Starting the Decade on the Right Foot at the Midnight Run
The 2020s started with energy aplenty for the 5,190 finishers of the NYRR Midnight Run, as runners of all ages and abilities kicked off the new decade with four miles through Central Park. Along with the locals who participate in the race annually as well as those who signed up on a whim, many tourists in town for the holiday joined the festivities.
Many of the participants—and their families and friends—spent the final couple of hours of 2019 enjoying pre-race festivities including music and dancing. Everyone headed to the start line for the traditional countdown to midnight.
The race began along with about 15 minutes of fireworks and plenty of bell-ringing and horn-blowing. The runners’ glow armbands and the bright yellow participant shirts worn by many amped up the celebratory spirit. Spectators along the route joined in the fun, shouting "Happy New Year!" and offering high fives to runners who passed. Sparkling cider at the 2-mile marker kept spirits bubbly.
In a special feature this year, every runner’s bib number was 2020—but each bib was still individualized, and the race was fully timed and scored, so you can check out complete results here. Kevin Moore came all the way from County Tipperary, Ireland, to win the men's open division in 19:46. Eilish McColgan of Great Britain won the women's open race in 20:50. And Mary Cain, who made running headlines in 2019, took second in the women's open division in 21:46 to start off a new decade with a bang.
Congratulations to all finishers on your first four miles of 2020!
Finishers, if you haven’t already done so, sign up now for the free NYRR Resolution Run 5K and make your Midnight Run result count twice!
Didn’t do the Midnight Run? You can still sign up for the Resolution Run and complete 5K (3.1 miles) anytime, anywhere by January 12. You'll become part of a global community of thousands of people united by their love of fitness in 2020!
No matter how you spent New Year's Eve, remember that your chance to apply for the drawing to run the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon (or claim guaranteed entry) is less than a month away! The application will be open from January 30 through February 13.