Editing Openai/696162c9-5a7c-800e-8493-3f65605fbb14


{{DISPLAYTITLE:NYC Half Marathon Elevation}}

''This conversation was exported from ChatGPT''<ref>{{cite web|title=NYC Half Marathon Elevation|url=https://chatgpt.com/share/696162c9-5a7c-800e-8493-3f65605fbb14|publisher=ChatGPT|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

== gpt-5-2 ==
=== User: NYC Half marathon over the Brooklyn Bridge this year. ===
NYC Half marathon over the Brooklyn Bridge this year. How "Flat" is this run?

=== Assistant: The United Airlines NYC Half Marathon with the Brooklyn Bridge crossing is not flat in the way typical “flat fast” cour… ===
The United Airlines NYC Half Marathon with the Brooklyn Bridge crossing is not flat in the way typical “flat fast” courses are. The overall elevation profile shows some climbing and rolling terrain, even though it has long flat sections on city streets.Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1i7qcev/nyc_half_marathon_elevation_gain/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Key elevation points of the course

Bridge crossing
The Brooklyn Bridge crossing itself provides a noticeable climb and descent early in the race. Bridges add elevation change even if gentle compared to steep hills. It is short but not flat.Secret NYC<ref>{{cite web|title=Secret NYC|url=https://secretnyc.co/nyc-half-marathon-2025-guide/|publisher=Secret NYC|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Overall elevation gain
Runners report a total elevation gain around 500–600 feet over 13.1 miles on the current course. That is moderate rolling terrain for a half marathon.Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1i7qcev/nyc_half_marathon_elevation_gain/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Flat or rolling sections
* The flats occur on stretches between Prospect Park exit toward the bridge and through long city avenues.Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* There are also short rollers after the bridge and as you enter Manhattan before flatter parts in Midtown and toward Central Park.Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

How flat it feels in practice
* Portions of the course feel flat because many miles are on urban avenues without significant grade.Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* The bridge crest and some rolling sections mean it is not perfectly flat and can affect pacing compared to a race with minimal elevation change.Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1i7qcev/nyc_half_marathon_elevation_gain/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Summary
* Multiple flat miles on city streets and avenues.Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* A bridge climb and descent near the first third of the race.Secret NYC<ref>{{cite web|title=Secret NYC|url=https://secretnyc.co/nyc-half-marathon-2025-guide/|publisher=Secret NYC|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* Some rolling terrain especially through parts of Manhattan.Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* Overall elevation gain in the range of 500–600 feet, making the course moderately hilly for a half marathon.Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1i7qcev/nyc_half_marathon_elevation_gain/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

If you need a mile-by-mile elevation breakdown, I can provide one.

=== User: What specific mile are the notable elevations ===
What specific mile are the notable elevations

=== Assistant: Based on available maps and runner reports for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon new route with Brooklyn Bridge her… ===
Based on available maps and runner reports for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon (new route with Brooklyn Bridge) here are the specific miles where the notable elevation changes occur. This is approximate due to variation in official public data and GPX traces from runners. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1bfnpb7/updated_official_course_elevation_map_for_2024/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 0 to Mile 1
• Small rolling climb out of Prospect Park and exit toward Flatbush Avenue. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 2 to Mile 3
• Mostly flat city streets on Flatbush Avenue after leaving the park. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 4 to Mile 5
• Brooklyn Bridge climb and descent begins around this segment. Elevation rises as you approach and go over the bridge and drops off once into Manhattan. Runners note the bridge hill starts just after mile 4. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1bfnpb7/updated_official_course_elevation_map_for_2024/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 5 to Mile 6
• Continued descent off the bridge then transition to Manhattan streets. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1bfnpb7/updated_official_course_elevation_map_for_2024/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 7 to Mile 9
• Rolling terrain as you run along lower Manhattan and onto FDR Drive. Some slight rises and falls but nothing as pronounced as the bridge climb. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 10
• Slight incline as you exit FDR Drive onto 42nd Street, approaching Midtown; minor grade change here can feel like a hill. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Mile 11 to Mile 12
• Mostly flat through 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue into Times Square and past Midtown landmarks. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Final Mile into Central Park
• Minor rolling inside Central Park toward the finish, but no major hill comparable to the bridge. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Summary of notable elevation points

• Prospect Park approach in the first mile has small climbs. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
• Biggest climb and descent is the Brooklyn Bridge, roughly Miles 4 to 5. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1bfnpb7/updated_official_course_elevation_map_for_2024/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
• Exit ramp off bridge and rolling on FDR Drive around Miles 6 to 9. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
• Slight grade changes entering Midtown around Mile 10. Coach<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach|url=https://www.coachweb.com/sport/running/new-york-city-half-marathon-route|publisher=coachweb.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

If you want a mile-by-mile elevation chart in numeric feet or meters from a GPX trace, I can locate one and share it.

