NYC Half Prices: $117 for NYRR Members

Would you pay $117 ($128 if you're not a member of NYRR) to run a half marathon?

This easily could be the most expensive road half-marathon in the continental U.S. Maybe the world. (If you've seen anything, more costly - not including some of the trail runs - holler).

I appreciate that the costs to run through Times Square on an early Sunday morning are huge. But ...

NYRR comments on why the costs are so high:

"Operating costs that significantly affect the race -- like gas, insurance, and bridge tolls -- continue to rise, which increases the cost of doing business in the world's greatest city for running. Our race fee has gone up due to these increased race operation costs and city agency fees, which are required to maintain our world-class standards in safety and quality."

It's a legitimate concern (though the last time I checked the NYC Half route didn't actually go past any tollbooths - but maybe that's next!). It's unclear here how much the elite appearance fees, or lack of a title sponsor, also affect the cost. (Personally, I'd rather this be a great half marathon to showcase the best local talent, rather than one of the many elite events NYRR puts on, though that's just me.)

Here's an alternative suggestion. Run any one of the NYRR half marathons (the Manhattan Half right now costs $25) and donate the rest to any one of the deserving local charities (City Harvest is my current choice) or the NYRR Foundation to support youth running in the city.

I've got a qualification slot to run this March, but I'm pretty sure I'll be racing elsewhere that day.

2012 NYRR Races .... and the NYC Half

Several races are now open for the January-March period on the NYRR Website including the Manhattan Half on Jan. 21.

And the NYC Half lottery opens on Dec. 5 and is open for two weeks. It'll be interesting to see how this year's version goes - and how many people are able to get in because they ran in 4 of the 5 borough half marathons (including the canceled Bronx Half.) No idea yet on the price.

Eddie Owens: 1:07:34

So, it was pretty awesome being able to scope out some of the world's top distance talent (at least, those who weren't running in Spain today). Watching Galen Rupp battle it out with Mo Farah near the 13 mile point was cool, and watching Meb, Ryan and Kara come in after was also special (even if they weren't in the front). Be interesting to see the take on how people thought they performed.

The thing that bowled me over: Some guy started screaming "Go Eddie, go Eddie" with about 0.1K to go, and I saw this guy who kind of looked like Eddie Owens sprinting past. Sure enough, it was. He finished 37th.

Wow. (Actually, what I said isn't printable, since I was completely bowled over).

(Eddie was the first Brooklyn finisher, BTW, nudging out Jorge E. Real, who's a common borough winner.).

On the women's side, Kelly Chin finished in a whopping 1:19:17, good enough for 27th overall.

NYC Half vs World X/C

Meb, Adbi, Ryan, Galen ... they are all here.

Meanwhile, there's this thing called the WORLD Cross Country Championships that's being run tomorrow as well. (Cross country continues to get no love, sigh).

Thankfully, Shalene, Lewy Boulet and Huddle are out there to represent the women (and it should be noted that Kara Goucher, one of the headliners for the NYC Half, ran the U.S. championships earlier as part of her comeback from the birth of her first child last year).

For those interested, Letsrun.com has a ton of stuff on tomorrow's race.

NYC Half Tomorrow

And it's probably going to be a cool race, especially with the talent that's supposed to show - including Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher. Men profiles and women profiles here.

You don't have to give up your Sunday run to watch either - head over one of the bridges and aim to get to the finish at West Street (just north of Chambers Street.) by 8:15. The weather should be awesome.

Meanwhile, don't forget to track your favorite runners, info is here on how to do it.

Get $5 Back From NYRR* (Note the asterisk)

*Well, if you signed up for the NYC Half, didn't get in, and live in the NYC Metropolitan area, NYRR is offering to refund the $5 application fee that you were already on the hook for. E-mail instructions will follow.

Details are here, as well as the fine print. Noted earlier by NYRR was that they wouldn't be expanding the field (well, except for Kara Goucher (given the fact she may win the race, an acceptable exception)) for the race - but if you run 4 of 5 NYRR halfs, you get eligibility for the 2012 NYC Half.

NYRR Responds to NYC Half Criticism

OK, the word "criticism" is mild here. If you don't like NYRR, you have to read the pages and pages of comments on Facebook (maybe you can bundle it into a Kindle book ...)

And here's the mea culpa.

One solution they raised: If you run 4 of the 5 half marathon races, you get guaranteed entry in 2012. That's a decent solution.

My one reponse: Tell us *now* when those races are, and don't switch the friggin' dates on us.

