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Marathon Details - Brooklyn Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > NY > Brooklyn > Brooklyn Marathon

Brooklyn Marathon

NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon

Brooklyn, NY USA

April 24, 2022

http://www.thebrooklynmarathon.com

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2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

8 Loops Of Prospect Park Starting & Ending On The Center Drive. USATF Certification Pending

Contact Information

Name:	Steve Lastoe
Address:	26 Horatio St #8 NY, NY 10014
Phone Number:	917.482.4401
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (43)

Course 3.5

Organization 3.9

Spectators 4.1

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Number of comments: 43 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

T. G. from Brooklyn, NY (5/23/2022) "This didn't feel like a marathon.." (about: 2022) 3 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I was excited to run this marathon as I am a brooklyn resident and was prideful to take place in such a race in my borough. The marketing for this race was marathon everything. NYC runs made it known that this marathon was a massive deal. In reality? This was a half marathon and then marathoners did a down and back on ocean avenue to get to 26.2. A majority of the racers in this event were half marathoners (although their shirts and medals all said marathon, make sense, right?). The first half of the course was honestly great. If you were a marathoner, you were only running with marathoners. The second loop of prospect park was horrid. I had to finish the race along side a massive slog of walking half marathoners and people just biking in the route I guess? I felt the marathoners were an after thought. The majority half marathoners were used as funding to financially support this inaugural 'marathon' as a clout and cash grab for NYC runs.
A. H. from Brooklyn, New York (5/14/2022) "This is the Race for You...?" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 If you love the Prospect Park Hill of Death so much that you want to run it at Mile 15 and AGAIN at Mile 25 (while the half marathoners get to skip it altogether), I have found the race for you. "A cruel course" is how my friends described the elevation map. If you like not one but TWO out-and-back runs (that may be uphill both ways), I have found the race for you. If you enjoy being subjected to surprise metal detector THEATER at the start of your marathon, I have found the race for you. If you don't really need to know your times or pace, except at a few random mile markers, I have found the race for you. If, after running 26.2 miles, you have no desire to eat a bite of food or to see your family, I have found the race for you. If you want some of the most difficult miles of the race (17-22) to also be the most tedious out-and-back with the fewest spectators and least interesting landscape, I have the race for you (seriously, it's as if this was really a Half Marathon course, with the Full Marathon added on as an afterthought). And on a less snarky note: If you would appreciate a scenic tour of historic Brooklyn neighborhoods as Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights and Flatbush, before heading through a loud and enthusiastic tunnel of spectators cheering you on into beautiful Prospect Park, I have the race for you. Again, I would recommend running the Half Marathon - as more than 17,000 of the 20,000 entrants had the good sense to do. If you enjoy a big, splashy, slightly tacky medal (as I very much do), I definitely have the race for you. Bottom Line: I was excited to run Brooklyn's first full marathon whose course extended beyond Prospect Park. However, this was a very challenging course, and I think needlessly so. Did any runners look it over before it was finalized? It works much better as a half marathon, until some major changes are made. You can start by scrapping the metal detectors at the start.
M. K. from NYC (5/2/2022) "Brooklyn 2022" (about: 2022) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Brooklyn Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The 2022 New and improved version of the Brooklyn Marathon. The race run by NYCRUNS was bigger and better than ever. Of course, there were a few snags to contend with as it was the first time this organization was doing a race with this large number of runners. Brooklyn marathon has been ongoing for 10 years - in 2018 & 2019 in exited the confines of Prospect Park and ran about 10 miles on the streets surrounding the park - mainly using the old Rock & Roll Half Marathon course. In 2022 the race expanded and showcased new and interesting areas of Brooklyn. The race was combines with a Half