The Bay Ridge Half Marathon!

The Less Popular Brooklyn Half Marathon is a deliberate antidote to the city's mega-races: a smaller, looped half marathon along the Shore Road Promenade in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It starts and finishes at the American Veterans Memorial Pier, with a spectator-friendly multi-loop course and fluid stations roughly every mile. The setting is the waterfront itself — a breath-taking stretch of promenade with views across the harbor.

Despite the self-deprecating name, this is no novelty jog. The race draws a median field of about 27,000 finishers, with recent editions nearing 28,300, and runners travel from roughly 47 states to toe the line. Loyalty runs deep: about 40% of participants come back in later years, a repeat rate that speaks to the race's enduring appeal. The course is flat and fast — the typical winning time hovers around 64:30 — making it a legitimate PR opportunity.

Race morning is refreshingly low-key: bib pickup at the starting line from 6:15 to 7:30 a.m., baggage check at the pier, and an 8:00 a.m. start. It's a race for those who want the Brooklyn Half experience without the crush of the masses — a more wholesome, waterfront alternative that has quietly built a devoted following.