium, next to Niketown, on August 2-4. You can:
• Have your gait analyzed by NIKE running experts
• Test NIKE+ technology
• Shop for NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE gear
• Customize your race shirt
• Pick up pace bracelets
• Visit the Toyota "Engines of Change" experience for a chance to win a ride home from the race in a 2007 Toyota Prius with Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology.
• View plaques and shadow boxes from Fond Memories
• Learn about upcoming NYRR races and membership.
Meet the Athletes
Stop by the NYRR booth at the Runner Experience on:
• Friday, August 3, at 5:00 p.m. to meet Haile Gebrselassie and Catherin Ndereba
• Saturday, August 4, at 11:00 a.m. to meet Hendrick Ramaala and Abdi Abdirahman
The athletes will sign autographs and answer questions as time permits; each session will last an hour.
Guest Speakers
Team for Kids head coach Frank Handelman
• 4:00-5:00 p.m. Thursday, August 2
Handelman will speak and answer questions on long-distance training and racing.
NYRR and ING New York City Marathon medical director Lewis Maharam, MD, FACSM
• 6:00 p.m. Thursday, August 2
• 3:00 p.m. Friday, August 3
• 10:00 Saturday, August 4
• 3:00 Saturday, August 4
Dr. Maharam will speak and answer questions on staying safe and healthy when running in warm weather.
Athlete Alert
Runners sign-up to have your splits e-mailed to your friends and family! [Athlete Alert]
Race Day
Athlete Tracker
Come race day visitors can track splits for up to 5 of their favorite runners. [Athlete Tracker]
Central Park
At the Start, runners and spectators will hear the singing of the national anthem.
NIKE Uptown Cheering Zone - (Seventh Avenue at 57th Street, near Carnegie Hall)
Central Park Brass
The first of three NIKE Cheering Zones along the course will feature Central Park Brass, a band with a flexible musical style and loyalty to the neighborhood. The band will provide an upbeat, festive atmosphere featuring Dixie Land, swing, jazz, and marching band selections. If you are a spectator, be sure to pick up a spectator kit from the NIKE spectator kiosk to help cheer the runners on.
Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53rd streets
The Mondays
The Mondays, with their debut release on Harborgate Records, offer a radio-friendly, modern rock sound. Runners will rock to their two singles, “Time” and “Alone.” The band has opened for artists such as Cheap Trick, Cinderella, Vince Neil, Slaughter, Warrant, Ace Frehley, and Firehouse.
Seventh Avenue Between 47th and 48th streets
Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice with hold a healthy happy hour at their store between 47th and 48th Streets on Broadway from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. with free Matcha energy samples
Seventh Avenue between 47th and 48th streets
MHM - Jazz
This swinging jazz band will play in front of Jamba Juice Times Square.
NIKE Midtown Cheering Zone — (Broadway at 44th Street)
Group Sounds
Performing on top of a double-decker bus in the heart of Times Square, this upbeat indie rock band will play set after set of what they call “danceable striptastic music for you.” Their sound is perfect for the Times Square—the home of MTV and all things cutting-edge. If you are a spectator, look for the NIKE spectator kiosk and pick up a spectator kit to help you cheer the runners on!
Broadway at 43rd Street
NASDAQ / Good Morning America / Reuters
If you are running by or cheering someone on, be sure to look up as you might just see the WABC-TV telecast of the race displayed on the NASDAQ and Good Morning America giant video screens and check out race messages on the Reuters message board.
42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues (outside B.B. King Blues Club & Grill)
A Common Thread
What better spot for a rock and Motown band than in front of B.B. King’s?
42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues
Outa Sight NYC
This local NYC rock band will knock your Nikes off!
Toyota Hybrid Turn to the Finish (42nd Street and the West Side Highway)
Samba New York!
This visual and musical attraction zone, set on a stage parallel to the West Side Highway, will dazzle runners and spectators with a colorful display of traditional Brazilian costumes, dancing, and capoeira. Inspired by the samba schools of Rio de Janeiro and adapted to the setting of New York City, this performance company puts on shows that offer the exhilaration of Rio Carnival. Race marshals will be distributing Toyota cheersticks all along the course to help you cheer the runners on!
West Side Highway at 40th Street
Cold Flavor Repair
This upbeat jam band will keep things rockin’ on the highway!
West Side Highway at 34th Street
NYC Act
This local band will keep runners energized.
NIKE Downtown Cheering Zone — (West Side Highway between 16th and 17th streets)
This zone will feature DJ entertainment, fresh waffles, spectator kits, and more!
West Side Highway from Christopher Street to Chambers Street
Corridors of Sound
As runners make their final push to the finish, DJs will entertain and motivate both runners and fans with a variety of NYC sounds.
Battery Park
Post-Race Festival
(8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Celebrate the finish with our main stage acts including southern jazz musician Howard Fishman, fiery Latin funk band Sir Shepard (of Radio Mundial), and the sweet sounds of Columbia recording artist Susan Cagle. We also have two other stages featuring Music Under New York musicians Lawrence D. Rush, Acappella Soul, Terraplane Blues, Nu Millennium, Theo Eastwood and more. And don’t miss the performance of select dancers from The Carpetbag Brigade. Enjoy post-race amenities including free Jamba Juice product samples, free massages provided by NIKE, the NIKE + van, and the Toyota Engines of Change experience. At 9:45 a.m., catch the awards ceremony on the main stage celebrating the top 10 male and female finishers!
Nike +
The NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE will feature enhanced results using Nike + technology. To participate:
• Click on the Nike + link on the NYRR results page.
• Enter your full name.
• See your race curve: pace, split times, finish time.
• Compare to friends and rivals.
• Learn more about Nike + and find out how to see these results for all your races.
The party continues long after the race is finished!
