Runners Can Now Corral With Their Own Crew Utilizing Technology Developed on the Organization’s Cutting-Edge Digital Platform
Over 25,000 Runners Will Take to the Streets of Brooklyn in One of the Largest Half Marathon’s in the Nation on April 26
Brooklyn, NYC (February 12, 2026) – NYCRUNS, the Brooklyn-based, runner-centric race organizer that produces two dozen races annually, has introduced Run With Friends, a groundbreaking new feature for participants at their flagship race, the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon on Sunday, April 26.
“Runners have wanted to start with their friends at big races that have multiple wave starts for years,” said Steve Lastoe, Founding CEO of NYCRUNS. “This process has involved customer service, rebibbing and other hassles for runners. We’ve answered the call with our proprietary technology platform, which gives us the unique ability to provide runners with features other events can’t offer. With a simple click, our runners can now gather with their crew pre-race and start their journey together, which creates the best running experience possible.”
Run With Friends allows participants to create their own start groups of up to ten (10) people by sharing a unique link with their friends, including both registered and soon to be registered runners. The NYCRUNS technology platform seamlessly manages the entire process which is made available to participants immediately upon registration. Run With Friends groups are assigned to the same start wave and corral, ensuring that they can all enter the Pre-Race Start Area, line up in their corrals, and start the race together.
At most large races with tens of thousands of participants, runners are assigned to separate waves with different start times to allow for an even flow of runners and avoid overcrowding on the course. Runners normally have no control over their wave assignment and thus end up spread out from their friends and training partners. At last year’s NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon, runners were split into four (4) waves, each separated into seven (7) corral zones to allow for an even flow throughout the race.
The NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon begins at McCarren Park, bordering two of Brooklyn’s hottest neighborhoods, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. The one-of-a-kind course winds around the East River waterfront under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges, providing runners with eye popping views of the Manhattan skyline. From there, the route heads through downtown, up the historic concourses of Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue then past Grand Army Plaza before a celebratory finish in Prospect Park.
Launched in 2011 as the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon in Prospect Park with 262 finishers, the half marathon was added in 2018. The event became a standalone half marathon event in 2023. In 2025, an event record 24,603 runners finished the race, making it the third largest half marathon in the nation.
Check here for more details on Run With Friends.