{"id":86779,"date":"2026-01-01T19:25:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T19:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/86779\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T19:25:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T19:25:15","slug":"nycs-fittest-ran-a-4-mile-race-at-midnight-on-new-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/86779\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC\u2019s fittest ran a 4-mile race at midnight on New Year\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Forget champagne \u2014 these New Year\u2019s Eve revelers were chasing a runner\u2019s high.<\/p>\n<p>As the clock struck midnight on January 1, thousands of New Yorkers in sneakers, gym clothes, and yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/30\/us-news\/2026-is-off-to-ugly-start-with-bizarre-nyc-party-glasses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">festive party glasses<\/a> took off through Central Park, racing in the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nyrr.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">New York Road Runners\u2019<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/events.nyrr.org\/668283d9ca9154da4f73?_gl=1*1skxcgj*_gcl_au*OTQ4OTk3MjcyLjE3NjU0NzI4MDc.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Midnight Run<\/a> through Central Park.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to think that if I ring in the New Year in this healthy way, it\u2019s how I\u2019ll conduct my whole year,\u201d Lisa Hernandez, who has participated in the event every year since 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/31\/health\/these-new-yorkers-are-running-a-4-mile-race-at-midnight-on-new-years\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">told The Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While first event in 1979 drew 1,600 runners, nearly 5,000 signed up this year, showing up for a DJed pre-race party \u2014 and some exercise, jogging past the Loeb Boathouse, Turtle Pond and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes the way you bring in the year can set the stage for the year to come,\u201d said Ted Metellus, NYRR\u2019s chief event production officer and race director. \u201cFor four miles you can think about the goals you accomplished or plan to accomplish as you run.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/becca-lopez-rlopez82798-gmail-com-118094323.jpg\" alt=\"Runners Emily Heald and Becca Lopez, wearing matching pink and black outfits, stretching before the NY Road Runners Midnight Run.\" class=\"wp-image-38070692 unset-max-height\"  \/>Matching runners Emily Heald and Becca Lopez stretching before the NY Road Runners Midnight Run. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.66666667;display:block\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"393\" height=\"590\" data-modal-image=\"38070700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/gmail-com-conner-tanner-england-118092122.jpg\" alt=\"English runners Grace McDonnell and Conner Tanner stretch in preparation for the NY Road Runners Midnight Run.\" class=\"wp-image-38070700\"  \/>English runners Grace McDonnell and Conner Tanner came from over the pond to prep for the NY Road Runners Midnight Run. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070693\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/runners-ny-roadrunners-midnight-run-118094364.jpg\" alt=\"Runners gather at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park for pre-run celebrations.\" class=\"wp-image-38070693 unset-max-height\"  \/>Runners gather at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park for pre-run celebrations. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070697\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/runners-ny-roadrunners-midnight-run-118094361.jpg\" alt=\"The festivities kick off with a pre-race party featuring a DJ at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.\" class=\"wp-image-38070697 unset-max-height\"  \/>The festivities kick off with a pre-race party featuring a DJ. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/festivities-dj-music-race-runners-118094391.jpg\" alt=\"Runners groove to the beat during pre-race festivities at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.\" class=\"wp-image-38070694 unset-max-height\"  \/>Runners groove to the beat during pre-race festivities. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070691\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wife-derrie-manerich-husband-rafael-118094337.jpg\" alt=\"Rafael Vanollil and his wife Derrie Manerich with the Santa Catarina Brazil Runners pose before the NY Road Runners Midnight Run.\" class=\"wp-image-38070691 unset-max-height\"  \/>Rafael Vanollil and his wife Derrie Manerich with the Santa Catarina Brazil Runners pose before the NY Road Runners Midnight Run. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/runners-start-line-ny-roadrunners-118102361.jpg\" alt=\"At the start line, runners stretch and prepare for the race into 2026.\" class=\"wp-image-38070705 unset-max-height\"  \/>At the start line, runners stretch and prepare for the race into 2026. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070699\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/runners-start-line-ny-roadrunners-118102347.jpg\" alt=\"The countdown to midnight at the start line with runners lined up.\" class=\"wp-image-38070699 unset-max-height\"  \/>The countdown to midnight at the start line. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070703\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/runners-start-line-ny-roadrunners-118102363.jpg\" alt=\"Runners at the start line pose for an image.\" class=\"wp-image-38070703 unset-max-height\"  \/>Motivated race participants prepare to take off near Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070690\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/runners-start-line-ny-roadrunners-118102378.jpg\" alt=\"At the stroke of midnight, runners begin the 4-mile race in Central Park.\" class=\"wp-image-38070690 unset-max-height\"  \/>At the stroke of midnight, runners begin the 4-mile race. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/festivities-dj-music-race-runners-118094389.jpg\" alt=\"Runners cheer in anticipation for the NY Road Runners Midnight Run.\" class=\"wp-image-38070696 unset-max-height\"  \/>Runners cheer in anticipation for the NY Road Runners Midnight Run. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070698\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fireworks-ny-roadrunners-midnight-run-118102384.jpg\" alt=\"Fireworks dazzle the sky during the 4-mile race in Central Park.\" class=\"wp-image-38070698 unset-max-height\"  \/>Fireworks dazzle the sky during the 4-mile race. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070704\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4445-first-finish-line-ny-118102385.jpg\" alt=\"Moroccan brothers Jaouad El Jazouli and Issame El Jazouli pictured first at the finish line.\" class=\"wp-image-38070704 unset-max-height\"  \/>Moroccan brothers Jaouad El Jazouli and Issame El Jazouli were the first at the finish line. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\" data-modal-image=\"38070695\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4445-first-finish-line-hafid-118102386.jpg\" alt=\"Moroccan brothers Jaouad El Jazouli and Issame El Jazouli, first place winners, pose with Hafid Chain, also from Morocco, who placed 3rd. \" class=\"wp-image-38070695 unset-max-height\"  \/>Moroccan brothers Jaouad El Jazouli and Issame El Jazouli pose with Hafid Chain, also from Morocco, who placed 3rd.  Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Forget champagne \u2014 these New Year\u2019s Eve revelers were chasing a runner\u2019s high. As the clock struck midnight&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":86780,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[9368,68,41823,10748,9,24,55,54,56,14509,168,1881],"class_list":["post-86779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-slideshow","tag-exclusive","tag-new-years-resolutions","tag-new-years-eve","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-city-headlines","tag-new-york-city-news","tag-ny","tag-race","tag-running","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}