NYRR Race Free
We at New York Road Runners believe running should be accessible for everyone. To help, we created NYRR Race Free to provide race fee assistance to those who financially qualify.
Once a year, we accept New York residents from each of the five boroughs into the NYRR Race Free program, granting hundreds of complimentary entries to NYRR races, including the TCS New York City Marathon!
We offer our participants entries to each of our weekly races, not including: NYRR Summer Speed Series, NYRR Cross-Country races or NYRR Virtual Racing.
New participants will be selected to join the program via random drawing with priority given to applicants within ZIP codes identified by NYC’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity.
Returning participants will be selected by borough via random drawing.
Participants will be selected until all available spots in the program are filled. Selected program participants will also be given opportunities for limited, complimentary entries to group trainings with NYRR Coaches.
The 2027 application period opens Friday, October 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET. and closes on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Runners are notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance by mid-December.
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old as of January 1, 2027
- Be a resident of New York City's five boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island)
- Demonstrate need determined by annual household income at or below that indicated in this chart. (Qualifying income levels are below the 80% Median Income for NYC based on household size.)
How It Works
I. Annual Program Application
a. Application
Interested in running? You must submit your application before Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. When filling out this application, you will be prompted to sign in to your existing NYRR account or create a new one. This account will be linked directly to your application and will be the only account recognized by the NYRR Race Free program.
b. Program Selection
New applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will be accepted via random drawing prioritized by their ZIP code if identified by NYC’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity. Returning applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will be accepted by borough via random drawing.
Runners will be notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance by mid-December.
II. Race Selection
1. NYRR Race Free participants will provide their race preferences through four surveys: at the time of application, February, May, and August. Participants accepted into the program will be asked to provide their race preferences for the season, and to rank those preferences if they want to run more than one race. Race entries will be given in order of receipt until the allocations are filled. If a Race Free participant does not receive a spot for their first race preference, they will be included on the waitlist for that race.
2. Each accepted runner can anticipate about six (6) complimentary races per year and will be notified of race selection status via email. Be advised, the NYRR Race Free program cannot offer entry to a runner for races they have already registered for.
Runners will be given a unique registration link to register for each race. Once the registration form is submitted, registration status will remain “Pending” until it is reviewed by the Race Free Team after the deadline indicated in the race selection email. Registration will be approved after each runner’s details are verified. After your registration is approved, there are NO CANCELLATIONS.
3. Runners participating in the program must notify NYRR via email at racefree@nyrr.org if they wish to withdraw their registration application. Race withdrawals must be submitted before the given deadline on the race registration offer email. After that point, race applications are accepted and registrations are approved. Once approved, registrations cannot be canceled.
Failure to attend three (3) races you have registered for will result in removal from the NYRR Race Free program. This removal applies to any future race applications still pending as well as eligibility for future Race Free drawings. You are still welcomed to re-apply for next year’s program.
If you’d like more information, email racefree@nyrr.org or check out our FAQs.
Training Support
As an added benefit of NYRR Race Free, we are offering limited opportunities to join complimentary training through NYRR Group Training.
NYRR Group Training is an in-person program geared towards runners of all levels who enjoy the guidance, camaraderie, and motivation of running with others. Participants accepted into the NYRR Race Free Program will receive three additional preference surveys throughout the year, in which they can also express interest in NYRR Group Training options. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, until all training slots are filled.
If you’d like more information on training, email training@nyrr.org or check out the FAQs for each training program.
Timeline
| Application Period | OPEN: October 23, 2026, 7:00 p.m. ET CLOSE: November 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Acceptance Notification & Winter Race Preference Survey |
Mid-December |
| Winter Race Selection (January-March races) |
Mid-December |
| Spring Race Preference Survey | Mid-Feburary |
| Spring Race Selection (April-June races) |
Mid-March |
| Summer Race Preference Survey | Late May |
| Summer Race Selection (July-September races) |
Mid-June |
| Fall Race Preference Survey | Mid-August |
| Fall Race Selection (October-December races) |
Mid-September |
Testimonials
Jayson Guance
KM Jones
Running is my Mental Health. Daily life struggles are real and can put you into depression. It is important to stay consistent and dedicated to your goals and needs and pursue them no matter what (when feasible). Stay Focused Everyone! ”
Yelena Wattley
FAQs
1. How do I apply?
The application can be found linked on this page from mid-October when it opens, to early November when it closes. When submitting your information, please be sure to answer all questions. You will be notified via email by mid-December of your application status. If you are accepted into the program, you’ll receive communications including next steps.
