The Photographer's Calendar: 12 NYC Races After the Marathon

The marathon is the biggest day on the New York running calendar, but it is not the only one. A season of smaller races, many with the same runners, gives you a steady place to shoot, list and sell. Here are 12 to put on your calendar.

Before you plan

Dates come from race listings and can change, so confirm each one with the organizer. Ask each organizer about its photography policy and credentials. Many races have an official photographer, and selling photos can require permission. It is one email, and it protects your gallery.

The 12 races

Brooklyn Fall Half (Sunday, November 8, 2026). Listed at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, with half marathon, 10K and 5K distances. A smaller field and a park setting, good for a first post-marathon shoot.
NYRR Cross Country Series #3 (Sunday, November 15, 2026). A scored 5K at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Mud, trails and tight packs make for dynamic frames.
Central Park Turkey Trot 4 Miler (Saturday, November 21, 2026). Listed with a 9 a.m. start at the Naumburg Bandshell. Costumes, families and fall color.
NYC Turkey Trot Half Marathon and 5K (Saturday, November 28, 2026). Listed in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, starting near the Queens Museum and the Unisphere, a strong landmark for backgrounds.
NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K (around Saturday, December 5, 2026). A Central Park winter race listed by several calendars. Confirm the date with NYRR.
NYRR Midnight Run (Thursday, December 31, 2026). A New Year's Eve race in Central Park that starts at midnight with fireworks. Low light, so bring fast lenses.
NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K (January 2027). A winter 10K listed for early January. Confirm the date and course.
NYRR Fred Lebow Half Marathon (January 2027). A winter half listed for January, with a large field. Confirm the date.
NYCRUNS Central Park Half Marathon (Sunday, February 28, 2027). A late-winter half in Central Park. Bundle-up faces and breath in the cold make for good frames.
United Airlines NYC Half (mid-March 2027). NYRR's flagship half, from Brooklyn over the Manhattan Bridge and through Times Square to Central Park. Listings show March 19 to 21, so confirm the date.
NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon (Sunday, April 25, 2027). Listed from McCarren Park in Williamsburg to Prospect Park, with a very large field.
NYRR Brooklyn Half (May). Prospect Park to the Coney Island boardwalk, listed for May 16 in 2026. Confirm the 2027 date with NYRR.

For more, see Best NYC Races to Shoot for Photographers Looking to Sell Race Photos, and for weekly shoots, look at NYRR Open Run, free community 5Ks held on Saturday mornings in neighborhood parks across the city.

How to build your season

Add each race to one calendar with the organizer's contact and policy.
Pick two or three races a season to cover well rather than twelve in a rush.
Shoot the same run clubs more than once. Familiar faces turn into repeat buyers.
Upload within a day or two, while runners are still searching.

A year-round home for event work

Surf Snaps is built for event work, and it is not only for running. Every session is tagged with a sport, a place and a date, so your marathon set, your turkey trot, your winter half and your Saturday soccer game all live in one profile and can be found on Explore. Joining and uploading are free, there is no storage bill and the Surf Snaps fee of up to 10% only applies when a photo sells. You can pass it on to the customer. You keep the copyright and get paid by bank transfer on the first of every month. Upload your next session or read how the whole season can add up in How to Turn One Race Weekend Into a Month of Photo Sales.

NYC Race Calendar FAQ

What races are worth shooting after the NYC Marathon?

Turkey trots in November, NYRR winter races, and the NYC Half and Brooklyn Half in spring are all strong choices.

Are these dates confirmed?

They come from race listings. Confirm each with the organizer before you plan.

Do I need permission to sell photos from these races?

It depends on the organizer. Many races have official photographers, so ask before you list photos for sale.

Can I shoot sports other than running on Surf Snaps?

Yes. Surf Snaps welcomes sports and action photography of any kind.

How do runners find my photos?

They search Explore by sport, place and date, without needing to know your name.