Empire State Half Marathon
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Empire State Half Marathon & 5k
The event takes place at Rockland Lake State Park in Congers, NY on October 4, 2026. It includes a half marathon and a 5k, plus combined challenge options that pair the Empire State races with each other or with the Garden State 10.
Distances
- Half Marathon 13.1 miles
- 5k 3.1 miles
- Combined challenge options including half plus 5k and half plus Garden State 10
The course is a USATF certified loop around Rockland Lake. The recorded course profile shows 135 feet of total elevation; the highest point is 170 feet and the lowest is 155 feet, producing a very small elevation range. There are three aid stations on course supplying water and Gatorade.
Awards and prizes include five year age group medals for both the half marathon and the 5k, age groups from 19 and under through 70 plus, and a team prize structure. Prize money for individual top finishers and masters was listed for the 2025 season, with cash awards for the top three places and a team award for top teams. Half marathon age group winners receive ice cream from a local truck after the race.
An Elite Athlete Program offers complimentary entry, personal water stations, preferred baggage handling, and in some cases lodging. Bib pickup is available at Road Runner Sports in Paramus on the Friday evening and Saturday morning prior to race day, and at the race site on Sunday morning. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