Marathon with about 20,000 finishers between both races, about a 75/25 split Half/Full. As this was my 53rd marathon let me give you a review as best as I can recall Course: New this year was the first 10 miles through the northern areas of Brooklyn. Williamsburg, DUMBO, etc. Starting near McCarren Park and winding through the waterfront areas. Passing under the 3 East River bridges, Williamsburg, Manhattan & Brooklyn bridges with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. After passing the Brooklyn Bridge and waterfront park area runners traveled through Old Fulton Street and Fulton Street to emerge on Flatbush Avenue going towards Barclays Center and Grand Army Plaza. From there an eastward trek through the iconic Eastern Parkway and back toward Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park. One ½ loop for the Half Marathoners and a full loop for the full Marathoners (once up the big hill). From there the Full Marathoners exited the park at Grand Army Plaza and proceeded south around the park toward Ocean Parkway for a out and back loop, then back into the park for 1 more loop up the hill to the finish line. While the first half of the Full was interesting the second half has the out and back of Ocean Parkway and leaves a lot of open space. The slight problem arises for the fast runners when returning for the last 2 miles, you will encounter slow half runners blocking your way. Swag: Nice runners short sleeve runner's shirt (adidas) and big, beautiful medal for the finishers. Plenty of food after the race (bagels with cream cheese and apples, Gatorade, and water. There was some much food that as a slow runner we were given bags of bagels to take home. The finishing area in the park is a large grass field and makes it easy to find friends to bring you support. Spectators: What surprised me the most was the number of spectators cheering for the runners early in the morning. In the early stages (along the waterfront areas) there was quite a lot of spectators considering the early morning hours. When the runners arrived around the Brooklyn Bridge area the crowd stated to grow. On Flatbush Avenue and Grand Army Plaza the crowd was at least 10 deep similar to the NYC marathon. The fans in and around Prospect Park were astounding. I was greatly surprised of the amount of cheering. Brooklynites really showed up and supported. Issues: Being the first time NYCRUNS had a race this large you expect a few snags. The start area was very hectic with little direction. Being that runners had to enter a NYPD checkpoint it was a bit slow (rumors had the opening delayed until 6AM) Being that the Full Marathoners had to use Wave 1 at 7AM. I did not enter until 7:20 AM. If you are in contention for awards and prizes this can put a damper on your race. More help and signage at the staging area is needed. As for bag check it is best not to check a bag. Now the course does loop around Prospect Park so fast runners will encounter slow Half Marathoners around mile 25 near Grand Army Plaza and Full Marathoners doing their first loop around mile 24, there is clear signage that a merge of runners will occur. It would be nice if the part of the Full would avoid Ocean Parkway and make a deter around other part s of Brooklyn. Many races use Ocean Parkway as its course and it can get quite boring, though it is flat. In conclusion the race was 4/5. It has some issues but that was to be expected for a large new race. It is bound to improve with minor tweaks. It has the potential to become the spring marathon of choice in NYC area and can complement the NYC Marathon in the fall. Maybe a joint medal for completing both races. (Are you listening NYRR)
S. A. from New Jersey (4/25/2022) "Most poorly organized marathon ever!" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I have run 27 marathons and this is by far the most poorly organized one that I have ever been a part of. They have the full and half marathons finish at the same place. I ran just under 3 hours and 13 minutes and was running around a sea of slow half marathoners and full marathoners on their first loop. To put it in perspective, You had people like me running about 7 minute pace trying to get through the final 3 miles of the race having to fight through droves of people walking or jogging very slowly. I had 3 collisions and almost fell on one occasion. If this wasn't bad enough, the race cost $200 and for the first time in all of my marathons, there was no food given to me upon finishing. I then turned to the volunteers to ask where the family reunion area was to learn that there was no family reunion area! It took me over an hour and half to find my family at which time I was shivering and famished. These people have no business putting on a marathon and I feel like I was cheated on so many levels!
