Rockland Lake State Park, Congers NY
Sunday, October 5th, 2025
Final Instructions Email HERE sent on October 2, 2024
The Empire State Half Marathon and 5k are on the flattest and fastest road course on the East Coast: Rockland Lake State Park. In just a few laps around the lake, just north of the NJ/NY border, you'll walk away with a big shiny medal, a tech race shirt, and hopefully a shiny new personal best!
Follow us on IG: @empirestatehalfmarathon for future updates!
Please arrive before 8am to avoid paying the park admission fee!
The course is a USATF-certified loop around scenic Rockland Lake.
As shown on the Rockland Lake Half Marathon Strava Segment, the course has 135' of elevation over the 13.1 miles. The difference between its highest elevation point (170') and lowest (155') is just 15', making it a pancake flat loop.
As runners, we all have gently used trainers, tights, shorts, tech shirts, and even sports bras that are floating around our home. It's now time to put this forgotten gear to great use! One of our race participants, Ashley D., teaches and coaches at Memorial HS, a high-need Title 1 school, and anything donated will make a world of difference to one of her XC or track kids. Thank you for considering such a great cause.
There are three aid stations with both water and Gatorade along the course.
The EAP provides a complimentary entry, personal water stations, preferred baggage claim, and for some, free lodging. Please email empirestatehalfmarathon@gmail.com your running resume for consideration.
Tracksmith club duffels will be awarded to the top four men and women HM finishers, the winning masters male and female HM finisher, and the winning male and female 5k finisher.
Top 3 finishers to male/female finishers in 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
Bibs can either be picked up at Fleet Feet (Ridgewood) on Friday evening (5pm-8pm), Saturday morning (8am-noon), or at the race site on Sunday morning.
Any runner finishing both the Empire State Half Marathon and the Garden State 10 Miler (or the Empire State 5k) will receive the Empire State Challenge Medal at the conclusion of the Empire State Half.
For more information, visit the race page here.
Starting Line Map
Suggested Races