World AIDS Marathon

The World AIDS Marathon, Half, 10K & 5K takes over the Rockaway Beach Playground on December 1 — World AIDS Day — for a morning that mixes grit, remembrance, and ocean air. The out-and-back course runs along the Rockaway peninsula's beachfront, a flat, paved stretch where the Atlantic stays in view and the wind off the water is a constant companion. With a 10 a.m. start and rain-or-shine attitude, it's a race that feels less like a production and more like a gathering of purpose.

Now in its fourth edition, the event draws a steady field — enough to fill the boardwalk with energy but small enough to feel like a community. The half marathon is the centerpiece, though the marathon, 10K, and 5K share the morning, giving runners of all distances a chance to toe the line for the same cause. The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, which organizes the race, sends a team to Kenya days later, extending the mission beyond the finish line.

Every finisher receives a dryfit t-shirt painted by a Kenyan artist, paired with a matching medal — a tangible link between the Rockaways and the communities the race supports. It's a low-key, high-heart event where the reward is both the run and the reason.