This spring, Brooklyn kinda turned into the unofficial home of running. Two big half marathons happened just weeks apart — and honestly, it felt like the whole borough was out there either running, cheering, or just soaking it all in. Whether you’re a runner or not, you could feel the buzz in the air. Between the famous RBC Brooklyn Half and the growing NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half, it was a big moment for fitness, community, and NYC pride.
The RBC Brooklyn Half: Big Crowds, Big Vibes
So, the RBC Brooklyn Half went down on Saturday, May 17. It’s organized by the New York Road Runners (NYRR), and if you didn’t know — it’s actually one of the biggest half marathons in the entire U.S. Over 28,000 people showed up to run this year. That’s wild, right? People flew in from all over, laced up, and hit the streets of Brooklyn for 13.1 miles of pure energy.
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The race kicked off near the Brooklyn Museum
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Runners passed spots like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park
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Then they cruised down Ocean Parkway and finished on the Coney Island boardwalk
The finish line was a whole vibe — crowds cheering, music, and that salty ocean breeze in the air. Kinda gave you chills even if you were just watching.
There were different start waves too — the first group took off at 7:00 AM, and the last started at 8:15 AM. Runners had to show up early, like 75 minutes ahead, to check in and warm up. That early morning energy? Totally worth it once things got going.
A Surprise Runner Everyone Was Talking About
You probably know Alan Bersten from Dancing With the Stars. Well, this year, he ran his very first half marathon — and yep, it was the RBC Brooklyn Half. He wasn’t just running for fun though. He did it to raise money for Team for Kids, which is a NYRR program that helps kids in NYC stay active and healthy through school-based fitness.
Honestly, seeing someone like him out there — pushing through just like everybody else — kind of made it all feel even more inspiring. Just goes to show these events are about way more than fast times.
NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half: The Warm-Up Act That Stole the Show
A few weeks before the RBC race, Brooklyn hosted another one — the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half on April 27. And this one? It had a record number of finishers. Over 24,000 people crossed that finish line. That’s huge. It kind of proves how running in the city is blowing up right now.
The course started near McCarren Park in Williamsburg and wrapped up in Prospect Park. But what made this race really cool was the route itself. Runners went through all kinds of iconic neighborhoods — DUMBO, Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn — a mix of trendy, historic, and just straight-up beautiful. If you’ve ever wanted to see Brooklyn from a new angle, this run gave you the perfect excuse.
Want to See How You or Your Friends Did?
If you ran in either of these races — or you’re just curious to see how someone did — the results are easy to find:
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For the RBC Brooklyn Half, check out the NYRR website.
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For NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half, their event page has all the times.
