NYC's Next Major Marathon Will Be In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — A new 26.2-mile race will join the New York City Marathon on the streets of the Big Apple next year, according to organizers.

The Brooklyn Marathon has gotten the go-ahead to expand its current Prospect Park race to the streets of the borough, making it the only other major marathon aside from the massive New York City Marathon to be allowed in the city, organizers confirmed Wednesday.

The new course will have racers snake through North Brooklyn, along the Brooklyn waterfront, through Prospect Park and down to Coney Island in April 2022.

The group that runs the marathon, NYC RUNS, has been pushing for the expanded course for a decade. The current Brooklyn Marathon has runners race circles around Prospect Park.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the future of the race than we are now, and we know runners from New York City and across the world are going to love the new race route,” NYC RUNS CEO Steve Lastoe said. “This is the race we promised New York City over 10 years ago, and we think it’s going to play a huge role in tourism and in supporting local non-profits and small businesses.”

The Brooklyn news comes weeks after officials announced the New York City Marathon would make a 2021 return after being canceled during the coronavirus crisis. The inter-borough race will include 33,000 runners this year, down from its usual 50,000.

City officials said the Brooklyn race will also mark an important moment in the Big Apple's recovery from the pandemic.

“As we build a recovery for all of us, we look forward to seeing the excitement of camaraderie and personal achievement that the Brooklyn Marathon and Half Marathon will bring to new corridors, while supporting local businesses and uplifting neighborhoods throughout the borough,” said Lorraine Grillo, Senior Advisor for Recovery for the City of New York.

Permitting for The Brooklyn Marathon is still being finalized, as is the details of the route, organizers said.

The current map will have runners start at McCarren Park in Williamsburg before heading to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, through DUMBO, toward Grand Army Plaza and to Prospect Park, where half marathon runners will finish the race. Full marathon runners will continue to Coney Island before looping back and returning to Brooklyn's Backyard.

"It’s an epic tour de force of Brooklyn like none before," organizers said.

Registration for the April 24 race opens on July 1.

Racers can sign up here to receive emails from NYC RUNS and a reminder when registration opens.