2. I’ve participated in the NYRR Race Free program before. Can I participate again this year?
Yes, as long as when you re-apply you meet the income and NYC resident requirements, you will be eligible this year’s for program selection.
3. What are the income requirements?
Qualifying income levels are below the 80% Median Income for NYC based on household size for income requirements click here.
4. Do I need to live in NYCHA housing to qualify?
No.
5. How will participants be accepted in the NYRR Race Free program?
The program is capped at 2,000 participants and the majority of those entries will be allocated to eligible applicants by random drawing. Returning program participants who meet the requirements will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis and a select number of program entries will be allocated to those who meet the requirements as well as by ZIP code.
6. I received an email saying I have qualified for NYRR Race Free. What do I do now?
You will receive your first Race Preference Survey including all the Race Free-eligible races and trainings on the NYRR calendar for winter. Please make sure that when you submit your preferences, you do so with the same email assigned to your NYRR account, as no unrecognized submissions will be accepted. Once you receive your registration link, please sign up for the race by the deadline; otherwise, we will offer your spot to another applicant on the waitlist.
7. I received an email saying that I have been selected for a race. What do I do now?
Open the registration link to fill out and submit your race registration form. Once the form is submitted, the registration will remain “Pending” until it is reviewed by the Race Free Team. After your details are verified, your registration will be approved. After your registration is approved, there are NO CANCELLATIONS. If you have already registered for this race as a volunteer or through another means of entry, your complimentary registration via the Race Free program will not be approved.
Please register by the indicated deadline; otherwise, we cannot guarantee registration approval. Please register only if you plan to attend. Holding a spot without participating takes away the opportunity for other program participants to benefit from the complimentary entries.
8. How can I enter the NYRR Race Free drawing for the TCS New York City Marathon?
The Race Free selection process for the TCS New York City Marathon will take place in March, after guaranteed entry closes. Race Free participants will not automatically be considered for the marathon unless they opt-in on the first race preference survey. Entries will be allocated to the first participants to indicate their preference until the program allocation for the race is filled.
9. I signed up for a race as part of NYRR Race Free but can no longer participate. What should I do?
You can withdraw your application to a race any time up to 2 weeks before the race, at which point applications are accepted and registrations are approved. Once approved, registrations cannot be cancelled! If you fail to attend three (3) of the races you’ve registered for, you will be REMOVED from the NYRR Race Free program, this includes any future races you have applied for as well as any future Race Free drawings. You are still welcomed to reapply for next year’s program.
10. Can I send my entry to a friend?
No, entries offered via NYRR Race Free are non-transferrable and can only be used to register the runner to whom it was sent.
11. How does race selection work?
Runners will be asked to provide their race preferences and to rank their preferences if they want to run more than one race. Race entries will be allotted in order of receipt until the allocations are filled. If a Race Free participant does not receive an entry to their first race preference they will be included on the waitlist for that race. NYRR Race Free participants will provide their race preferences through four surveys: at the time of program application, February, May, and August.
Each accepted runner can anticipate about six (6) complimentary races per year and will be notified of selection status via email. Runners will be given a unique registration link to register for each race. Once the form is submitted, the registration will remain “Pending” until it is reviewed by the Race Free Team after the deadline indicated in the race selection email. Registration will be approved after each runner’s details are verified.
12. Does NYRR Race Free offer entries to NYRR virtual races?
Not at this time. Entries are only for in-person races listed.
13. I was accepted in the NYRR Race Free program and had previously paid for a race. Can I get a refund or use that race as a stipend for another race?
No. Unfortunately, we do not subsidize previously paid races or offer refunds.
14. I am injured, can I defer my TCS New York City Marathon entry to next year?
No, as NYRR Race Free is a yearly program, deferrals to another year are not possible.
15. How will participants be selected to access training offerings?
Participants who expressed interest in NYRR Group Training within their seasonal race preference surveys will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis until all training spots are filled. Runners will be assigned training sessions based on interest and availability.