Youth Race Procedures

Pickup starts the week before your child’s race. You’ll receive a reminder email before the start of pickup. Your child’s race number will be assigned on demand at pickup.

You have a unique QR code associated with your NYRR account, which you should use to pick up your child’s race number. If you have children associated with your NYRR account, their unique QR codes are available in your dashboard.

At pickup, an NYRR runner services representative will scan your code to associate your NYRR account with your race number.

You can print the QR code or show it on your mobile device.

We strongly recommend you pick up your child’s race number before race day at the NYRR RUNCENTER located at 320 West 57th Street (between Eighth and Ninth avenues) to avoid race-day lines. For dates and times, please refer to the event pages. You may send a friend to pick up your child's number either with your QR code (this is the faster option) or using your child’s full name and birth date.

If you pick up your child’s race number before race day, please arrive on site at the race at least 30 minutes before the race start, so you have time to check your child’s bag or leave it with a friend or family member, use the toilets if needed, and walk your child to the start corral at least 10 minutes before the start.

If you are not able to pick up your child’s number at the NYRR RUNCENTER before race day, you may pick it up at the race location on race morning. Check the race page for race-day pickup location and hours. Please arrive at least 90 minutes prior to the start of the race to pick up your child’s race materials; this way you'll avoid long lines and have time to also check your child’s bag or leave it with a friend or family member, use the toilets if needed, and get in your start corral at least 10 minutes before the start.

When you pick up your child’s race number, an NYRR runner services representative will place a sticker with your child’s lettered corral assignment on the bib.

On race day, we recommend arriving on site at Race Day Central before the race start time. This is where you can pick up your child’s bib (if you haven’t already picked it up from the RUNCenter) and your child’s participant souvenir and receive race-day information and directions. Please tear off the child claim tag from the bottom of your child’s bib before bringing them to the staging area. Staging will begin 30 minutes before the start of your child’s race.

Parents/Guardians may run with children ages 2-4 only. All other parents/guardians can cheer along the course! After your child crosses the finish line, head to the Family Reunion area to pick up your child with the child claim tag.

For any reason a child needs any special accommodation, please notify the NYRR staff at registration.

If you need to check a bag, please see an NYRR staff member at the youth bag check location. Items will be placed in a clear bag and a sticker with the child’s bib number will be affixed to the bag. If your child is part of a team, large clear bags will be provided for teams to share, with a sticker affixed with the team’s information.

Race numbers start with a letter that indicates the stage your child is participating in and the corral.

Stage 3: Corral Letters A, B, C & D (Ages 12-18)
These are assigned based on the time submitted at registration. All participants in this stage start their race at the same time, regardless of corral assignments.

Stage 2: Corral Letters E (Ages 14-18), F (Ages 12-13), G (Ages 10-11) & H (Ages 8-9)
These are assigned based on age. Participants in this stage may be split into waves, with the oldest group running first. Please refer to the schedule of events on the race pages.

Stage 1: Corral Letter I (Ages 2-11)
These are assigned based on age. Participants in this stage run various distances in groups, with the youngest group running first. Please refer to the schedule of events on the race pages.

Staging will begin 30 minutes before the start of your child’s race. Your child should be in their corral 10 minutes prior to the start of their race.

Stage 3
Stage 3 participants are staged before the start line by their corral assignment. Personnel with signs indicating the corral letter will ensure that your child is in the correct staging area.

Stage 2
Stage 2 participants are staged before the start line by their corral assignment. Personnel with signs indicating the corral letter will ensure that your child is in the correct staging area.

Stage 1
Stage 1 participants are staged according to their age. Personnel with signs indicating the age group staging area will ensure that all participants are in the correct staging area.

All youth participants under the age of 14 will be supervised in the Family Reunion area after the race finish line. This is a secure area in which young athletes can wait for their parents or guardians under full NYRR staff supervision. Please communicate with your child that you will meet them at Family Reunion right after they finish their race. NYRR is only responsible for youth participants while they are in the staging, course, finish, and post-finish areas.

All youth participants aged 14-18 have an “Express Exit” after they finish their race and are not required to wait in the Family Reunion area for a parent or guardian. Stickers placed on bibs for children aged 14-18 indicate to NYRR staff that they may leave the finish area without a parent or guardian presenting their child claim tag. If the sticker does not get added to the bib, the sticker can be requested.

Public (Non-Program Participants)
Parents or guardians of non-program participants must present a child claim tag to have their child released from the Family Reunion area. This tag is located at the bottom of your child’s bib. Carefully tear off the child claim tag and keep it secure during your child’s race. The child claim tag matches your child’s bib number. We will release your child to you when you present the child claim tag to designated NYRR Family Reunion area staff.

Program Participants
All program participants will be picked up from the Family Reunion area by their coach or a chaperone. Coaches and chaperones will show a Family Reunion wristband that is designated to each team. This wristband is provided at the registration table.

The following items are prohibited from all NYRR events and race venues:

• Camelbaks® and any type of hydration backpack/vest (Fuel belts and hand-held water bottles are allowed, but nothing that is worn over the shoulders.)
• Containers of liquid larger than one liter
• Backpacks, suitcases, rolling bags, or any other similar bags other than the official NYRR clear bag check bag
• Scooters and bikes
• Weight vests and any vests with multiple pockets, especially those that can be used as a water reservoir
• Selfie-sticks and any camera mount or rig that isn’t attached directly to the head or torso
• Opaque trash bags and any non-transparent plastic bags (Clear trash bags are allowed.)
• Costumes that cover the face and any bulky outfits that extend beyond the perimeter of the body (Form-fitting outfits are allowed)
• Props, including flag poles, sporting equipment, military and fire gear, and signs larger than 11”x17”
• A weapon of any kind, including firearms, knives, Mace, etc.
• Dangerous items or “dual-use” items that could be considered dangerous, including hammers, saws, sharp objects, umbrellas, poles, sticks, etc.
• Flammable liquids, aerosols, fuels, fireworks, toxic chemicals, and explosives
• Large packages, coolers, tents, and lean-tos
• Duvets, sleeping bags, and large blankets or comforters
• Unmanned aerial devices, drones, survey balloons, photography mini-copters, and any flying device with an on/off switch
• Animals or pets (If you are a person with a disability, please contact nyrrawdteam@nyrr.org)
• Folding chairs, camp chairs, and tables of any kind
• Glass containers
• Chemical compounds, or biological agents that could be considered toxic