New York, May 15, 2017—An expected 27,000 runners will take to the streets of Brooklyn at the 2017 Airbnb Brooklyn Half, the largest half-marathon in the United States, which returns on Saturday, May 20. That day will also see hundreds of youth runners compete in the third-annual one-mile NYRR Youth Boardwalk Run at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half at the world-famous Coney Island boardwalk. To kick off the weekend’s festivities, beginning Wednesday, May 17, the Airbnb Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance will open to the public for a free, three-day celebration with music, food, and programming at Pier 2, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

“The Airbnb Brooklyn Half is a 13.1-mile celebration of the unique spirit of Brooklyn—from Prospect Park to the Coney Island boardwalk,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “Together with our partners at Airbnb, TCS, and New Balance, we've developed the race into a multi-day festival for the community, featuring the Airbnb Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance leading up to race day and concluding with hundreds of smiles on the faces of the kids participating in the NYRR Youth Boardwalk Run.” 

“We continue to grow the nation’s largest half-marathon in one of the city’s most popular boroughs,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events at New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “The 37th running of the Airbnb Brooklyn Half showcases the event's growth over the last decade. With an iconic course, a revolutionary pre-race party concept, a one-of-a-kind youth race, and finish line celebration on the famed Coney Island Boardwalk, the Airbnb Brooklyn Half is a spectacular kick-off to the summer season.   The overwhelming support of the Brooklyn community and our city agency partners has allowed us to develop and produce an event that has become a model for races around the world.”

The Airbnb Brooklyn Half will take runners on a 13.1-mile journey through the unique and diverse neighborhoods of Brooklyn. The race will begin at the Brooklyn Museum, pass the scenic Grand Army Plaza, and run through Prospect Park and along Ocean Parkway to the finish line on the Coney Island boardwalk.

NYRR Team for Kids, New York Road Runners’ adult fundraising running team, will welcome more than 3,000 participants—its largest-ever field of runners at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half—to this year’s race. Team for Kids runners race in support of NYRR’s free youth running programs, events, and resources that support more than 215,000 youth in New York City and across the country.

NYRR Youth Boardwalk Run

The third-annual NYRR Youth Boardwalk Run at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half will feature an expected 1,000 high school, middle school, and elementary school students, 700 of whom are from NYRR’s youth programs. Youth racers will take on a one-mile out-and-back course along the celebrated Coney Island boardwalk and cross the Airbnb Brooklyn Half finish line.

Defending Champions Return

Ethiopian Ayele Megersa Feisa and American Caroline LeFrak will both return in an attempt to defend their Airbnb Brooklyn Half titles, while Megan Hogan will look to reclaim the top spot on the podium after winning the race in 2015. Additionally, two-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier Melissa Salerno will be making her half-marathon debut and Columbia University products Brendan Martin and Caroline Williams will add depth to the field.

The 2017 Airbnb Brooklyn Half will feature a men’s and women’s seeded athlete program comprised of talented elite runners and NYRR members. Runners will vie for an $8,000 prize purse, including a $1,000 first-place prize to the top male and female open finishers.

Airbnb Hosts Brooklyn

The world's largest home sharing company, Airbnb, is the Official Community Hospitality Partner of New York Road Runners and the title sponsor of the largest half-marathon in the United States. Airbnb has 15,000 hosts in Brooklyn, who have welcomed over 565,000 travelers to the borough. Airbnb continues to build stronger ties to the Brooklyn community by using its platform to show how home sharing enriches neighborhoods and provides a local lens on what makes Brooklyn a great place to live, work, and visit.

Ahead of the race Airbnb will be setting up shop in Brooklyn Bridge Park for the Airbnb Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance, where they’ll give a sneak peek at their brand-new Airbnbmag. They’ll be handing them out at their Airbnb newsstand, where runners can also find fun giveaways and essentials like sunscreen and yoga mats. Airbnb will also offer their BK Stoop photo booth, giving runners the opportunity to capture their excitement!

New Balance Celebrates Brooklyn  

New Balance returns for the fifth year as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the Airbnb Brooklyn Half. New Balance is a new NYRR Foundation Partner, and the brand remains the presenting sponsor of the Pre-Party, which has become an annual kickoff to summer in the borough. This celebratory, free, three-day event will take place at Pier 2, Brooklyn Bridge Park, on May 17-19, inviting runners, family, friends, and the public to experience the energy and diversity of Brooklyn. Students from PS234K will be participating in the NYRR Youth Boardwalk Run and will receive New Balance shoes through the 1 for You 1 for Youth* initiative. The 1 for You 1 for Youth initiative, a joint effort between New Balance and NYRR, donates a pair of shoes to NYRR youth running programs for every pair sold at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the NB Run Hub.

The Pre-Party will serve as much more than the main hub for race material pickup, and will be filled with celebrations of hospitality, local food, and live musical performances. Various local food vendors and trucks will be on site, including Red Hook Lobster, Toum, and Hill Country BBQ, among others. Anheuser Busch will offer Michelob ULTRA in addition to other beverages. Live musical performances will take place each evening.

The Airbnb Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance will feature official New Balance branded merchandise, including the Fresh Foam 1080 v7 Brooklyn running shoe, a signature borough singlet, cotton lifestyle apparel, and the latest technical gear from the spring 2017 footwear and apparel collection. Activities at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance will include an interactive graffiti wall and free local coffee by Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

TCS Powers Brooklyn

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the year-round Premier Partner of New York Road Runners, will leverage technology to aid runners with their race-day strategies at the NYRR Running Lab. NYRR coaches will walk runners through a mile-by-mile course strategy session—powered by TCS—while the NYRR Race Predictor will take a runner’s data, including training paces and recent race times, to calculate the best strategy and predicted finish time. Pace bands will also be available to help keep runners on track throughout the race. Nutrition information for products available on the course will be provided in this space.

Post-Race Festivities

After the race, runners can celebrate their finish at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half After-Party with classic Coney Island fare, including hot dogs, beer, and entertainment at MCU Park (home of the Brooklyn Cyclones).

Runners and their friends and family can also be among the first to experience Kitchen 21, a new multi-concept restaurant located on the Coney Island boardwalk at 21st Street, during their grand opening event on Saturday, May 20. Kitchen 21 will offer 21 percent off your check, in addition to a coupon for 21 percent off your next visit (excludes alcohol) to all race participants (must show race bib) and their guests.

Media interested in applying for credentials to cover the 2017 Airbnb Brooklyn half can email Stuart Lieberman at slieberman@nyrr.org with their coverage plans.

*1 FOR YOU 1 FOR YOUTH DISCLOSURE: For every pair of athletic shoes sold to a customer at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the NB Run Hub in New York City, New Balance shall donate a pair of new athletic shoes to New York Road Runners, a 501(c)(3) public charity, for the benefit of a New York Road Runners supported youth program, up to a maximum value of $500,000 based on New Balance’s then current wholesale pricing. This Promotion shall run from December 12, 2016 to December 31, 2017. For more information about New York Road Runners visit nyrr.org.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit nyrr.org.