NYCRuns

What NYCRuns does

NYCRUNS is a Brooklyn-based independent race organizer founded in 2011 by Steve Lastoe that produces approximately two dozen running events annually across the New York City metropolitan area, serving more than 100,000 athletes per year. Its flagship is the Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon, which set an event record of 28,052 finishers on April 26, 2026, having grown from 262 marathon finishers at its 2011 inception. Other offerings include 5K, 10K, and half-marathon events on routes spanning Prospect Park, Central Park, and Governors Island, plus events in New Jersey.

Core products span three layers: an event registration and management platform with tiered early-bird pricing and group bundle options; the NYCRUNS Events App (iOS/Android) providing real-time runner tracking, interactive course maps, and race-day information on USATF-certified, electronically chip-timed courses with both gun-time and net-time scoring; and the newly launched Produced By NYCRUNS white-label service, an end-to-end event production offering (consulting, race management, medical, permitting, timing, marketing, VIP) marketed to brands, corporates, and high-profile individuals. Adjacent products include a paid membership ($60/year; $25 for military/first responders via GOVX) with 10% race discounts, deferral privileges, and prize-money eligibility, plus the NYCRUNS For All initiative providing complimentary entries to economically challenged NYC residents.

The business model blends recurring and transactional revenue: race entry fees (one-time, tiered), annual subscriptions (membership), sponsorship and partnership revenue from a roster that includes adidas (Official Footwear and Apparel), Samsung Health (Presenting Sponsor of the Ice Cream Social series), Nuun (Official Hydration), Poland Spring, Brooklyn Brewery, Oatly, and MarathonFoto (Official Photography), and emerging professional-services revenue from Produced By NYCRUNS. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via nycruns.com with secondary B2B sales on the white-label side. The company has a small full-time team under founder-CEO Lastoe (COO Michele Gretano, CTO Songyi Ma, CMO Chris Weiller) plus in-house development, and operates without disclosed institutional funding.

Name

NYCRuns

Legal name

NYCRUNS

Website

https://nycruns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NYCRUNS is a Brooklyn-based independent race organizer founded in 2011 that produces roughly two dozen running events annually in the NYC metro, serving 100,000+ athletes through race registration, timing, and the new Produced By white-label event-production service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Race Event Organization

NAICS

Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling) (MPAKADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)

Keywords

• Race event organization
• Running event management
• Race registration services
• Event timing systems
• Running community membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Race Entry Fees: Individual runners pay to register for races. Pricing varies by race and registration period, with early bird discounts available. Entry fees range from approximately $40-60 for 10K races to higher for half marathons.
2. NYCRUNS Membership: Annual paid membership ($60/year) providing race discounts (10%), free bib mailing, withdrawal/deferral privileges, and prize money eligibility. Military members pay $25 through GOVX partnership.
3. Race Credit System: Members can withdraw from races for race credit, which can be used (combined with member discount) for up to 50% or $40 off future race entries. Credit expires within 6 months.
4. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Partnerships with brands including adidas, Samsung Health, Nuun, Poland Spring, Brooklyn Brewery, and others. Partners receive branding, product integration, and activation opportunities at events.
5. Produced By NYCRUNS Service: White-label event production services for businesses, brands, and high-profile individuals looking to host bespoke running events. Full suite of services including consulting, operations, timing, permitting, and marketing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NYCRuns is a Brooklyn-based independent race organizing company that hosts approximately two dozen running events annually, including its flagship Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon. The company sells race registration, a paid membership program for repeat runners, a mobile app for runner tracking and results, and a white-label event production service branded "Produced By NYCRUNS" for external clients.

Product overview

NYCRUNS is a Brooklyn-based race organizer in its 16th year, producing approximately two dozen running events annually. The core offering is the race registration and event management platform supporting the flagship Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon (28,052 finishers in 2026) along with various 5K, 10K, and half marathon events. The product suite includes the NYCRUNS Events App for real-time runner tracking, a paid membership program ($60/year) offering discounts and withdrawal privileges, and the Produced By NYCRUNS white-label service for corporate and celebrity running events. Supporting offerings include the NYCRUNS For All community initiative providing free race entries and a club directory connecting hundreds of running crews.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon
• Annual Race Calendar (approx. two dozen events)
• Race Registration Service
• NYCRuns Paid Membership Program
• NYCRuns Mobile App
• Produced By NYCRUNS

