The 39th Annual Women's Distance Festival 5K

Come & join us at the only race we offer in New York State!

The aHUS Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people affected by atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and their families. Founded by caregivers and patients, the Foundation provides up-to-date information, educational resources, and a supportive community to help individuals and loved ones navigate the challenges of this ultra-rare disease. It fosters connections among patients, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to raise awareness, share experiences, and improve quality of life through conferences, outreach, and advocacy.

Welcome to the 24th annual Sri Chinmoy Marathon, taking place on Monday, August 24, 2026, 7AM around beautiful Rockland Lake in Congers, New York - just 45 minutes north of New York City. This race is a Boston Qualifier.

THE COURSE:

A beautifully scenic, flat and fast USATF certified 2.95 mile loop around the shores of Rockland Lake. Just shy of 9 laps = Marathon. All runners’ laps scored.

AMENITIES:

Free parking (if in by 8AM), premium aid stations every mile, included custom race shirt, custom medals for all finishers, full medical support, post race vegetarian meal.

REGISTRATION AND FEES:

Want to race this one for FREE? It's easy - register here on RunSignup, then refer friends and family to earn your registration back! How it works >>

All prices now include processing fees:

$66.65 through June 30

$76.95 through July 31

$87.25 through August 21, 5pm

Entries cannot be transferred to another person.

SHUTTLE BUS FROM MANHATTAN

Sit back, relax, and let someone else do the driving!

Our dedicated shuttle bus service from Grand Central Station, Manhattan direct to Rockland Lake is available for an additional fee of $38 roundtrip per person. The option is available during the registration process.

5:00 AM departure, return by 2:30 ~ 3PM. You must purchase shuttle seats in advance (no race-day walk-ups, sorry). The shuttle is open to non-participants as well - you can purchase additional seats for friends / relatives. Shuttle seats only (without race registration) can be purchased anytime on our RedPodium Registration page. Please note that you must finish the Marathon in less than 6 hours in order to sign up for the shuttle.

RACE START

Race start is at 7:00AM SHARP. Strictly no early starts.

All participants, including late starters, will be timed from the actual gun time, regardless of the runner's actual start time. Please allow at least 7 minutes before the race to walk from the number pickup area to the race start. The race clock starts ticking for everyone at 7AM!

RACE PACKETS

Choose Packet Shipping when registering ($7.45), to avoid the lines on race day and have your shirt and bib delivered to your door before the race. Option available for US addresses only, through August 13.

For runners that do not choose packet shipping, packet pickup is available at the race site between 6:00-6:45AM.

RACE SHIRTS

*Race shirts guaranteed for all participants that register by July 31. Shirt sizes are Unisex or Women's fitted: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and Unisex 2XL. We will do our best to provide shirts for runners who register after July 31, but no guarantees - register early!

AID STATIONS

There will be three aid stations on the loop, approximately one every mile. All will have water and electrolyte drink. The main aid station, next to Race-Day Central, will have fruit, chips, snacks, etc.

AWARDS

Men and Women's awards categories:

Under 50: Top 7, 50-59: Top 3, 60-69: Top 2, 70 & over: First Place.

Custom medals for all finishers

Awards ceremony 12:15 PM.

VEGETARIAN MEAL

Served starting at 11:30AM. There will be some vegan options as well.

TIME LIMIT

7-hour cutoff (2:00 PM), strictly enforced. 1:15PM is the latest any runner can begin their final lap. No early starts.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

Runners must be 18 or older to compete.

RACE RESULTS

Will be posted on our race website within 24 hours.

EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY

We live in uncertain times. If we are forced to cancel this event owing to circumstances beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

New or modified regulations/restrictions imposed by park officials or city or state governments;

Unsafe conditions in the park, such as severe weather conditions;

the event will be converted to a virtual one. Registered participants will still receive race shirts and finisher medals in the mail upon completion of the virtual race, and trophies will be mailed to winners as per the awards breakdown above.

Race Information

THE 2026 RACE WILL BE ON SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER. REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN MAY

Once again the race will follow the varied and scenic course from Franklin Street Park along the Hudson to Piermont and back.

The race starts at 8:30, and the course will close at 11:00, after which the water stations will be dismantled and there will be no Marshalls or police escort on the course, so this event is not recommended for walkers.

The proceeds from this race benefit local first responders, Nyack-area food programs and the Rockland Road Runners Scholarship Fund.

Rockland Road Runner Club members receive a 15% discount at checkout. All registrants can receive a $20 refund if they refer 5 friends.

Packet Pickup

To avoid the crush on race morning, we encourage you to pick up your race number and shirt on Saturday from 12:00 - 3:00 at Dicks Sporting Goods in the Palisades Mall.

Awards

Awards will be given to the top overall runners (Male, Female and Non-binary), and in 5-year age groups for the remaining runners.

Virtual Run and Kids Fun Run

• If you are not able to join us for the in-person race, you can sign up for the Virtual event and run 10 miles at a time and route that is convenient for you.

• Before the race, we will hold a kid's fun run along the Esposito Trail, to end at the race finish line. Distances of 200 and 400 meters will be offered.

