While most revelers toast the new year with champagne and noisy celebrations, a different breed of New Yorkers opted to kickstart 2026 with endorphins, running the annual New York Road Runners (NYRR) Midnight Run in Central Park, as ABC7 NY reported.
Sam Ryan and Liz Cho, both familiar faces from Eyewitness News, joined over 4,300 participants in the sold-out event, the race itself became a platform to set intentions for the year ahead, with NYRR’s chief event production officer Ted Metellus telling the New York Post, "For four miles you can think about the goals you accomplished or plan to accomplish as you run."
The run winners weren't the only victors; everyone partaking embraced a healthy beginning to the New Year, propelled by festivities including a DJ-led pre-race party and fluorescent race bibs that shone in a newly created Midnight Run Glow Tunnel experience, while a brilliant fireworks display provided a visual treat as ABC7 NY documented.
What started in 1979 with 1,600 runners has burgeoned to nearly 5,000 enthusiasts spanning ages 8 to 91, mirroring the appeal of Sao Paulo's century-old Sao Silvestre Road Race which sparked this tradition, according to details from the New York Post.
The course looped past Central Park's iconic sights, like the Loeb Boathouse, enhanced by midway treats like sparkling cider—a fan-favorite tradition—this activity offered runners a chance to hydrate with a festive twist, and as they took strides towards finishing, the skies were lit, the park's own constellation reflecting the fresh starts and resolutions of runners, including dedicated yearly participant Kevin Hodge who called the experience "really fun" and "extremely rewarding" in his interview with the New York Post.
Among the constellation of participants there was Neil Weiss, a volunteer leader with NYRR, who has found community and camaraderie through the event despite not being a runner; Weiss noted to the New York Post, "I’m not seeing anybody right now, I’m divorced, and I’ve got nobody to kiss on New Year’s Eve, so the way I see it is that I don’t need a date, I’ve got a date with about 5,000 other people," revealing that personal connections can be just as meaningful as the fitness aspect of the Midnight Run.
Both sources emphasized the inclusive nature of the event, underlining that performance didn't overshadow participation; whether to walk, run, or a combination of both, the aim was to cross the finish line and herald the year triumphantly, encapsulated by Lisa Hernandez's sentiment from her interview with the New York Post encouraging future participants: "Walk, run, however, you have to do it. Just do the whole thing and finish it."
