Empire State Half Marathon & 5k
- Date
- October 4, 2026
- Distance
- Empire State Half Marathon · Empire State 5k · Empire State Challenge (HM & 5k) & more
From the Organizer
The Empire State Half Marathon and 5k are on the flattest and fastest road course on the East Coast: Rockland Lake State Park In just a few laps around the lake, just north of the NJ/NY border, you'll walk away with a big shiny medal, a tech race shirt, and hopefully a shiny new personal best!
Follow us on IG: @empirestatehalfmarathon for future updates!
Please arrive before 8am to avoid paying the park admission fee!
Race Schedule
8:00am - 5k Start
8:45am - HM Elite Introductions
9:00am - Half Marathon Start
9:15am - 5k Awards Available
10:00am - Beer Garden Opens
11:15am - Half Marathon Awards Available
Course
The course is a USATF-certified loop around scenic Rockland Lake.
Course Profile
As shown on the Rockland Lake Half Marathon Strava Segment, the course has 135' of elevation over the 13.1 miles. The difference between its highest elevation point (170') and lowest (155') is just 15', making it a pancake flat loop.
Fueling Stations
There are three aid stations with both water and Gatorade along the course.
Elite Athlete Program (EAP)
The EAP provides a complimentary entry, personal water stations, preferred baggage claim, and for some, free lodging. Please email empirestatehalfmarathon@gmail.com your running resume for consideration.
NEW for 2025:
Individual Prize Structure
$500 - Top M/F and top M/F Masters
$300 - 2nd M/F and 2nd M/F Master
$200 - 3rd M/F and 3rd M/F Master
Team Prize Structure
$500 - Top M/F Teams (3/Team)
HM and 5k Medals: 5 Year Age Groups
Top 3 finishers to male/female finishers in 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
HM AG Winners win ice cream from the Sweet Guy Ice Cream Truck
Bib Pickup
Bibs can either be picked up at Road Runner Sports (Paramus) on Friday evening (5pm-7pm), Saturday morning (10am-1), or at the race site on Sunday morning.
Empire State Challenge Medal
Any runner finishing both the Empire State Half Marathon and the Garden State 10 Miler (or the Empire State 5k) will receive the Empire State Challenge Medal at the conclusion of the Empire State Half.
Lodging
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Nanuet (425 NY-59, Nanuet, NY 10954): 845-623-6000
Element Spring Valley (90 Spring Valley Market Place, Spring Valley, NY 10977): 845-694-8200
Hilton Garden Inn (270 W Route 9, Nanuet, NY 10954): 845-623-0600
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
From Endurance Grid's Founder
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More running races in NY
2026 Teal Ribbon Run / Walk - Hope for Heather
5K · 10K
5th Annual Miles For Meag 5K Trail Run/Walk & We Are Loved Kids Run
Youth
175 Years of Moving Forward 5K
5K
Steph's Run 5k
5K
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Empire State Half Marathon & 5k?
- Empire State Half Marathon & 5k is a running event held in Congers, NY. Learn more about the different endurance sports here.
- When and where is the Empire State Half Marathon & 5k?
- Sunday, October 4, 2026 in Congers, NY at Rockland Lake State Park, Congers, NY. Check the official event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Empire State Half Marathon & 5k?
- Registration is handled through their official registration page. Confirm pricing, distances available, and sign up there.
Empire State Half Marathon & 5k
Oct 4, 2026