Empire State Half Marathon & 5k
Sun, Oct 4, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT
- Type
- Run
Finish signup on the organizer site (check fees and dates there).
Race feel
Chase your personal best on the East Coast's flattest and fastest USATF-certified course around scenic Rockland Lake.
- Scenic
- Competitive
Scenic
CompetitiveLace up for the Empire State Half Marathon and 5k, featuring one of the East Coast's flattest and fastest road courses. This USATF-certified loop around scenic Rockland Lake in Congers, NY, offers an ideal setting for chasing a new personal best. Runners can expect a well-supported experience with aid stations, a tech race shirt, and a finisher's medal. Competitive athletes will appreciate the Elite Athlete Program and significant prize money across individual and team categories. Celebrate your achievement with post-race refreshments.
What to expect
- Run a pancake-flat, USATF-certified loop around picturesque Rockland Lake.
- Benefit from three aid stations with water and Gatorade, plus a tech race shirt and finisher's medal.
- Compete for cash prizes, age group awards, and an Elite Athlete Program.
Past race snapshot
What the field usually feels like
A plain-English read from past public results. It is helpful context, not a prediction.
Crowd
Comfortable field
185 Half Marathon finishers in 2024. A manageable crowd with enough runners for company on course.
Typical finish
1:48:10
Think middle-of-the-pack, using chip time when available.
Competitive feel
Lively front
The faster end moves well, but the race still has room for everyday runners. Front-group read: 1:12:13.
People mix
More men
About 43% women and 57% men among finishers who listed gender.
Quick read
For the Half Marathon in 2024, this looks like a comfortable field: 185 finishers are represented here. A middle-of-the-pack finish was around 1:48:10. The quicker front of the field averaged about 1:12:13. Use it as a feel check, not a promise about race day.
Where runners came from
Aggregated city counts only. Small groups stay hidden in public views.
New York, NY
Travel draw
Brooklyn, NY
Travel draw
Mamaroneck, NY
Travel draw
Hastings On Hudson, NY
Travel draw
Stony Point, NY
Travel draw
Award clues
Historic placement clues only. Race-day awards can use different rules.
Female Overall
Top 4 (from posted divisions)
Male Overall
Top 4 (from posted divisions)
Female 19 & Under
Top 3 (from posted divisions)
Female 20 - 29
Top 3 (from posted divisions)
Female 30 - 39
Top 3 (from posted divisions)
Show the year-by-year numbers
| Distance | Year | Finishers | Typical | Average | Front 10% | Fastest M / W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Marathon | 2024 | 185 | 1:48:10 | 1:52:37 | 1:12:13 | 1:05:49 / 1:19:41 |
Last summary update: May 2, 2026
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+
Food & Drink
Shirt