D. J. from New York (1/28/2020) "Company is a scam, awful customer service" (about: 2020) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Accidentally signed up for this half marathon and the service representative wouldn't refund my money after contacting them 5 minutes after my initial sign up. They go by the same name as the Popular Brooklyn Half (ran by NYRR) that is basically a better race / charity event in every aspect compared to this money making scam organization. There is a reason the Popular Brooklyn Half is much more well received compared to this scam. Couldn't believe that they wouldn't give me my money back based off an honest mistake due to some dumb 'policy'. Who doesn't refund money when there is no service being provided / is a part of a charitable event? Awful people running this event.
m. k. from NYC (10/22/2018) "No Stop till Brooklyn" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 When I first heard about this race being offered by NYCRUNS I was a little skeptical if the race was worth it. Having done a few of this groups races before on a smaller scale I was curious to see their effort on a grander scale. For Brooklyn I was greatly surprised with such a fantastic job NYCRUNS did. Course: Since this race was a combination Half Marathon and Full marathon the majority of the finishers (90%) were for the half. The course seems to be the Brooklyn Rock & Roll Half Marathon race from the past few years. The race starts by the Brooklyn Museum off of Grand Army Plaza. First through the security checkpoint of the NYPD. This was quick and simple excellent job as always by New York's Finest. From there you pass by the baggage areas seeded by the last digit of your bib number then on to your corrals. In the corrals there are plenty of port-o-potties, if you move further into the corrals there will be much smaller lines. The race started on time 7:00 AM. The first 10 miles were outside of Prospect Park with relativity flat roads along Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park and Ocean Ave. There is a turnaround around 6.5 miles that can be confusing. The first turnaround is for the marathoners and about 500 feet later is the turnaround for the Half. Not sure why the different turnarounds but the staff and volunteers do a great job in assisting the runners and the different colors of the bibs (blue for Full , orange for half) make it easy for the staff to point you out and make sure you turn at the proper location. There is one slight steep hill or on ramp from Ocean Ave to the expressway to the park. At mile 10 you enter the park and it the course gets much harder. The half marathoners will do one loop of the park then head to the finish line while the Full marathoners will do 5 loops. This entails 5 times up the long hill (about ¾ of a mile, you can see it on the course map of elevation, the down is not as long as the map shows) on the Flatbush Ave. side of the park, basically from the Pavilion to Grand Army Plaza. This is extremely challenging physically and mentally, the thought of going up the hill again and again can wear on you. You can also feel the slight grade of the road that flows to your left, which can affect your right hip. Keeping track of how many loops you have completed can be done with their rubber band trick. For someone who has done over 40 marathons I have to say this was the toughest I have done. In my opinion, it is harder than NYC (I never did Boston, though Yonkers was tough but that was due to the lack of runners) hopefully over the years the course can change to include less loops of the park and more on the streets of Brooklyn. The water stations are well stocked with both water and Gatorade and filled with cheering volunteers and staff. Swag: Though the price of the race varies by when you register it can seems to be a bit steep compared to other races. You can easily offset the costs by participating in the NYCRUNS volunteer program. If you volunteer at one of their other races you receive a $50 race credit, 3 volunteer assignments basically cover the cost of the marathon (depending on when you register) The expo at City Point in Brooklyn is an adequate size for the scale of the race. The great part is the location. It was the first time I was ever at City Point - it is off the DeKalb Ave subway stop (B, Q, and R). The place is fantastic, many shops including Traders Joe, Century 21 and Target. The best part is the food court area in the lower level. So many excellent choices to indulge your taste buds. If that does not do it for you, Junior's cheesecake is one block away, the cheesecake alone is worth the trip. The shirt is a nice short sleeve runner's shirt, same shirt for both races but the Marathon is the main highlight