After Party and Nyack Street Fair

• The after-party at Franklin park will include water, bagels and bananas for finishing runners, ice-cream and craft beer.

• After the race, plan to visit Nyack's Famous Street Fair, only a few blocks away

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!

Race Schedule

8:00am - 5k Start

8:45am - HM Elite Introductions

9:00am - Half Marathon Start

9:15am - 5k Awards Available

10:00am - Beer Garden Opens

11:15am - Half Marathon Awards Available

Course

The course is a USATF-certified loop around scenic Rockland Lake.

Course Profile

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.

Fueling Stations

There are three aid stations with both water and Gatorade along the course.

Elite Athlete Program (EAP)

The EAP provides a complimentary entry, personal water stations, preferred baggage claim, and for some, free lodging. Please email [email protected] your running resume for consideration.

NEW for 2025:

Individual Prize Structure

$500 - Top M/F and top M/F Masters

$300 - 2nd M/F and 2nd M/F Master

$200 - 3rd M/F and 3rd M/F Master

Team Prize Structure

$500 - Top M/F Teams (3/Team)

HM and 5k Medals: 5 Year Age Groups

Top 3 finishers to male/female finishers in 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

HM AG Winners win ice cream from the Sweet Guy Ice Cream Truck

Bib Pickup

Bibs can either be picked up at Road Runner Sports (Paramus) on Friday evening (5pm-7pm), Saturday morning (10am-1), or at the race site on Sunday morning.

Empire State Challenge Medal

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.

Lodging

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Nanuet (425 NY-59, Nanuet, NY 10954): 845-623-6000

Element Spring Valley (90 Spring Valley Market Place, Spring Valley, NY 10977): 845-694-8200

Hilton Garden Inn (270 W Route 9, Nanuet, NY 10954): 845-623-0600

Join us on Sunday, October 25, 2026 for the Tenth Annual Sri Chinmoy Half-Marathon at Rockland Lake State Park, featuring a scenic, "pancake flat" and fast 2.95 mile loop around the lake. Set a new PR while taking in the beautiful views!

8:00 AM start

Sponsored by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in cooperation with the New York State Parks System.

PERKS & AMENITIES:

Bag check, aid stations every mile, custom race shirts, custom medals for all finishers, and our famous post-race pancake breakfast!

REGISTRATION FEES:

Want to race this one for FREE? It's easy - register here on RunSignup, then refer friends and family to earn your registration back! How it works >>

Prices now include processing fees:

$51.20 through Sep. 28

$59.45 through Oct. 16

$66.65 through Oct. 24, 5PM

No race-day registration. Entries cannot be transferred to another person.

THE COURSE

A scenic paved pathway around Rockland Lake, accurately measured USATF certified course. Start is near Parking field 5, beginning with a 1.3 mile out-and back section along the south end of the lake, then four complete 2.96 mile laps of the lake (clockwise), finishing again near Parking Field 5. For the purposes of lap counting, the initial 1.3 mile section is included in the first lap, the subsequent three complete laps are considered laps 2,3,4.

RACE PACKETS

Choose Packet Shipping when registering ($7.45), to avoid the lines on race day and have your race shirt and bib delivered to your door before the race. Option available for US addresses only, through October 14. All packets will ship out on October 16

For runners that do not choose packet shipping, packet pickup is available at the race site between 7:00-7:45AM.

RACE SHIRTS

Free race shirts guaranteed for all participants registered by October 11.

For participants registered after that date, remaining shirts will be available after the race on a first-come first-serve basis.

Shirt sizes are Unisex or Women's Fitted: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and Unisex 2XL

AWARDS

Half-Marathon - Men's and Women's awards categories:

Under 50: Top 7

50-59: Top 3

60-69: Top 2

70 & over: First Place

Medals for all finishers

Awards ceremony at 10:30 AM

POST-RACE PANCAKE BREAKFAST!

Pancakes are more enjoyable when they're earned, and we're cooking 'em up fresh on race day!

TIME LIMITS

All participants have until 11:15AM to finish the race, which is a minimum average pace of 15 min/mile.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

All participants must be 16 or older on race day.

RESULTS:

Will be posted on our race webpage within 24 hours.

ABOUT US:

From race directors to course monitors, all Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team races are staffed by its own volunteers since the Team’s inauguration in 1977 by its founder and fitness advocate, Sri Chinmoy.

Today, the SCMT organizes over 1,700 races a year in 27 countries across 4 continents, ranging from short kids fun-runs, to marathons to the world’s longest certified road race – the annual Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race (yes, 3,100 miles, it’s not a typo). We love running and putting on races – we hope you enjoy the friendly atmosphere we provide, free of commercial sponsors. Read more >>

EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY

We live in uncertain times. If we are forced to cancel this event owing to circumstances beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

New or modified COVID-19 regulations/restrictions imposed by park officials or city or state governments;

Unsafe conditions in the park, such as severe weather conditions;

the event will be converted to a virtual one. Registered participants will still receive the race giveaways and finisher medals in the mail upon completion of the virtual race, and trophies will be mailed to winners as per the awards breakdown above.