This More® Magazine/Fitness® Magazine Women's Half-Marathon is the largest women’s half-marathon in the country. The course is tough—two laps of Central Park adds up to a lot of hills—so some long-race experience and hill training are advisable.  Fast runners will appreciate the women-only format, which lets them truly lead the race without being surrounded by male runners.  The time limit for the race is four hours.
 
The start is on West Drive near 63rd Street. You’ll complete two full counter-clockwise loops of the park, after which you’ll start a third loop and turn left onto the 72nd Street Transverse just past the 13-mile mark.  The finish line is at the easternmost entrance to the Naumburg Bandshell.  Major uphills are at approximately 1.5, 3.5, 4.5, 7, 9.5, and 10.5 miles.
 
There are three full aid stations (with both water and Gatorade), each of which you’ll pass twice.  Their locations are:
 

• On the east side of the 72nd Street Transverse, just past Miles 1, 7, and 13

• Near West 67th Street, just before Miles 6 and 12

• At the northern end of the park near 110th Street, just past the Lasker Skating Rink (on your right), at about 3.5 and 9.5 miles (Be careful at this one; your rhythm can be broken by grabbing a drink, and this station is right before the course’s toughest climb.)

Two additional stations providing water only are near West 73rd Street and East 92nd Street.
 
Post-finish, you’ll be treated to live music, a sponsor pavilion, an awards ceremony with celebrity hosts, and refreshments.
Travel
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