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
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
67°
Typical Low
45°
Chance of Rain
32%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Yorktown Hts 1w, 11 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Congers, NY
Elevation
154 ft
Nearest Airport
HPN
Westchester County Airport · 13 mi
Major Hub
LGA
LaGuardia Airport · 26 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Empire State Half Marathon & 5k, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
118
Days to train
- Race
- Empire State Half Marathon & 5k
- Date
- October 4, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near Congers, NY
Sri Chinmoy Sunset Half-Marathon
Half Marathon
Less than a mile away
Sri Chinmoy Midnight Marathon
Marathon
Less than a mile away
The 39th Annual Women's Distance Festival 5K
5K
Less than a mile away
Sri Chinmoy Marathon
Marathon
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Empire State Half Marathon & 5k?
- Empire State Half Marathon & 5k is a running race held in Congers, New York on October 4, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Empire State Half Marathon & 5k?
- Sunday, October 4, 2026 in Congers, New York at Rockland Lake State Park, Congers, NY. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Empire State Half Marathon & 5k?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Empire State Half Marathon & 5k
Oct 4, 2026