New York\u2019s most competitive half-marathon doesn\u2019t involve qualifying times, prize money or even particularly impressive athletic ability. It does, however, come with pastries from 10 of the city\u2019s most coveted bakeries, plus a seated course at Eleven Madison Park.<\/p>\n
The NYC Bakery Run<\/a> returns on Sunday, October 25, sending 100 runners on a 13.1-mile route through Manhattan and Brooklyn. Participation is free, but hopeful carb athletes will need to enter a lottery for one of the limited spots. More than 17,000 people applied when the event debuted last year, so\u00a0your\u00a0odds are just slightly better than getting into the New York City Marathon<\/a>\u2014and considerably more delicious.<\/p>\n Most of the run\u2019s bakery stops will hand participants a quick bite before they continue pounding the pavement. At three-Michelin-star Eleven Madison Park, however, runners will enter the dining room overlooking Madison Square Park, take their seats and receive a course from the restaurant\u2019s pastry team before lunch service begins. (Running shorts are presumably acceptable attire.)<\/p>\n \u201cWelcoming runners into our dining room gives us an opportunity to share the work of our pastry team outside the traditional tasting-menu experience,\u201d said Eleven Madison Park chef de cuisine Dominique Roy in a press release.<\/p>\n The route will also include Librae Bakery, Radio Bakery, La Cabra, From Lucie, L\u2019Appartement 4F, Hani\u2019s Bakery, Elbow Bread and Saison Bakery. Librae, known for pastries that blend Middle Eastern flavors with Scandinavian baking techniques, is returning after participating in last year\u2019s inaugural run.<\/p>\n One exciting newcomer to the route\u00a0is Altbau Bakery, the forthcoming project from Tartine cofounder Chad Robertson and baker Pam Yung. That space will pair a bakery counter with an upstairs mill and a teaching studio and residency program. Its inclusion offers runners an early taste of one of the city\u2019s most anticipated bakery openings.<\/p>\n