And please, please, have an orderly process for the Brooklyn Half application whenever the race is posted.

If Sean Haubert, director of social media for NYRR is reading this post (you can comment on NYCRuns as well), please make sure that the process is fair, timely, and people don't get closed out without warning. And feel free to comment on NYCRuns, since a forum has been established for people to vent.

NYC Half: Did You Get In?

A lot of NYC residents did not, and they are voicing their aggravation on the NYRR Facebook page today.

I'm still sifting thru stuff, though this appears to be the NYRR comment on the issue (again, this from the Facebook page, not from the main Web site. I'm not on other social media with NYRR, including Twitter, so there may be other stuff out there).

"The NYC Half is built on the model of the ING NYC Marathon. It's a world-class event that draws its field from around the world. As with the marathon, we segment the lottery into international, national, and local applicants. Understandably, local interest in the NYC Half is disproportionately high. We care deeply about you and hear your concerns, so we are building a guaranteed entry program for 2012."

The Web site says this:

"And there may be an additional opportunity to run this year—and let us stress “may be.” Don’t plan on it, don’t bank on it. If this opportunity happens, we’ll select additional runners in a second drawing on January 15, 2011."

For all the aggravation I've seen about NYRR policies and how they handle races, this is the biggest slam I've seen on Facebook (welcome to social media). Basically, the gripe is: A lot of non-NYC residents got in, a lot of NYC residents did not.

(I can't wait until the Brooklyn Half entry is posted.)

Seriously, though: NYC Half is a lottery. NYC Half is an international event that NYRR is putting a lot of resources into.

Yes, it's a fun race (I've done it once in its first year), no desire to do it again. (When you run through Times Square, there are tourists wondering what the heck is going on) Is it a destination race, i.e. a race you plan your entire season around ... ESPECIALLY if you live in New York City? (I'd argue no, though there are hundreds of Facebook posts that argue against me).

Just because NYRR calls it special, doesn't mean it is. (Sorry.) If you want to run a spring half, I promise, I'll give you a great list of fun races that don't involve a loop or two around Central Park. Long Island, New Jersey, Bear Mountain, Connecticut - halfs are everywhere. Including Brooklyn.

Let's not forget: assuming the Brooklyn race doesn't run into registration shenanigans: That's our race. That's your destination race if you're running a half marathon this spring. Don't get hung up on the hype. And I know there's a bit of hype about a possible Brooklyn Marathon? Maybe a half oughta be on the horizon first. In the fall.

Just my two cents. As always, I welcome other opinions and responses.

All this said: Congrats to those who got in to the NYC Half and best of luck.

Last Day to Sign Up for NYC Half Lottery

Nov. 15 is the last day to sign up for the NYC Half lottery being held next March (and for that matter, guaranteed entries as well).

The lottery will be held in late November.

No cancellations or transfers; the entry fee (including handling charge) is $94 for NYRR, $104 for non-NYRR members.

Fast Times at NYC Half

Don't have time to break down the Brooklyn results yet, but a quick glance at the results indicates a pretty awesome showing. A bunch of PRs hit by the people I personally know, helped by almost ideal conditions.

One disappointment: As I sprinted to the race course to see Halle ... he'd dropped out. But still great to see the finish of my first sub-1 hour half in person. (Not quite as great as the first sub-4 minute mile, but definitely up there.)

NYC Half Top Runners

If you make it out to Manhattan tomorrow morning on the cheering section, here's a look at some of the top runners for men and women ... as well as a different take from Letsrun.com (interesting in that they discuss how NYRR picks its runners.)

It'd be very cool, though may not happen, if we saw a sub-60 in the half tomorrow by Gebrselaisse (he's done it before). His course record is 59:24, done in 2007

Meanwhile, in Lisbon, a world record could be set in the half ...

NYC Half This Sunday

Sunday morning will see the NYC Half - a loop-plus of Central Park and then down the West Side into Battery Park.

NYRR will have a press conference tomorrow morning, Webcast, featuring the top runners. On Sunday, you can watch the race live on Universal Sports TV and on the Web.

Another option? Run over the Brooklyn Bridge, hang a left on Chambers, and cheer on the runners as they go by ... and then run back. (Or go over Manhattan, keep going on Canal and ... you get the picture).

NYC 2010 Half Is ...

March 21, according to the ING NY Marathon site. NYRR had indicated that its crown-jewel half would be marketed as a lead-in to the Boston and London marathons the next month. At the time, NYRR had also hinted they wanted to keep Brooklyn around a fixed date - meaning late May - though at this point that's just a guess.