=== User: I only want to know where the climbs are ===
I only want to know where the climbs are

=== Assistant: Here are the specific sections of the United Airlines NYC Half where the climbs are based on recent elevation data and … ===
Here are the specific sections of the United Airlines NYC Half where the climbs are based on recent elevation data and runner reports:

Notable climbs
# Prospect Park hills early There are small climbs inside or near Prospect Park at the start. Park terrain is not flat and includes short upward sections early in the first few miles. New York Road Runners<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Road Runners|url=https://www.nyrr.org/run/photos-and-stories/2025/sights-along-the-united-airlines-nyc-half-course|publisher=New York Road Runners|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
# Brooklyn Bridge climb The biggest single climb on the course is the Brooklyn Bridge rise starting shortly after about mile 4, continuing into mile 5 as you go up onto and across the bridge. The Travel Oracle<ref>{{cite web|title=The Travel Oracle|url=https://thetraveloracle.net/united-airlines-nyc-half-recap/|publisher=The Travel Oracle|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
# Rolling uphill sections after the bridge After descending the bridge, there are rolling climbs (short uphill grades) roughly around miles 6 through 9. These are not as steep as the bridge but represent most of the ascent in that segment. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1jj6hpu/brooklyn_hm_elevation_gains/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
# Minor uphill inside Central Park near the finish The final section into Central Park has small rolling climbs as you enter the park and approach the finish. These are much milder but noticeable late in the race. Half Marathon Guide<ref>{{cite web|title=Half Marathon Guide|url=https://www.halfmarathons.net/races/united-airlines-new-york-city-half-marathon/|publisher=Half Marathon Guide|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

Summary of climb locations
* Miles 0 to 2: Small park hills near the start. New York Road Runners<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Road Runners|url=https://www.nyrr.org/run/photos-and-stories/2025/sights-along-the-united-airlines-nyc-half-course|publisher=New York Road Runners|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* Miles 4 to 5: Major climb over the Brooklyn Bridge. The Travel Oracle<ref>{{cite web|title=The Travel Oracle|url=https://thetraveloracle.net/united-airlines-nyc-half-recap/|publisher=The Travel Oracle|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* Miles 6 to 9: Rolling ups between flat sections. Reddit<ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/comments/1jj6hpu/brooklyn_hm_elevation_gains/|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
* Last mile: Minor rises inside Central Park. Half Marathon Guide<ref>{{cite web|title=Half Marathon Guide|url=https://www.halfmarathons.net/races/united-airlines-new-york-city-half-marathon/|publisher=Half Marathon Guide|access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

If you want a quick graphic showing the elevation profile with these sections marked, I can provide one.

=== User: Compared to the route I run what is the profile ===
Compared to the route I run what is the profile

=== Assistant: Short answer. ===
Short answer.
Your Orange CT route is far harder than the NYC Half.

Using your screenshot splits and elevation:

Your run climbs
Mile 3 +85 ft
Mile 4 +91 ft
Mile 6 +57 ft
Mile 7 +52 ft
Mile 10 +47 ft
Mile 11 +29 ft

You have six meaningful climbing miles, with two back to back 80 to 90 ft grinders in miles 3 and 4. That is real rolling terrain.

NYC Half with Brooklyn Bridge

Climbs
Mile 1 to 2. Small Prospect Park rollers.
Mile 4.3 to 5.1. Brooklyn Bridge. One sustained climb about 60 to 80 ft then a long downhill.
Mile 10. Minor rise coming off FDR toward Midtown.
Mile 12 to finish. Small Central Park rollers.

Everything else is flat or net downhill.

What that means for you

Your route has repeated climbing and never fully gives the legs a long flat cruise. You are constantly loading calves, quads, and glutes.

NYC Half has one real climb, the bridge. Once you crest it, you get miles of fast flat or downhill through Manhattan where rhythm and turnover dominate.

If you can hold 7:36 to 7:44 pace on your Orange route, you will feel mechanically advantaged on the NYC Half course. The bridge will feel like one of your Mile 3 or 4 hills, except it is followed by a long recovery downhill instead of more rollers.

Your training terrain is overpreparing you for that course.

== References ==
<references />


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