of the shirt (see the race logo on the website). After finishing you receive a nice winter ski pompom hat with the race logo. The after race food is abundant, fresh Brooklyn bagels (yes these are real New York bagels not factory made in a package you get at other races) with individual cream cheese, jellies, apples and bananas. For the slower runners there is so much food leftover they beg you take as much as you want. The piece de resistance for this race is the BIG finisher's medal. I have never received such a big medal (never been to Little Rock Marathon) and there are 2 different sizes for the Half and Full finishers, the full is much bigger. It does not have the spin of Miami or the clang of Philadelphia but the medal alone is worth it (unless that is not your thing). They also have awards for age groups and for doing a challenge with another one of their other half races. Other things that one might consider, travel to the start is best done by the subway. If you need to drive try parking by the southern end of the park (Prospect Park Southwest and surrounding area) closer to the finish line by 6am. You can easily get a free street parking but you need about a ½ hour walk to the start. Finisher's heat wraps were provided. The race is on a Saturday which I think is much better than Sunday. It does not take up your whole weekend I was able to finish by 11:30 am and get back home to Queens by 1 PM leaving the rest of the day to enjoy other activities. I find getting to sleep early on Friday after going to work much easier and makes me well rested for the race. With a Sunday race you always have too much nervous energy to sleep well on Saturday night. Final thoughts: This was a fantastic job done by NYCRUNS, kudos to the management, staff and volunteers. They never leave you in the dark (though you start in the dark at 7am) with the abundance of emails. I hope they can make some changes to the course over the years to make it a bit less challenging (my legs will thank you). This is a great race if you did not make it into NYC marathon since it is 2 weeks before or if you are a maniac like me you can do both and maybe stick the Suffolk Marathon on the in between weekend and do the trifecta.
E. R. from New York (12/23/2017) "Issues with time keeping" (about: 2017) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 There were apparently issues with the time keeping for the 2017 race which were not disclosed until I pressed for the 10K and half-marathon splits (results that have been reported in previous years). The organizers did not acknowledge the issue publicly and were likely attempting to sweep it under the rug...very unprofessional. Organizers were unwilling to offer any consolation or discount despite this failure on their end.
D. P. from NY (11/22/2017) "Super Marathon - Model for All" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Brooklyn Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the 2nd Year I have run the Brooklyn Marathon - my 44th since Nov 2011. Having just run the TCS NYC Marathon a few weeks earlier this did not disappoint. Brooklyn is easier going; arrive 7.30-ish for day of bib pick-up; sub-400 runners; even with cold pre-race rain the vibe was positive and everyone was friendly; Race organization is one of my favorite - super professional and all bases are covered from the start through post-race. Such a welcome experience!! Sign me up for next year!
B. K. from Ontario, Canada (1/4/2017) "Chilly, windy, hilly race" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The day was chilly, windy and the course was full of hills among late autumn trees in a beautiful Prospect Park. After each of the many loops the hills seemed to be steeper and steeper. The mile markers were posted at each and every mile which dismissed any confusion about counting remaining loops. The organisers and volunteers made this race a great event. Hot chocolate at the finish line saved me from hypothermia. Thank you, Brooklyn and New York...
S. M. from Ottawa, ON (12/20/2016) "92nd Marathon! A tough, tough race!" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Brooklyn Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did this race last year because the local people were super friendly and nice. Really, I never had a bad experience in the US and the kindness shown to me makes me want to do more races in the US. This race was tough. The winds were strong and the temperature was cool. I finished a bit slower than I expected to conserve energy during the race. I do recommend it though. The packet pick up is easy and the shirt and medal are nice. You get a towel when you finish and there was lots of food for the slower runners at the end. The pricing was a bit high but organizers do great races throughout NYC.

