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NYPD, FDNY and DSNY take on New York Road Runners Half Marathon
Members of the city agencies, among others and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, were to race each other for the third year in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The 2024 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon medal ribbon. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/New York Road Runners via Getty Images)
New York’s fastest public servants are vying to win the Commissioner's Cup, a competition within the 2025 New York Road Runners annual United Airlines Half Marathon.
Members of the Mayor’s Office and eight city agencies are participating in the third Commissioner's Cup in support of the city’s “decades-long partnership with NYRR,” according to a press release.
“It really is an opportunity for each of the agencies to promote fitness and exercise and all the benefits that come from being fit, mental wellness, critical wellness into the culture of their agency.” New York Road Runner CEO Rob Simmelkjaer said.
The half marathon tomorrow includes the New York Police, Fire, Health and Mental Hygiene, Parks, Transportation, Sanitation and Environmental Protection departments. The Metropolitan Transit Authority also running.Each agency will have a commasioner take the role as team captain.
“It's a great way for the people who serve our city across all areas of government to get together, meet each other and bond through their common level running,” Simmelkjaer added.
Placement is determined by the combined scores of the top five runners within an agency. The agency with the highest average time scores will be the victor of the Commissioner’s Cup.
Last year, the NYPD won first place, followed by the Department of Transportation in second and Fire Department in third. The first Commissioner's Cup in 2023 was a showdown between the NYPD and FDNY, where the former was the victor.
When asked about the success of the police in the Commissioner’s Cup, Simmelkjaer told City & State, “New York's finest, a lot of them, are in really good shape, and they also have leadership at NYPD that is really passionate about running.”
He mentioned how NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella is participating in the race saying, “Her passion for running is infused throughout a lot of the others at the department as well. So I think there's real buy-in from the top down at NYPD as to the value of running and physical fitness.”