A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 NYC Central

A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 NYC Central is held in New York, New York, on December 26, 2026. Four distances start at 7:30 a.m., released in waves at set times: the half marathon (13.1 miles), the 10K, the 5K and a family one-mile fun run. Runners and walkers of all levels are welcome, and each entry brings a race shirt, a finisher medal and a digital training kit delivered to your home.

The wave format matters if you plan to walk part of the distance, because it removes the pressure of a mass start and lets you settle into your own rhythm from the first minute. On that basis the half is achievable as a run-walk over 13.1 miles, provided you have practiced the alternation in training rather than improvising it on the day. Pure runners will find the 10K the better hard effort, and the one-mile run keeps younger family members involved.