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T. G. from Brooklyn, NY (5/23/2022) "This didn't feel like a marathon.." (about: 2022) 3 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I was excited to run this marathon as I am a brooklyn resident and was prideful to take place in such a race in my borough. The marketing for this race was marathon everything. NYC runs made it known that this marathon was a massive deal. In reality? This was a half marathon and then marathoners did a down and back on ocean avenue to get to 26.2. A majority of the racers in this event were half marathoners (although their shirts and medals all said marathon, make sense, right?). The first half of the course was honestly great. If you were a marathoner, you were only running with marathoners. The second loop of prospect park was horrid. I had to finish the race along side a massive slog of walking half marathoners and people just biking in the route I guess? I felt the marathoners were an after thought. The majority half marathoners were used as funding to financially support this inaugural 'marathon' as a clout and cash grab for NYC runs.
A. H. from Brooklyn, New York (5/14/2022) "This is the Race for You...?" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 If you love the Prospect Park Hill of Death so much that you want to run it at Mile 15 and AGAIN at Mile 25 (while the half marathoners get to skip it altogether), I have found the race for you. "A cruel course" is how my friends described the elevation map. If you like not one but TWO out-and-back runs (that may be uphill both ways), I have found the race for you. If you enjoy being subjected to surprise metal detector THEATER at the start of your marathon, I have found the race for you. If you don't really need to know your times or pace, except at a few random mile markers, I have found the race for you. If, after running 26.2 miles, you have no desire to eat a bite of food or to see your family, I have found the race for you. If you want some of the most difficult miles of the race (17-22) to also be the most tedious out-and-back with the fewest spectators and least interesting landscape, I have the race for you (seriously, it's as if this was really a Half Marathon course, with the Full Marathon added on as an afterthought). And on a less snarky note: If you would appreciate a scenic tour of historic Brooklyn neighborhoods as Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights and Flatbush, before heading through a loud and enthusiastic tunnel of spectators cheering you on into beautiful Prospect Park, I have the race for you. Again, I would recommend running the Half Marathon - as more than 17,000 of the 20,000 entrants had the good sense to do. If you enjoy a big, splashy, slightly tacky medal (as I very much do), I definitely have the race for you. Bottom Line: I was excited to run Brooklyn's first full marathon whose course extended beyond Prospect Park. However, this was a very challenging course, and I think needlessly so. Did any runners look it over before it was finalized? It works much better as a half marathon, until some major changes are made. You can start by scrapping the metal detectors at the start.
M. K. from NYC (5/2/2022) "Brooklyn 2022" (about: 2022) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Brooklyn Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The 2022 New and improved version of the Brooklyn Marathon. The race run by NYCRUNS was bigger and better than ever. Of course, there were a few snags to contend with as it was the first time this organization was doing a race with this large number of runners. Brooklyn marathon has been ongoing for 10 years - in 2018 & 2019 in exited the confines of Prospect Park and ran about 10 miles on the streets surrounding the park - mainly using the old Rock & Roll Half Marathon course. In 2022 the race expanded and showcased new and interesting areas of Brooklyn. The race was combines with a Half Marathon with about 20,000 finishers between both races, about a 75/25 split Half/Full. As this was my 53rd marathon let me give you a review as best as I can recall Course: New this year was the first 10 miles through the northern areas of Brooklyn. Williamsburg, DUMBO, etc. Starting near McCarren Park and winding through the waterfront areas. Passing under the 3 East River bridges, Williamsburg, Manhattan & Brooklyn bridges with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. After passing the Brooklyn Bridge and waterfront park area runners traveled through Old Fulton Street and Fulton Street to emerge on Flatbush Avenue going towards Barclays Center and Grand Army Plaza. From there an eastward trek through the iconic Eastern Parkway and back toward Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park. One ½ loop for the Half Marathoners and a full loop for the full Marathoners (once up the big hill). From there the Full Marathoners exited the park at Grand Army Plaza and proceeded south around the park toward Ocean Parkway for a out and back loop, then back into the park for 1 more loop up the hill to the finish line. While the first half of the Full was interesting the second half has the out and back of Ocean Parkway and leaves a lot of open space. The slight problem arises for the fast runners when returning for the last 2 miles, you will encounter slow half runners blocking your way. Swag: Nice runners short sleeve runner's shirt (adidas) and big, beautiful medal for the finishers. Plenty of food after the race (bagels with cream cheese and apples, Gatorade, and water. There was some much food that as a slow runner we were given bags of bagels to take home. The finishing area in the park is a large grass field and makes it easy to find friends to bring you support. Spectators: What surprised me the most was the number of spectators cheering for the runners early in the morning. In the early stages (along the waterfront areas) there was quite a lot of spectators considering the early morning hours. When the runners arrived around the Brooklyn Bridge area the crowd stated to grow. On Flatbush Avenue and Grand Army Plaza the crowd was at least 