NYRR Five-Borough Series to Conclude With NYRR Staten Island Half and Staten Island 5K on Sunday, October 9
New York, October 6, 2016—The NYRR Staten Island Half on Sunday, October 9, will be the final race in NYRR’s signature Five-Borough Series in 2016, and it will serve as the perfect tune-up for the TCS New York City Marathon that takes place four weeks later, featuring fabulous views of New York Harbor and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
More than 12,000 runners will participate in the event – and 1,500 runners will race the second edition of the Staten Island 5K – including professional runner Neely Gracey, who will compete in the Staten Island Half as part of her preparation for the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6.
The NYRR Staten Island Half, beginning at 8:30 a.m., will take runners on a journey down Bay Street, up the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk, and past the iconic TCS New York City Marathon start area at Fort Wadsworth before finishing on home plate at Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the Staten Island Yankees. The second edition of the Staten Island 5K will start at the same time, and at 10:30 a.m., kids ages 2 to 12 will have the chance to run around the bases during the free kids’ races.
“The NYRR Staten Island Half and Staten Island 5K celebrate all we do in the borough on a year-round basis,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “New York Road Runners is thrilled to be supporting running events and community programming in Staten Island throughout the year designed to get people of all ages and abilities moving toward a healthier lifestyle.”
Gracey, who cracked the top 10 at this year’s United Airlines NYC Half and made her 26.2-mile debut at April’s Boston Marathon, is expected to lead the pack, and she will also run part of the TCS New York City Marathon course while she’s in town.
“The NYRR Staten Island Half and 5K are tremendous races that showcase NYRR’s commitment to the individuals and community groups across the borough,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “The courses are designed to give runners some picturesque views of the spectacular city skyline while passing by the iconic TCS New York City Marathon start line. We are excited to have Neely Gracey headline the field this year just one month before she makes her debut in the world’s largest marathon.”
Staten Island has served as the starting point of the New York City Marathon since the first five-borough running in 1976, and today, NYRR offers numerous community-based initiatives. These include the free NYRR Youth Running Series and NYRR Striders walking program, as well as the NYRR Running 101 classes held at Borough Hall and Conference House Park. Both NYRR Mighty Milers and NYRR Striders have taken part in numerous events during the inaugural season of the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex. Additionally, Silver Lake and Conference House Parks host NYRR Open Runs on a weekly basis, supported by many of the local Staten Island running clubs and school teams.
The brand new Staten Island flag will be flying high at the event, featuring an allegoric female figure in yellow, standing on the borough and looking out onto the blue narrows. The Staten Island seal has been updated on the flag and includes the year Hudson discovered the borough (1609) and the year of consolidation (1898).
For more information about the NYRR Staten Island Half and kids’ races and to register, please click here. For more information about the NYRR Staten Island 5K and to register, please click here.
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.