Record Field of Over 10,000 Runs Sold-Out NYRR Staten Island Half Marathon

A field of more than 10,000 athletes lined up for the sold-out NYRR Staten Island Half, a premier autumn event for New York Road Runners and a crucial tune-up for the TCS New York City Marathon.

The day’s festivities also included nearly 200 children, ages 2 to 11, who took part in Rising NYRR races at SIUH Community Park, home of the Staten Island FerryHawks.

The 13.1-mile course highlights Staten Island’s waterfront, offering sweeping views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. The route winds past historic Fort Wadsworth and through several borough parks before concluding on Bay Street.

Notable participants included Staten Island native and television personality Vinny Guadagnino, tackling the course in his home borough for a second time, alongside Pedro Mendez of the Goldfinger Track Club.

The race also spotlighted members of the 2026 Team Inspire, a cohort honored for their compelling personal journeys.

Among them is 80-year-old Mildred Baker of the Bronx. After joining the NYRR Striders program for older adults in her late 70s, Baker completed her first half marathon at the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half and is now training for her first full marathon.

Staten Island resident Julianna Mangano, 26, also ran in memory of her cousin and best friend, who suffered a fatal cardiac event during a routine run. The tragedy inspired Mangano to pursue a career as a professional sports athletic trainer and EMT; she ran to “finish the run that he never got to finish.”

Serving as the final NYRR-hosted race before marathon week and the capstone of the Five-Borough Series, the Staten Island Half provides thousands a vital final fitness test ahead of the TCS New York City Marathon.

Beyond race day, the event underscores NYRR’s year-round community presence on Staten Island through initiatives like NYRR Open Runs and NYRR Striders. The organization reports over 1,100 members reside on the island, while more than 4,700 local students participate in Rising New York Road Runners programs.

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