THE BROOKLYN MARATHON— “THE BEST LITTLE BIGCITY RACE”

According to the 2015 Running USA Annual Marathon Report, there were no less than 509,000 marathon finishers in the United States over last year who completed typically 26.2-mile circuits spread out over no fewer than 1,100 race events. (The largest, incidentally, is our own New York Marathon, with more than 49,000 runners usually completing the race.) One of the newest is also one we call our own: now in its sixth year, the Brooklyn Marathon, a USATF-certified Boston Qualifying course that starts and ends on Center Drive and comprises six main loops and three lower loops of Prospect Park, has sold out its 500 slots every year (entrance fee is $95) and was named “Marathon of the Year” in 2012 by the endurance athlete site Travlete.

“We think of it as the best little big city race in America,” offered marathon organizers NYCRuns. Founded in 2009 by “career middle-of-the-packer” Steve Lastoe, NYCRuns’s newletter became an important resource for local runners seeking information about races and running clubs in the metropolitan area. The organization is now the leading local online resource of its type—a valuable tool for connecting runners, running clubs, and race directors. In 2011, it began offering race timing and management services while launching several races of its own, culminating in the first Brooklyn Marathon on November 18th of that year.

Official time limit of the November 20 event is six hours, “but as a rule of thumb, the last thing we unplug is the finish line mat,” offered event promoters. Awards and cash prizes will be presented to the top three female and male runners ($250 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third). Additional awards will be given to the top three female and male finishers in each incremental 10-year age group. For all finishing runners, hot chocolate, bagels, fresh fruit, and other goodies will make up the post-race spread.

Brooklyn Marathon
nycruns.com