It was a celebration at the finish line as thousands of runners finished what they started.

“It meant so much, it meant my first run without my run partner who suddenly passed away, it meant the return to me running,” participant Christopher Lawrence said. “Me starting a new career, me just trying to get back to the swing of things.”

What You Need To Know

 
  • The 13.1-mile run kicks off at the Brooklyn Museum, goes through Prospect Park and finishes at the Coney Island boardwalk

  • Saturday's run, put on by New York Road Runners, is marketed as the “Brooklyn Half,” while the other is hosted by the Brooklyn-based organization NYCRuns, and called the “Brooklyn Half Marathon"
  • NYRR is suing NYCRuns for having a similar name to their event. The lawsuit states that NYCRuns is “misleading consumers and capitalizing on the goodwill in the Brooklyn Half"

  • NYRR has expanded opportunities for younger participants to get involved, with children as young as two invited to join in at mile 12

“I don’t run a half marathon, my wife said why don’t we run Brooklyn Half, I said ok, let’s do it, it’s been unbelievable,” Luca Grigoletto, another participant, said.

The race, put on by New York Road Runners, is a 13.1-mile tour of Brooklyn, kicking off at the Brooklyn Museum.

Runners paced themselves to make their way around Grand Army Plaza to Prospect Park, where the course is more uphill. They then head along Ocean Parkway, before wrapping up the race on the Coney Island boardwalk.

Organizers say the event is a staple in the community and has been for more than 40 years. Recently, there’s been some controversy over dueling half marathons with similar names.

Saturday’s event is marketed as the “Brooklyn Half,” while the other is hosted by the Brooklyn-based organization NYCRuns and called the “Brooklyn Half Marathon.”

New York Road Runners is suing NYCRuns. In the lawsuit, NYRR claims NYCRuns is “misleading consumers and capitalizing on the goodwill in the Brooklyn Half.”

“There’s a lot of confusion out there. A lot of people don’t know which Brooklyn Half they’re signing up for when they sign up for this other one. So that’s why we filed that lawsuit. We think it’s great that there’s another half marathon in Brooklyn. We just want to make sure people know which race they’re signing up for when they sign up for the Brooklyn Half,” Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of the NYRR, said.

Some participants in Saturday’s half marathon, which is part of a series of NYRR races, will qualify for the New York City Marathon in November. Some hit the pavement representing Brooklyn-based running clubs, like Brooklyn Track Club.

The New York Road Runners have also expanded opportunities for younger participants to get involved. Children as young as two are invited to join in at Mile 12.