10 deep similar to the NYC marathon. The fans in and around Prospect Park were astounding. I was greatly surprised of the amount of cheering. Brooklynites really showed up and supported. Issues: Being the first time NYCRUNS had a race this large you expect a few snags. The start area was very hectic with little direction. Being that runners had to enter a NYPD checkpoint it was a bit slow (rumors had the opening delayed until 6AM) Being that the Full Marathoners had to use Wave 1 at 7AM. I did not enter until 7:20 AM. If you are in contention for awards and prizes this can put a damper on your race. More help and signage at the staging area is needed. As for bag check it is best not to check a bag. Now the course does loop around Prospect Park so fast runners will encounter slow Half Marathoners around mile 25 near Grand Army Plaza and Full Marathoners doing their first loop around mile 24, there is clear signage that a merge of runners will occur. It would be nice if the part of the Full would avoid Ocean Parkway and make a deter around other part s of Brooklyn. Many races use Ocean Parkway as its course and it can get quite boring, though it is flat. In conclusion the race was 4/5. It has some issues but that was to be expected for a large new race. It is bound to improve with minor tweaks. It has the potential to become the spring marathon of choice in NYC area and can complement the NYC Marathon in the fall. Maybe a joint medal for completing both races. (Are you listening NYRR)
S. A. from New Jersey (4/25/2022) "Most poorly organized marathon ever!" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I have run 27 marathons and this is by far the most poorly organized one that I have ever been a part of. They have the full and half marathons finish at the same place. I ran just under 3 hours and 13 minutes and was running around a sea of slow half marathoners and full marathoners on their first loop. To put it in perspective, You had people like me running about 7 minute pace trying to get through the final 3 miles of the race having to fight through droves of people walking or jogging very slowly. I had 3 collisions and almost fell on one occasion. If this wasn't bad enough, the race cost $200 and for the first time in all of my marathons, there was no food given to me upon finishing. I then turned to the volunteers to ask where the family reunion area was to learn that there was no family reunion area! It took me over an hour and half to find my family at which time I was shivering and famished. These people have no business putting on a marathon and I feel like I was cheated on so many levels!
D. J. from New York (1/28/2020) "Company is a scam, awful customer service" (about: 2020) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Accidentally signed up for this half marathon and the service representative wouldn't refund my money after contacting them 5 minutes after my initial sign up. They go by the same name as the Popular Brooklyn Half (ran by NYRR) that is basically a better race / charity event in every aspect compared to this money making scam organization. There is a reason the Popular Brooklyn Half is much more well received compared to this scam. Couldn't believe that they wouldn't give me my money back based off an honest mistake due to some dumb 'policy'. Who doesn't refund money when there is no service being provided / is a part of a charitable event? Awful people running this event.
m. k. from NYC (10/22/2018) "No Stop till Brooklyn" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 When I first heard about this race being offered by NYCRUNS I was a little skeptical if the race was worth it. Having done a few of this groups races before on a smaller scale I was curious to see their effort on a grander scale. For Brooklyn I was greatly surprised with such a fantastic job NYCRUNS did. Course: Since this race was a combination Half Marathon and Full marathon the majority of the finishers (90%) were for the half. The course seems to be the Brooklyn Rock & Roll Half Marathon race from the past few years. The race starts by the Brooklyn Museum off of Grand Army Plaza. First through the security checkpoint of the NYPD. This was quick and simple excellent job as always by New York's Finest. From there you pass by the baggage areas seeded by the last digit of your bib number then on to your corrals. In the corrals there are plenty of port-o-potties, if you move further into the corrals there will be much smaller lines. The race started on time 7:00 AM. The first 10 miles were outside of Prospect Park with relativity flat roads along Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park and Ocean Ave. There is a turnaround around 6.5 miles that can be confusing. The first turnaround is for the marathoners and about 500 feet later is the turnaround for the Half. Not sure why the different turnarounds but the staff and volunteers do a great job in assisting the runners and the different colors of the bibs (blue for Full , orange for half) make it easy for the staff to point you out and make sure you turn at the proper location. There is one slight steep hill or on ramp from Ocean Ave to the expressway to the park. At mile 10 you enter the park and it the course gets much harder. The half marathoners will do one loop of the park then head to the finish line while the Full marathoners will do 5 loops. This entails 5 times up the long hill (about ¾ of a mile, you can see it on the course map of elevation, the down is not as long as the map shows) on the Flatbush Ave. side of the park, basically from the Pavilion to Grand Army Plaza. This is extremely challenging physically and mentally, the thought of going up the hill again and again can wear on you. You can also feel the slight grade of the road that flows to your left, which can affect your right hip. Keeping track of how many loops you have completed can be done with their rubber band trick. For someone who has done over 40 marathons I have to say this was the toughest I have done. In my opinion, it is harder than NYC (I never did Boston, though Yonkers was tough but that was due to the lack of runners) hopefully