How to Gain Entry Into the United Airlines NYC Half

Runners who do not have guaranteed entry to the race have the opportunity to enter the non-guaranteed entry drawing application period in Fall 2024. The dates for the application period and drawing will be announced later this year.

The entries available to non-guaranteed applicants will be filled through three drawings, one in each of the following applicant pools:

1. "NYC metro area” applicants: Residents in and within 60 miles of New York City
2. "National” applicants: U.S. residents outside of the NYC metro area, including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories
3. “International” applicants: Non-U.S. residents

Please note: Handcycle and push-rim applicants should apply to the non-guaranteed entry drawing.

Current members of New York Road Runners who meet the eligibility criteria below and apply to the non-guaranteed general entry drawing will automatically be entered into the NYRR Member-Only Second Chance Drawing for the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half.

Eligibility: To be eligible, your membership must be active the day before the drawing application opens, and remain active through the United Airlines NYC Half drawing day. All NYRR members who meet these requirements will automatically be included in the Member-Only Second Chance Drawing.

Selection: Following the general entry drawing, all eligible NYRR members who were not selected for entry will be placed in the Member-Only Second Chance Drawing, which will occur the same day. Members who are selected in the Second-Chance Drawing will be informed via email of their selection before the end of the day after both drawings have concluded.

Second-Chance Drawing winners will NOT be automatically charged and registered into the race. Instead, they can expect to receive an invitation code via email within a week of the drawing. This invitation code is specific to the NYRR account it is sent to and cannot be transferred between athletes.

Members selected through the Member-Only Second Chance Drawing are responsible for claiming their entry, registering for the race through the race page, and paying the entry fee. They will see “Not Accepted” in their dashboard until they finalize their entry by accepting the invitation code and paying the entry fee.

Selected members will be given a specific deadline to register through the event page and pay their entry fee. Member-Only Second Chance Drawing entries not claimed by the deadline will be forfeited.

Eligibility for entry to the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half will be guaranteed for NYRR members who complete four qualifying events in 2024 and have an active membership by the last qualifying event of the 2024 4 Out of 6 program (the NYRR Staten Island Half on October 13, 2024).

The following races in 2024 will count toward 4 Out of 6 program qualification for the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half (Please note all dates are pending permit approval and subject to change):

• NYRR Manhattan 10K (February 4)
• Virtual United Airlines NYC Half Medal (March 9 - 17)
• United Airlines NYC Half (March 17)
• Virtual RBC Brooklyn Half Medal (May 11 - 19)
• RBC Brooklyn Half (May 18)
• Citizens Queens 10K (June 15)
• New Balance Bronx 10 Mile (September 22)
• NYRR Staten Island Half (October 13)

Entrants (except as otherwise noted below) who canceled their entry for the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half by following the published instructions will have guaranteed non-complimentary entry to the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half.

In order to claim guaranteed entry, runners must register and pay the 2025 processing and entry fees during the guaranteed entry claim window. Guaranteed entries not submitted during this time period are forfeited.

Please note: Runners who earn guaranteed entry to the 2025 race because they canceled in 2024 cannot cancel a second time (in 2025) and become eligible for guaranteed entry in 2026.

Runners who finished the 2024 Virtual United Airlines NYC Half at the Run for Guaranteed Entry tier, subject to the official rules, will be eligible to claim guaranteed non-complimentary entry to the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half during the guaranteed entry claim window.

The 2025 United Airlines NYC Half charity program offers guaranteed entry to runners who pledge to raise funds for one of the event's official charity partners, including NYRR's Team for Kids.

Join Team for Kids to get guaranteed entry, expert coaching, and the opportunity to help keep kids healthy and fit.

A full list of charity partners will be available on the day of the non-guaranteed entry drawing.

Guaranteed entry with the purchase of a “Half-Marathon Travel Package” is available through an official NYRR ITO in your home country. International runners who reside in countries that do not have an existing ITO may purchase a 2025 United Airlines NYC Half travel package from any participating ITO. A list of official ITOs will be posted on our International Tour Operators page in the October of 2024.

An entrant who has purchased a “Half-Marathon Travel Package” with our official ITO and wishes to withdraw from the race must contact their ITO directly. Those who withdraw will not receive guaranteed entry into the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half or subsequent editions of the United Airlines NYC Half.

Runners who met qualifying time standards on any certified half-marathon or marathon course during the qualifying window are also eligible for guaranteed non-complimentary entry.

NYRR Time Qualifiers

Runners who achieved qualifying times at the following NYRR in-person races will automatically receive guaranteed entry to the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half.

• 2023 TCS New York City Marathon
• 2024 Fred Lebow Half Marathon
• 2024 United Airlines NYC Half
• 2024 REAL Simple Women’s Half Marathon
• 2024 RBC Brooklyn Half
• 2024 Staten Island Half

These runners are eligible to claim their guaranteed non-complimentary entry to the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half during the guaranteed entry claim window.

Non-NYRR Time Qualifiers

NYRR offers a limited number of entries to the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half to athletes who meet the time qualifying standards at a certified half marathon race that is not held by NYRR during the qualifying window (a full calendar year prior to the application). All athletes who meet the time qualifying standards are invited to apply, however submission of a qualifying time does not guarantee entry. Should the number of applications exceed the number of spots available, entry will only be granted to the fastest of each age and gender category. Those who do not meet the cut-off for their age and gender category will be placed into the non-guaranteed general entry drawing.

The application window for Non-NYRR Time Qualifiers will be announced at a later date. When applying for a Non-NYRR Time Qualifier entry, athletes must submit the name of the race they qualified at, the net (chip) time they achieved, and the URL for their results which NYRR can use to verify the qualifying time.

Once the application period for Non-NYRR Time Qualifier entries has closed, NYRR will review the applications submitted. If the number of applications exceeds the number of spots available, entry will be granted to the applicants in each age and gender category with the fastest qualifying times. Those accepted will have their credit card charged and will be notified of their acceptance via email before the drawing takes place. Those who are not accepted will be moved into the non-guaranteed general entry drawing for another chance to be accepted into the race.

Visit Time Qualifiers for NYRR Marquee Races for Qualifying Time Standards and more information.

Eligibility for entry to the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half will be guaranteed for NYRR members who complete four qualifying events in 2025 and have an active membership by the last qualifying event of the 2025 4 Out of 6 program (the NYRR Staten Island Half - date TBD).

The following races in 2025 will count toward 4 Out of 6 program qualification for the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half (Please note all dates are pending permit approval and subject to change):

• NYRR Manhattan 10K (February 2)
• Virtual United Airlines NYC Half Medal (TBD)
• United Airlines NYC Half (March 16)
• Virtual RBC Brooklyn Half Medal (TBD)
• RBC Brooklyn Half (May 17)
• Citizens Queens 10K (June 14)
• New Balance Bronx 10 Mile (September 14)
• NYRR Staten Island Half (October 12)