Inspired by the NYC Marathon? Go run a smaller race.

This morning, about 50,000 people woke up around 5 a.m., threw on their running shorts, choked down a slice of toast and some Gatorade, and began the long journey over to Staten Island to run the New York City Marathon.

When the neon parade of runners stormed through your neighborhood, it probably felt energizing and emotional — and maybe even inspired you to do it yourself.

That makes sense. I’ve felt it too!

But depending on where you watched the race, there were likely aspects of it that you didn’t see. The bloody nipples. The people doubled over on the George Washington Bridge. The many runners who didn’t reach the finish line. And the many more who did finish — and then wandered around the Upper West Side in tin foil blankets, looking bewildered and incapable of holding down a celebratory sandwich.

This is not a knock against the marathon — it’s arguably the best block party of the year in New York City.

Also, those challenges don’t seem to be deterring anyone. Demand for race participation — including the 26.2-mile one — has exploded since the pandemic. New York Road Runners told Gothamist earlier this year that only about 4% of the nearly 165,000 runners who applied for a spot through the general lottery got into this year’s marathon. (There are other ways to get into the race, including fundraising, time qualification and NYRR’s “9+1” program.)

But don’t despair — there are other ways to get that racing high without the marathon’s unique agonies.

For example, one Sunday morning last month, I made pancakes for my kids, threw in a load of laundry, laced up my running shoes, and then walked about two blocks to the starting line of the Chris Hoban Memorial 5 Miler in Bay Ridge.

After about 30 minutes of running through my own neighborhood, I’d finished the race (I came in third place, right behind a really fast 11-year-old) and was ready to eat a cheeseburger.

On nearly every weekend besides the first in November, there are smaller local races you can join that don’t require the planning, travel, entrance fee or extreme level of endurance needed to participate in the marathon.

Earlier this month, the Dyckman Run Club in Upper Manhattan hosted the Dyckman 5K, with more than 650 runners racing across Dyckman Street and along the Hudson River.

“This brought a lot of awareness in the community, in terms of being able to enjoy the parks of Inwood and Washington Heights — and the ability to run through streets where people grew up,” said Jenny Glavan, who’s been a member of Dyckman Run Club since its founding in 2019.

And she said all the money raised from the $45 entry fees went back towards local educational programs hosted by the club, including Cardio Thursdays and senior wellness events. (For context, the NYC Marathon entry fee this year was $315 for non-members of New York Road Runners.)

“For us, the most important thing is to have a platform in the community so our runners don’t have to go to other areas to attend a race — or even [just] to run,” said Galvan.

Below is an inexhaustive list of upcoming races around New York City. Know of another small race in town? Shout it out in the comments.

Running of the Bulls 5K, Van Cortlandt Park, Dec. 7, 2024

Jingle Jangle 5K, Forest Park, Richmond Hill, Dec. 22, 2024

Harry’s Handicap, Prospect Park, Jan. 1, 2025

Wooly Mammoth 5K and 10K, Veteran’s Pier, Bay Ridge, Jan. 4, 2025

Hoboken Italian Festival’s Super Sunday 5K, Pier A Park, Hoboken, Feb. 9, 2025

Rockaway Beach Parade Day Half Marathon and 5K, Rockaway Park, Mar. 1, 2025

LIC Waterfront 5K, Hunters Point Park, Jun. 7, 2025

Dyckman 5K, Dyckman Street, TBD 2025