over the years the course can change to include less loops of the park and more on the streets of Brooklyn. The water stations are well stocked with both water and Gatorade and filled with cheering volunteers and staff. Swag: Though the price of the race varies by when you register it can seems to be a bit steep compared to other races. You can easily offset the costs by participating in the NYCRUNS volunteer program. If you volunteer at one of their other races you receive a $50 race credit, 3 volunteer assignments basically cover the cost of the marathon (depending on when you register) The expo at City Point in Brooklyn is an adequate size for the scale of the race. The great part is the location. It was the first time I was ever at City Point - it is off the DeKalb Ave subway stop (B, Q, and R). The place is fantastic, many shops including Traders Joe, Century 21 and Target. The best part is the food court area in the lower level. So many excellent choices to indulge your taste buds. If that does not do it for you, Junior's cheesecake is one block away, the cheesecake alone is worth the trip. The shirt is a nice short sleeve runner's shirt, same shirt for both races but the Marathon is the main highlight of the shirt (see the race logo on the website). After finishing you receive a nice winter ski pompom hat with the race logo. The after race food is abundant, fresh Brooklyn bagels (yes these are real New York bagels not factory made in a package you get at other races) with individual cream cheese, jellies, apples and bananas. For the slower runners there is so much food leftover they beg you take as much as you want. The piece de resistance for this race is the BIG finisher's medal. I have never received such a big medal (never been to Little Rock Marathon) and there are 2 different sizes for the Half and Full finishers, the full is much bigger. It does not have the spin of Miami or the clang of Philadelphia but the medal alone is worth it (unless that is not your thing). They also have awards for age groups and for doing a challenge with another one of their other half races. Other things that one might consider, travel to the start is best done by the subway. If you need to drive try parking by the southern end of the park (Prospect Park Southwest and surrounding area) closer to the finish line by 6am. You can easily get a free street parking but you need about a ½ hour walk to the start. Finisher's heat wraps were provided. The race is on a Saturday which I think is much better than Sunday. It does not take up your whole weekend I was able to finish by 11:30 am and get back home to Queens by 1 PM leaving the rest of the day to enjoy other activities. I find getting to sleep early on Friday after going to work much easier and makes me well rested for the race. With a Sunday race you always have too much nervous energy to sleep well on Saturday night. Final thoughts: This was a fantastic job done by NYCRUNS, kudos to the management, staff and volunteers. They never leave you in the dark (though you start in the dark at 7am) with the abundance of emails. I hope they can make some changes to the course over the years to make it a bit less challenging (my legs will thank you). This is a great race if you did not make it into NYC marathon since it is 2 weeks before or if you are a maniac like me you can do both and maybe stick the Suffolk Marathon on the in between weekend and do the trifecta.
E. R. from New York (12/23/2017) "Issues with time keeping" (about: 2017) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 There were apparently issues with the time keeping for the 2017 race which were not disclosed until I pressed for the 10K and half-marathon splits (results that have been reported in previous years). The organizers did not acknowledge the issue publicly and were likely attempting to sweep it under the rug...very unprofessional. Organizers were unwilling to offer any consolation or discount despite this failure on their end.
D. P. from NY (11/22/2017) "Super Marathon - Model for All" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Brooklyn Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the 2nd Year I have run the Brooklyn Marathon - my 44th since Nov 2011. Having just run the TCS NYC Marathon a few weeks earlier this did not disappoint. Brooklyn is easier going; arrive 7.30-ish for day of bib pick-up; sub-400 runners; even with cold pre-race rain the vibe was positive and everyone was friendly; Race organization is one of my favorite - super professional and all bases are covered from the start through post-race. Such a welcome experience!! Sign me up for next year!
B. K. from Ontario, Canada (1/4/2017) "Chilly, windy, hilly race" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Brooklyn Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The day was chilly, windy and the course was full of hills among late autumn trees in a beautiful Prospect Park. After each of the many loops the hills seemed to be steeper and steeper. The mile markers were posted at each and every mile which dismissed any confusion about counting remaining loops. The organisers and volunteers made this race a great event. Hot chocolate at the finish line saved me from hypothermia. Thank you, Brooklyn and New York...
S. M. from Ottawa, ON (12/20/2016) "92nd Marathon! A tough, tough race!" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Brooklyn Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did this race last year because the local people were super friendly and nice. Really, I never had a bad experience in the US and the kindness shown to me makes me want to do more races in the US. This race was tough. The winds were strong and the temperature was cool. I finished a bit slower than I expected to conserve energy during the race. I do recommend it though. The packet pick up is easy and the shirt and medal are nice. You get a towel when you finish and there was lots of food for the slower runners at the end. The pricing was a bit high but organizers do great races throughout NYC.

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Marathon Details - Brooklyn Marathon