NYC Runners Kick Off New Year Racing Four Miles

NYRR Press Release

New York, December 29, 2015—Thousands of New Yorkers and runners from across the country will take their first steps into the new year at the 37th annual NYRR Midnight Run, a four-mile race held in Central Park on Thursday, December 31. Beneath the dazzling fireworks display, New Year’s Eve revelers and runners will be led by a talented group of professional athletes, including Great Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey and U.S. standout Joe Stilin. Runners and spectators alike are invited to enjoy all of the festivities surrounding the event, including the free pre- and post-race festival at Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell, featuring live DJs, dancers, face painting, and fun giveaways.

“The NYRR Midnight Run is a long-standing tradition at New York Road Runners that brings the entire community together to ring in the new year in a fun and celebratory way,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “We invite everyone to #ResolveToRun in the new year and help spread the gift of health, happiness, and running.”

“Our professional fields are a highlight of the NYRR Midnight Run,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events of NYRR and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “This is one of the best New Year’s Eve events in New York City, bringing together thousands of runners, an incredible fireworks display, dancing, music, and so much more. We are really excited to kick off 2016 surrounded by all of the runners who show us so much love and support all year long. 

Dobriskey, 32, a resident of Phoenix, AZ, who represents Great Britain, will be making her NYRR Midnight Run debut. She has qualified for the Olympic finals twice in the 1500 meters, earned a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships at the distance, and won the 2006 Commonwealth Games 1500-meter title. She was also the 2008 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile champion.

"I've been training in Phoenix with Altis since August and had an operation on my hip in April, so I've been making my way back to being an athlete again; it's been a gradual process but I'm really enjoying being fit and healthy. I wanted to run the NYRR Midnight Run so I could start 2016 doing what I love, in one of my favorite places in the world. I have very happy memories of the NYRR 5th Avenue Mile, so four miles should be four times as fun!”­

Stilin, 26, of Blowing Rock, NC, represents the ZAP Fitness-Reebok team. Along with Dobriskey, Stilin will be making his NYRR Midnight Run debut. The Princeton University graduate is the 2012 Ivy League 5000-meter champion and has a personal best time of 13:32.21.

"I'm excited to hit the very first moments of the New Year, literally, running,” said Stilin. “For me, the competitive build-up to the Olympic track trials in July starts with the NYRR Midnight Run. I’d love to scare the four-mile course record if it's a good night for it. New Year’s Eve in New York is something I’ve only seen on television, so I’m also excited to experience the city during and after the race."

Additional Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances:

• Lianne Farber, 23, Sacramento, CA, 2013 ACC 1500-meter champion
• Genna Hartung, 24, Ithaca, NY, 2012 ECAC steeplechase champion
• Katie Matthews, 25, Brighton, MA, 11th place at the 2015 USA 12K Championships
• Rosa Moriello, 23, Brighton, MA, 2015 Patriot League 5000-meter champion
• Sarah Pagano, 24, Brighton, MA, seventh place at 2015 USA 12K Championships, 2014 New England Cross Country champion
• Brian Doyle, 23, Davidson, NC, seventh place at 2013 Penn Relays 10,000 meters
• Rob Molke, 24, 2016 USA Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier
• Julian Saad, 24, Providence, RI, third place in the 3000 meters at 2014 Big East Indoor Championships
• Louis Serafini, 24, Brighton, MA, 2016 USA Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier
• Daniel Winn, 24, Brighton, MA, ninth place at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 1500 meters and seventh at that distance at the USA Track & Field Championships

New this year, all runners will light up the night with free glow-in-the-dark shoelaces available for pick up with their race numbers. Runners can also #ResolveToRun by writing their goals on NYRR’s 2016 resolution wall, or by writing what they are running for on resolution running bibs which will be handed out. Featuring a 15-minute fireworks display—the only one in Manhattan—at the sound of the starting horn, this race also gives runners the chance to toast to the New Year at a sparkling cider fluid station at the course’s halfway point. The event’s pre- and post-race festival is free and open to the public from 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. with live DJs, dancers, face painters, and plenty of photo opportunities at Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell. 

Top Professional Men 

Top Professional Women 

Runners will vie for a prize purse of $2,000, including a $500 prize to the male and female winners.