Where the Party Meets the Pavement...

For many of us hailing from NYC, we've all run the same 5 Borough Half-Marathons, which are convenient, inexpensive, and an opportunity to race with all your friends (already signed up for the Manhattan Half on January 24th! Are you running it?). But how many of us know about the 13.1 series? I was excited to find out about it and thus am sharing the secret. Yes, this is for all of you readers out there, not just New Yorkers! http://www.131marathon.com

It's a half-marathon series across the US that is coming to NYC for the first year ever. It's going to take place in Queens on April 3rd - just a few weeks apart from the NYC Half. Do you run both or do you pick one? The NYC Half comes with a steep price as it was formerly the Nike Half, the brand which made it so popular. It offers the once in a lifetime experience of running through Times Square, but can the new 13.1 become as beloved? Will it be a better version of the NYRR Queen's Half or will it actually rival the NYC Half? The 13.1 series runs past the New CitiField, Arthur Ashe Statdium and other iconic places you would not normally find on half marathon course.

I've heard tons of reviews of 13.1's past races and most of them are glowing - great organization, not overly crowded, and interesting routes. What have you heard about the 13.1 series? Personally, I'm sad to report I won't be able to run the NYC 13.1 as I'm slated to run my 5th marathon that week. But I am considering the Miami Beach 13.1 in March as my last half before marathon day! Can't resist the idea of sitting by the beach, drinking a cocktail, and then racing the 13.1. In exactly that order. I'm thinking this 13.1 racing series is something new but something that's going to stick! To 2010....