The Brooklyn Half Marathon - More Than a Race

An experienced financial executive in New York City, Jahanara Nissar has worked with companies such as AllianceBernstein, where she achieved the highest grossing commission pad and developed innovative investment strategies. Alongside her current position as a managing partner at Lynx Equity Strategies, Jahanara Nissar enjoys running races such as the Brooklyn Half Marathon.

Now in its fourth decade, the Brooklyn Half Marathon has become the nation's largest 13.1 mile race. Its course begins close to the Brooklyn Museum and weaves through many iconic sites, such as Prospect Park, finishing at the boardwalk at Coney Island. The race is also part of the New York Road Runners (NYRR) Five-Borough Series.

NYRR hosts these races as part of its mission to enhance the local community. With roots in a 40-member running club, the organization has sought to inspire others to leverage the sport of running races to build community in New York on the day of the event and beyond.

Those who participate in the Brooklyn Half Marathon help NYRR by funding its programs, which are offered free of charge to youth and those in need. Programs include Open Run, NYRR Striders, and Rising New York Road Runners. For more information about these programs or details about this year's race, visit www.nyrr.org.

Tips for Running a Marathon

Jahanara Nissar is a managing partner at Lynx Equity Strategies in New York. Jahanara Nissar is also an avid runner and has completed the Brooklyn Half-Marathon in 2019 and the Marine Corps Marathon in 2006.

Marathon and half marathon training are different compared to regular running mainly due to the sheer distance. In a marathon, regular running tips, such as wearing the right pair of shoes, staying hydrated, and remembering to apply sunscreen, are highly applicable. It is generally a good practice to run smaller races such as the 5k and 10k before attempting a marathon. It builds good habits as running consistently before attempting long distances can help the body adjust and reduce injury.

When training, it is also important to follow a log that generally has three to five shorter runs each week with a long run a little less than once a week. Rest days should be taken once or twice a week and as needed as energy and health demand. The log is important as it is a concrete plan for slowly increasing distances over time.