Fisher to make his long-awaited half marathon and New York Road Runners
race debut
Full United Airlines NYC Half professional field announced next month
New York, Jan. 22, 2026 –New York Road Runners (NYRR),the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, has recruited two-time Olympic medalist and world record holder in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters Grant Fisher to headline the United Airlines NYC Half taking place Sunday, March 15.
As the world’s premier half marathon and the largest in the U.S. with a record-breaking 28,709 finishers in 2025, the United Airlines NYC Half takes runners on a 13.1-mile park-to-park tour of New York City, starting in Prospect Park in Brooklyn and ending in Central Park. For the second year in a row, the course will take athletes across the Brooklyn Bridge—the only race in history to do so—before passing Grand Central Terminal and running through Times Square—one of two times the Crossroads of the World is closed to traffic.
Leading the nearly 29,000 athletes will be Fisher, a three-time U.S. national champion and one of the country’s most dominant and versatile distance athletes. In 2025, Fisher showcased his incredible range to become only the second man in history—and first American—to achieve the distance running trifecta, running a sub-3:50 mile, sub-13:00 5,000 meters, and sub-27:00 10,000 meters. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he had a historic performance, winning double bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters as the first American man to medal in both events at the same Olympics.
Known for his excellence on the track, Fisher will make his highly anticipated half marathonandNew York Road Runners racing debut at the United Airlines NYC Half. Fisher is no stranger to success in New York City—last February he broke the indoor 3,000 meters world record at the Millrose Games, running 7:23.14. He also set the American men’s 2-mile record there in 2024 with a time of 8:03.62, and at the 2019 Millrose Games, while in college, he broke the NCAA indoor 3,000 meters record in 7:42.62, which stood for three years.
Six days after setting the indoor 3,000 meters world record in February 2025, Fisher rewrote history again, running 12:44.09 to shatter the long-standing indoor 5,000 meters world record that was untouched since 2004. The United Airlines NYC Half will be the first road race in Fisher’s professional career.
“I love challenging myself and seeing what’s possible, so I’m thrilled to make my half marathon debut at the United Airlines NYC Half,” said Fisher. “New York has always been a special place for me, and after breaking records here on the track, I can’t wait to experience the city from a new perspective on the roads.”
First run in 2006, the NYC Half has been one of New York Road Runners’ most popular races, attracting athletes from around the world for the One to Run. United Airlines will serve as both the exclusive title partner and exclusive airline partner of the United Airlines NYC Half for the 10th year, activating on race day and during pre-race festivities at the all-new United Airlines NYC Half Expo Presented by New Balance, which has a new home at the iconic Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
In addition to adults, 1,500 kids ages 2 to 18 will run shoulder-to-shoulder with the professional athletes in free races and dashes at the Times Square Kids Run. The Times Square Kids Run is one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners youth events the nonprofit hosts throughout the year, including the TCS New York City Marathon Kids Kickoff, its marquee event featuring 2,500 youth from across the five boroughs.
The full professional athlete field for the United Airlines NYC Half will be announced in February.
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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.