Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon Expo Energizes Greenpoint Community

Brooklyn is once again gearing up for one of its most anticipated running events of the year: the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon. With the big race set for Sunday, April 26, 2026, the race weekend is already generating buzz, not just for the thousands of runners who’ll take to the streets, but for the vibrant community celebration that’s set to unfold in the heart of Greenpoint.

On February 3, 2026, organizers announced a major shift for the pre-race Expo. This year, the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse will be the new hub for over 80,000 running enthusiasts from Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25. It’s a move that’s about more than just logistics—it’s a statement about Brooklyn’s commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering a sense of neighborhood pride. As Steve Lastoe, Founding CEO of NYCRUNS, put it, “Moving the Brooklyn Experience Expo to the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse allows us to focus even more on our mission to support small businesses in Brooklyn. We’re constantly looking for ways to connect our community to all that Brooklyn’s small businesses have to offer, from visiting a unique local shop on the way to the Expo to grabbing a meal at a cozy neighborhood restaurant afterward.”

The Expo, located at 73 West Street in Greenpoint, isn’t just about picking up bibs and shirts. It’s a three-day festival where runners and their supporters can shop for exclusive Brooklyn Experience gear, check bags for race day, review the course, and mingle with local businesses and event exhibitors. The schedule is packed: doors open Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, continue Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and wrap up Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It’s the perfect lead-in to race day, with the added bonus of immersing everyone in the unique energy of North Brooklyn.

Race day itself promises a memorable journey through the borough’s most iconic sights. The half marathon kicks off at McCarren Park, right on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint—two neighborhoods synonymous with Brooklyn’s creative spirit. From there, runners will wind along the East River waterfront, passing beneath the storied arches of the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. The course then snakes through downtown Brooklyn, up the historic stretches of Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue, past the grandeur of Grand Army Plaza, before culminating in a triumphant finish at Prospect Park. It’s a route designed to showcase the very best of Brooklyn, with skyline views and bustling streets providing a backdrop that’s as inspiring as it is challenging.

The NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Launched in 2011 as the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon with just 262 finishers in Prospect Park, the event added a half marathon in 2018. By 2023, the half marathon was standing proudly on its own, and in 2025, it saw a record 24,603 runners cross the finish line—making it the third largest half marathon in the United States. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. NYCRUNS, the organization behind the race, has built a reputation as one of the nation’s premier independent race organizers, hosting about two dozen events annually and bringing together hundreds of running clubs and crews from across New York City.

But what does it take to prepare for a race of this magnitude? For many, it’s a journey filled with both setbacks and triumphs. Take Michaela Dickson, for example, who began her training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon in late 2025 with just six months to prepare. Despite a solid fitness background, Michaela found the transition to distance running anything but easy. “I started on a track and I would break down in tears because I could not finish a mile. I thought to myself, ‘How on earth are you going to do a 26-mile marathon? You can barely even run 0.7 of a mile,’” she recalled. Her initial weeks were tough—running two to three times a week, she barely managed five miles total.

Like many new runners, Michaela discovered the power of run/walk intervals. She began with seven minutes of running followed by three minutes of walking, gradually increasing her running stretches as her endurance improved. “I swear by this. It’s the best way to build your endurance. I would run for seven minutes, walk for three, run for seven, walk for three, and I could get to four miles. I thought, ‘This is amazing,’” Michaela shared. Her progress wasn’t linear, though. Injuries and illness forced her to take breaks—sharp foot pain in week six and a severe chest illness from week nine to eleven meant missed runs and reduced mileage. Still, she pressed on, completing a 17-week plan and learning the crucial lesson that sometimes, rest is as important as training.

For Michaela, signing up for the race was a game-changer. “The biggest thing was just signing up and booking the race. It’s harder to keep yourself accountable when you have no end goal,” she explained. The looming event provided the motivation she needed to keep going, even when training got tough. Race day itself was a test of pacing and perseverance. Michaela started slow, mindful of the notorious hills on the course, and avoided the rookie mistake of burning out early. She finished the race in about two hours and 46 minutes, averaging 12:30 per mile—no small feat for someone who struggled to finish a mile just months before.

Her story isn’t unique. Runners everywhere find creative ways to keep their training fresh and their spirits high. Just ask Theo Kahler, news editor at Runner’s World, who decided to shake up his marathon prep with a blindfolded long run. On a hot August morning in 2025, Theo’s friend Tom dropped him off nine miles outside Easton, Pennsylvania—blindfolded. His mission? Find his way home without GPS or outside help. The adventure took him through rural roads, past preserved open spaces and historic landmarks like the Durham Township gristmill, and along the scenic D&L Trail by the Delaware River. The run, planned for 15 miles, ended up being nearly 17, and the challenge tested not only his endurance but his sense of direction. Reflecting on the experience, Theo said, “Was it a resounding success? Debatable. But did I achieve my goal of mixing things up and discovering new roads? One hundred percent.”

Whether it’s the thrill of racing through Brooklyn’s storied neighborhoods, the personal triumph of overcoming setbacks, or the simple joy of discovering new paths, the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon is about more than just running. It’s about community, resilience, and the shared pursuit of achievement. As race weekend approaches, runners and supporters alike are ready to celebrate every step—on the course and off.