cprelay2026-Central Park Fall Duathlon/Row Boat Relay 10/4/26

Place

Central Park Boat House Parking Lot 72 E 72nd ST, New York, NY 10021

Description

Race Start Time and Location:

How would you like to row boat in your Duathlon in Central Park on 10/5? Once again, we are extremely excited to bring you the most unique race in NYC, our 41st Annual Central Park Solo Duathlon and Team Boat Relay on 10/5! Not only will you get to run and bike across iconic Central Park, but with a teammate you’ll each row a boat through the Lake — passing Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge & more ! We’d like to thank the Central Park Boat House as well as the Central Park Conservatory for making the Boat Relay Race possible.

Here is what you can expect on race day: You may sign up as a solo competitor and compete the run/bike/run by yourself OR sign up with a teammate and one person will run, the other will bike, and then you BOTH row boats through the Lake.

At 7:00am the race will start by the Central Park Boat House parking lot. Both Run #1 and #2 are 2.2 miles each, an out/back format (only solo duathletes complete 2nd run) You will run along the east side and make a turn around point by the 96th street Margret L Kempner Playground (right after the crosswalk). No significant elevation gain other than at the very start of the race, running up Cat Hill.  

The bike route consists of riding 2 loops around the entire Central Park drive. Since the newly Davis Center is completed and opened on 4/26, you are to ride the entire Central Park Drive, all 6 miles, and including the Harlem Hill. Total of 12 miles. The total elevation gain is about 300 ft per loop. The park is still open to the public and be mindful of other park users. Our previous route was 10 miles in total and having athletes to cut across to the west side via the 102nd Street Traverse. You no longer need to do that!

For athletes competing in the Team Boat Relay race, after you have completed the bike segment of the race, you and your partner will head to the Central Park Boat House dock, behind transition area. The Central Park Boat House staff will assist you boarding the boat. You will row through the Central Park Lake one loop and back to the far end of the boat dock crossing the yellow finishing buoys where your race will officially end (you and your partner do not have to sprint back to transition area).

Update: We planning to include the Harlem Hill section since the construction is completed for the new Davis Center! Will make our final decision near the race date!

Remember to read our Race FAQs if you haven’t done so.

Central Park Solo Duathlon distance:

• Run distance is 2.2 miles.
• Bike distance is 12 miles (2 loops).
• Run distance is 2.2 miles.

Central Park Team Boat Relay distance:

• Run distance is 2.2 miles.
• Bike distance is 12 miles (2 loops).
• Row boat distance is .7 miles.

Volunteers:

You are needed from 5:00 am to 11 am. Our races start at 7:00 am unless stated the otherwise. Once you arrived, report to our Race Director Victor. They will go over your race duty as well as where you need to be. Don’t leave until the race is finished. You have to sign out to earn your race credit for your next race.

The Central Park Solo Fall Duathlon/Team Boat Relay is not USAT certified or sanctioned. USAT racing license isn’t required to compete in our race.