New York City half marathon returns Sunday after pandemic pause
NEW YORK -- Sunday, New York City is welcoming back the half marathon after a pandemic pause.
The race was last held in 2019. A year later, the United Airlines NYC Half was among the first events to be canceled because of COVID.
New York Road Runners says this year's race will operate at 100% capacity with 25,000 half-marathoners and 1,000 youth runners.
The race began at 7 a.m. in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, as runners make their way to Times Square and then Central Park. The race is the only event, outside of the New Year's Eve celebration, that closes Times Square to traffic.
Traffic advisories and street closures are in effect at the NYPD's discretion in the following areas:
Brooklyn Portion:
- East Lake Drive between Ocean Avenue and East Drive
- East Drive between East Lake Drive and Grand Army Plaza
- Hill Drive between East Drive and Well House Drive
- Well House Drive between Hill Drive and West Drive
- South Lake Drive between West Drive and Park Circle
- West Drive between South Lake Drive and Center Drive
- Center Drive between West Drive and East Drive
- Flatbush Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue Extension
- Grand Army Plaza Oval
- Flatbush Avenue Extension between Flatbush Avenue and Nassau Street
Manhattan Portion:
- Manhattan Bridge Upper Level (Manhattan-bound)
- Canal Street between Chrystie Street and Allen Street
- Allen Street between Canal Street and Division Street
- Pike Street between Division Street and Cherry Street
- Pike Slip between Cherry Street and South Street
- South Street between Pike Slip and Montgomery Street
- Montgomery Street FDR Entrance Ramp
- FDR Drive (Northbound) between Montgomery Street and 42ndStreet
- 42nd Street FDR Exit Ramp
- 42nd Street between FDR Drive and 7th Avenue
- 7th Avenue between 42nd Street and 59th Street
- West 44th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 5th Avenue
- Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 60th Street
- East Drive between Grand Army Plaza and Terrace Drive
- Terrace Drive between East Drive and West Drive
- West Drive between Terrace Drive and 7th Avenue
- 67th Street between Central Park West and West Drive
- Center Drive between West Drive and 6th Avenue
- Columbus Circle (Entire Circle)
- Central Park West between Columbus Circle and 69th Street