New York, October 15, 2015—The runner application for the 2016 United Airlines NYC Half is now open, and runners may apply through Thursday, December 3, on nyrr.org. The race, which will be the opening event of the 2016 NYRR Five-Borough Series, will take place on Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Manhattan.

Applicants can visit the official 2016 United Airlines NYC Half race page at unitedairlinesnychalf.nyrr.org to apply. The applicant drawing will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2015.

Runners can currently guarantee their spot in the 2016 United Airlines NYC Half by signing up to run with NYRR Team for Kids on runwithtfk.org. Team for Kids is a committed group of adult runners from around the world who add meaning to their miles by raising funds for NYRR’s free youth running programs. NYRR Team for Kids runners receive half-marathon training plans, expert coaching, fundraising resources and support, and more.

“We are excited to open the entry application for the 2016 United Airlines NYC Half,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and the race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “The 2015 United Airlines NYC Half was a classic, from the first-ever NYRR Times Square Kids’ Run to pro runner Molly Huddle becoming the first American winner in race history. We look forward to once again giving runners throughout the five boroughs and beyond a 13.1-mile tour of many of the marvels of Manhattan—from Central Park, through Times Square, to the South Street Seaport.”

“We are thrilled to begin the journey with our runners to the 2016 United Airlines NYC Half,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “We welcome back United Airlines as the title sponsor of the event, and along with a host of other partners, our staff and volunteers, we look forward to welcoming thousands of runners from around the world as they take on the streets of Manhattan in NYRR’s signature half-marathon.” 

The 2016 United Airlines NYC Half will once again feature a world-class field of American and international professional athletes, thousands of charity and recreational runners, over 1,500 volunteers, and tens of thousands of spectators. In 2015, the race featured 19,454 finishers from the United States and 67 countries around the globe.

Now in its second year, the NYRR Times Square Kids’ Run at the United Airlines NYC Half will provide a thousand youth runners from New York City’s five boroughs and beyond the opportunity to participate in a 1500-meter race through Times Square alongside the race field. Registration for the Kids’ Run will open at a later date.

The 2016 United Airlines NYC Half will be televised live on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tri-state area.

For more information about the 2016 United Airlines NYC Half, and to apply, visit the official race page at unitedairlinesnychalf.nyrr.org.

About the United Airlines NYC Half

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. The United Airlines NYC Half is NYRR’s signature half-marathon, and the opening event of the NYRR Five-Borough Series. The race features a world-class field of American and international professional athletes, thousands of charity recreational runners, over 1,500 volunteers, and tens of thousands of spectators. The event offers the quintessential New York experience—a 13.1-mile tour of the Big Apple like no other—from the rolling hills of Central Park, up to Harlem, down through Times Square, along the Hudson River waterfront, to a finish in lower Manhattan. United Airlines, New York area's largest airline, is the title sponsor of the United Airlines NYC Half and an NYRR foundation partner. To learn more, visit nyrr.og. 

Contacts:

NYRR Media Relations
Chris Weiller: (o) 212.320.4046 (c) 917.816.7900 (e) cweiller@nyrr.org
Lauren Doll: (o) 212.423.2271 (c) 347.931.1232 (e) ldoll@nyrr.org