Time Qualifiers for NYRR Marquee Races

NYRR provides an entry method into select races for athletes who have met exceptional time standards at previous half and full marathons. Please read below for information on NYRR’s Time Qualifier Process for our three marquee events with race drawings (the United Airlines NYC Half, the RBC Brooklyn Half, and the TCS New York City Marathon).

Qualifying Windows

The qualifying window for athletes to run a race and achieve their qualifying time will vary for each marquee event. The exact window will be specified on the event page. Only qualifying times run within the specified window for each event will be accepted.

Typically, the qualifying windows for the United Airlines NYC Half and the RBC Brooklyn Half span from January 1 to the opening of the event’s application period. The qualifying window for the TCS New York City Marathon will span the entire previous calendar year (January 1 – December 31).

NYRR Time Qualifiers

NYRR offers non-complimentary guaranteed entry to any athlete who meets the time qualifying standards at an in-person NYRR marathon or half marathon within the qualifying window.

Claiming an NYRR Time Qualifier Guaranteed Entry

Times achieved at NYRR races will automatically be included in the athlete’s NYRR dashboard. During the drawing application window for an event, athletes who have achieved an NYRR Time Qualifier will be notified of their guaranteed entry and invited to claim entry. The guaranteed entry must be claimed during the application window.

Non-NYRR Time Qualifiers

Important Note: 2024 will be the last year NYRR will accept both half marathon and full marathon Non-NYRR qualifying times for all three marquee events. Starting in 2025, the United Airlines NYC Half and the RBC Brooklyn Half will only accept qualifying half marathon times, and the TCS New York City Marathon will only accept qualifying full marathon times.

NYRR offers a limited number of entries to athletes who meet the time qualifying standards at a certified half marathon or full marathon race that is not held by NYRR. 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.

Applying for a Non-NYRR Time Qualifier Entry

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.

The exact dates for the Non-NYRR Time Qualifier application window will be specified on each marquee event page on the NYRR website. Typically, applications for the Non-NYRR Time Qualifier entries will be accepted during the first week of the drawing application window of that event.

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. Those who are not accepted will be moved into the non-guaranteed general entry drawing for another chance to be accepted into the race.

Additional Criteria for Non-NYRR Time Qualifier Entries

• Qualifying times (chip time) must be run at an event that has a certified half marathon or full marathon course. Race courses must be certified by USA Track and Field, Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), World Athletics, or a national governing body for distance running for the country in which the race is held. To check if a race is certified, please contact the event you are intending to compete in directly.
• Times from indoor marathons, virtual marathons, half marathon results from a full marathon, triathlons, and any other distances will not be considered for qualifying purposes.
• All qualifying times must be verifiable through the race’s results page.

Qualifying Time Standards

Important Note: For the 2024 marquee races where NYRR will accept both half and full marathon qualifying times from non-NYRR races, NYRR will convert all times to the equivalent 10K pace for comparison to determine the fastest times in each age and gender category. The conversion formula can be found here. 

The qualifying times below are based upon each athlete's age on the date of the marquee event they are applying for. Athletes must meet the time standards which correspond to their age and gender category to apply for a Non-NYRR Time Qualifier entry.

The gender category that your results are posted under for the qualifying race will determine the gender category standards you must meet to earn a guaranteed entry.

• For Non-NYRR races, the policy remains that if you were unable to register as a Non-Binary athlete for your qualifying race, you may apply for a Non-NYRR Time Qualifier entry as Non-Binary and must meet the Non-Binary standards.
• If you change your gender category in your NYRR profile after your qualifying results are posted, you must meet both the standards of the gender category you have switched your profile to, as well as the standards of the gender category your results are posted under.
• For more information on NYRR’s policy and instructions on changing the gender category in your NYRR profile, please click here.

Men’s Standards

Women's Standards

Non-Binary Standards