Nearly 5,000 women run Maybelline Half Marathon in Central Park

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Central Park was the backdrop for one of New York City's most inspiring running traditions on Sunday.

The Maybelline Women's Half Marathon, hosted by nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR), celebrated its 20th running with approximately 5,000 women tackling 13.1 miles through the park's iconic terrain.

Maybelline New York returns as title sponsor for the second year, and the day promised more than just a race. There was a full festival experience at the Naumburg Bandshell, with giveaways from Maybelline and Garnier and custom engraving on a Super Stay Matte Ink lip color as a personalized finisher's keepsake.

Running with Team Maybelline were women making waves beyond the course: content creator and period-poverty advocate Nadya Okamoto (joined by her two sisters), Sportsish founder Lily Shimbashi, and Peloton's bilingual cycling instructor Camila Ramon.

But the heart of the race is in the stories of its everyday athletes. Among the 5,000 participants was a pancreatic cancer survivor who turned to running to reclaim her body, a Queens teacher and track coach returning to the race where her half marathon journey began 15 years ago, and two 17-year-old best friends who met through NYRR's free high school wellness program, Run for the Future.

With Mental Health Awareness Month approaching in May, Maybelline will use the race to raise funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) through its Brave Together program, which supports people living with anxiety and depression.

New for this year: a volunteer-led water refill station on the course, part of NYRR's push toward greener race-day operations.

The Maybelline Women's Half is one of 60 annual races produced by NYRR, whose year-round mission centers on uplifting women in sport and making running accessible to all New Yorkers.

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