3 min readIf you were one of the millions watching the 2025 New York City Marathon from the streets of the Big Apple or the comfort of your couch, you may he now caught the marathon bug. You鈥檙e itching to get out on a marathon course like the over 50,000 runners who conquered 26.2 in NYC on Sunday, and you鈥檙e giddy just thinking about what it would feel like to cross the finish line in Central Park.
Well, there鈥檚 definitely plenty of you who he marathon fever post-NYC, because our story on how to qualify for the 2026 NYC Marathon has gained a ton of attention. You may already be dreaming of taking the ferry over to Staten Island next November, and planning out how you want to train for the distance (and we he a whole collection of marathon resources to help you do that).
But even though the New York City Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world (and just had a record breaking 59,226 athletes finish the race this year), it鈥檚 also one of the hardest marathons to get into with an extremely selective process. For the 2025 event, over 200,000 runners eagerly submitted their name for the non-guaranteed lottery drawing, and only 2 to 3 percent of them actually earned an entry.
However, you could potentially snag a coveted spot on the starting line in Staten Island with a time qualifier鈥揳nd not even one from a marathon. Runners can go down in distance to tackle a fast half marathon and potentially earn their way into the NYC Marathon.
So, how does it work? Runners can participate in any of the five NYRR half marathons on the calendar鈥搕he Fred Lebow Manhattan Half, NYC Half, Women鈥檚 Half-Marathon, Brooklyn Half, and Staten Island Half鈥揳nd if they meet the specified qualifying time for their age group, they can earn a guaranteed entry into the NYC Marathon. The qualifying window runs from January through December 31, so those interested in taking a shot at the half marathon in 2026 could gain entry into the 2027 NYC Marathon. To see what time you would need to chase, consult the standards chart in our NYC Marathon qualifying guide.
But running a quick half marathon isn鈥檛 as simple as showing up on race day. To hit a time standard, you鈥檒l need a training regimen that not only hones in on your endurance as a runner, but also works on your speed, power, and strength.
That鈥檚 where we come in. You can chase after the NYC Marathon time standard at a NYRR half next year with the help of one of our half marathon training plans and our expert-led How to Master the Half Marathon guide. With plans specifically designed for helping you break 1:30, 1:45, and 2:00, we can guide you toward your age group time standard with confidence. Plus, our in-depth half marathon program provides you with all the resources you鈥檒l need to attack both your training schedule and race day, from nailing workouts to developing a winning fueling strategy.
Half Marathon Plans
Break 1:30 Half Marathon
Break 1:45 Half Marathon
Break 2 Hours Half MarathonAnd the best part? You still he plenty of time to develop your 13.1-mile speed before the 2026 racing season commences. Beginners can benefit from a longer, 20-week training plan to gradually build up your intensity, and more experienced runners can work on establishing a base now before rolling into their half marathon goal plan.
Ready to put those NYC hopes into action? Start training now for a quick NYRR half marathon to put yourself in a good position for a 2027 NYC Marathon time qualifier. To learn the other ways you could earn an entry for the 2026 race, head over to our NYC Marathon entry guide for all the information you need. And to continue chasing your biggest goals in running, whether it be racing a marathon or conquering a 5K, join the Runner鈥檚 World+ community for exclusive access to our expert-driven programs, stories, and more.
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Ashley TysiacEditor, Content HypeAshley is Editor of Content Hype at Hearst鈥檚 Enthusiast & Wellness Group. She is a former collegiate runner at UNC Asheville where she studied mass communication. Ashley loves all things running; she has raced two marathons, plus has covered some of the sport鈥檚 top events in her career, including the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials and multiple World Marathon Majors.