Marathon season is here! With RUN NYC’s 26.2 Training Program in full swing, September offers a number of opportunities to test your physical conditioning in order to peak in time for your fall marathon.

Formed in 1972, with original members consisting of David Blackstone, Frank Handekman, Jack Brennan, Fritz Mueller, and “Mr. NYRR” Fred Lebow, the NIKE Central Park Track Club (CPTC) has grown into one of the most dominating and recognizable running clubs in the nation. With more than 400 active members, CPTC has no signs of slowing down.

On any given day, runners will battle heat, cold, hills, trails, early morning runs, late-night runs, running alone or elbow to elbow with thousands of fellow runners in the midst of a race – all requiring dedicated training like no other. With motivation the ever constant battle, options in your training help to get that first foot out the door. And a new running addition to the West Side Highway in NYC finally provide you a perfect training counterpart to Central Park loops.

It’s always a busy summer here in NYC and this one has been no different for RUN NYC.

Among the 10,500 participants in the NYC Half-Marathon were a dozen red-shirted NIKE pacers, providing encouragement and assistance to runners of all levels in order to accomplish their goals. Among these faithful pacers was Shane Neil.

They were off into the night before we knew it, and stunned we each looked at one another dumbfounded thinking the same thing: how in the world could he run that fast 95.5 miles into a race?!

Whether next Sunday’s NYC Half-Marathon is your first race or your 50th, it’s always good to head into race day with a few things in mind. The following six tips will get you to the start—and finish line—in good shape.

With the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE just a few days away, let’s meet two runners from RUN NYC that can’t wait to cross the finish line.

In case you haven’t heard, the NYC Half-Marathon course is not be missed! Keep reading to find out all about it!