Quantifiable outcome

• NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon grew from 262 finishers in 2011 (original Prospect Park format) to 28,052 finishers in 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Samsung HealthcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2025Samsung Health joined as Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Ice Cream Social Race Series. This partnership brings Samsung Health's brand visibility to one of NYCRUNS' popular summer race series, with integration into event marketing and participant engagement.
• Threes BrewingmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2025Threes Brewing named Official Partner of the 2025 NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon. Local Brooklyn brewery providing post-race refreshments.
• OatlymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 January 2025Oatly named Official Partner (As Well As The Extremely Official Oatmilk) of the 2025 NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon. Brings plant-based hydration options to runners.
• Poland SpringmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2022Poland Spring begins multi-year partnership as Official Water Partner, with presence at Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon and Prospect Park 5K & 10K Benefitting CAMBA.
• Brooklyn BrewerymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2022Brooklyn Brewery, leading global independent craft brewer, serves as Official Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beer Partner. Samples award-winning year-round, seasonal, and non-alcoholic brews to runners and supporters at expo and race weekend.
• Just SaladminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2022Just Salad engages runners at the Expo with focus on health, wellness, and sustainability.
• NYC FerryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2022NYC Ferry serves as Official Partner, providing transportation connections for runners to race venues.
• CannabistminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2022Cannabist serves as Official Partner, engaging runners at expo with brand experiences.
• MarathonFotocoreTechnology or Integration · 22 February 2022MarathonFoto signed as Official Race Photography Provider for all NYCRUNS races. Provides participants with photo options at up to 100,000 athletes annually. Runners receive one complimentary photo download.
• Nuun HydrationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 February 2022Multi-year agreement (extending through 2024) making Nuun the first-ever Official Hydration Partner. Nuun Endurance: Lemon Lime offered at aid stations and finish line. Nuun also sponsors three group training runs leading up to races.
• adidascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 February 2022Multi-year agreement making adidas the first-ever Official Footwear and Apparel Partner for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon. adidas creates footwear and apparel for race participants, volunteers, and staff, and is presenting sponsor of the race Expo.
• NYU Langone HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2021Tier 1 Signature Charity Partner for Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon. One of two featured charity partners with entries in the race and exclusive benefits for runners.
• CAMBAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2021Tier 1 Signature Charity Partner since 2014, benefiting from Prospect Park 5K and Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon. Long-standing partnership supporting Brooklyn communities.
• GOVXmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing military and first responder discounts. Active-duty and retired U.S. military along with many first responders eligible for $25 NYCRUNS membership (regularly $60). Minor dependents also eligible.
• RunnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRunna is the #1 coaching app, delivering personalized training plans for NYCRUNS runners. NYCRUNS runners can get a two-week free trial using code NYCRUNNA.
• Runner's WorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRunner's World+ membership offered exclusively to NYCRUNS runners for $10/year. Includes unlimited access to RunnersWorld.com, curated training plans, and member-only newsletter.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ironman Group: Ironman Group operates a large global portfolio of mass participation endurance events (Ironman triathlons, running series) and is part of Advance Publications, providing a benchmark for scale, sponsorship economics, and event-production capabilities across endurance categories beyond road running.

Others

• RunSignup: RunSignup provides race registration and event-management software to thousands of endurance events; it is comparable as the underlying technology and timing infrastructure that competes with NYCRUNS' proprietary registration platform and electronic timing systems.

Direct peers

• Spartan Race: Spartan operates a portfolio of obstacle course races and endurance events globally, with similar sponsorship structures, multi-tier pricing, and direct-to-consumer registration mechanics targeting amateur endurance athletes.
• New York Road Runners (NYRR): NYRR is the largest race organizer in New York City, operating the iconic TCS New York City Marathon plus a deep portfolio of weekly and seasonal road races in the same NYC geography as NYCRUNS, with overlapping runner audiences, sponsorship categories, and city-permit relationships.
• Tough Mudder: Tough Mudder designs and operates mass participation obstacle and endurance events with comparable sponsorship, registration, and volunteer-driven production models, addressing overlapping consumer segments interested in community-based fitness challenges.
• Competitor Group (Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series): Competitor Group operates the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, a global portfolio of mass participation road races with branded entertainment, sponsorship activations, and tiered pricing models directly comparable to NYCRUNS' event-format and monetization approach.

Regional players

• Great Run: Great Run is a UK-based mass participation race organizer operating the Great North Run and a portfolio of running events, providing a comparable international benchmark for mass participation race operations, sponsorship sales, and charity partnerships.
• Fleet Feet: Fleet Feet is a U.S. running-specialty retailer and event operator that hosts training programs and local races; comparable as a community-driven running brand operating in adjacent geographies with similar runner-engagement and sponsorship models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nycruns
• Facebookfacebook.com/nycruns
• Instagraminstagram.com/nycruns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NYCRuns