Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation Policy
NYRR has expanded our existing Cancellation Policy to allow greater flexibility to pregnant and postpartum athletes who need to cancel their entry to one of our three marquee events with race drawings. This policy expansion allows pregnant or postpartum athletes who are registered to participate in the RBC Brooklyn Half, United Airlines NYC Half, or TCS New York City Marathon an opportunity to cancel their entry and receive non-complimentary guaranteed entry for one of the next three (3) subsequent NYRR races for which they originally registered. Please read below for more information on this policy.
Eligibility
An entrant must meet one (1) of the following criteria to be considered eligible for a Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation:
- The entrant will be pregnant at the time of the race date they are registered for.
- The entrant had been pregnant prior to the race and will be postpartum at the time of the race date they are registered for. For this policy, NYRR defines postpartum as one (1) year following the birth of a child.
- The entrant had been pregnant and experienced pregnancy loss up to six (6) months prior to the race date they are registered for. Pregnancy loss is defined as the death of an unborn baby (fetus) at any time during pregnancy. Pregnancy loss can include, but is not limited to, anembryonic pregnancy; miscarriage; ectopic pregnancy; molar pregnancy; and/or stillbirth.
Additional eligibility requirements
- The entrant must be officially registered for the event that they are requesting a cancellation for.
- The entrant must cancel their entry in their NYRR Dashboard, as well as request a pregnancy and postpartum cancellation through Runner Services before the scheduled race date (i.e., by no later than 11:59 p.m. the night prior to the scheduled event date).
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellations are currently available only for NYRR’s three marquee races with drawings (RBC Brooklyn Half, United Airlines NYC Half, TCS New York City Marathon).
Requests
To request a Pregnancy or Postpartum Cancellation, an entrant must follow all of these steps:
- Cancel your entry to the race in your NYRR Dashboard any time before the date of the race (by 11:59 p.m. the night prior to the scheduled event date). To cancel, go to your NYRR account, logging in with your email address and password. Go to your dashboard and then the Registered Events section to view the status of your event registration and follow the process to cancel your entry.
- Submit an NYRR Help Form requesting a pregnancy and postpartum cancellation. Please use the case category “Race Cancellation - Pregnancy / Postpartum Request.” You must request the pregnancy and postpartum cancellation before the date of the race, no later than 11:59 p.m. the night prior to the scheduled event date.
- NYRR will be in contact with you shortly via email requesting your Pregnancy/Postpartum Cancellation Medical Authorization Form.
- Fill out the form and have it signed by a physician, registered midwife, or other licensed health care provider. Email the form back to NYRR. NYRR will be in contact with you following the request with an update on the approval. Please note it may take up to two weeks to review the request.
All race fees are nonrefundable, and an athlete may not reenter the current year's race after their cancellation request has been submitted and approved.
Cancellation and Guaranteed Entry
Athletes who receive approval for a Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation may defer their entry to one of the next three (3) subsequent NYRR races for which they originally registered. For example, if an athlete is registered for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon and they are granted a cancellation, they may choose to register for the 2024, 2025, or 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.
If an athlete has been approved for a Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation, they do not need to state which year they intend to claim guaranteed entry for. The athlete will receive non-complimentary guaranteed entry for the next year, and if they do not claim the guaranteed entry, it will automatically roll over into the following year until the three (3) year guaranteed entry period is complete.
NYRR will consider a Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation complete once an athlete has registered for one of the next three (3) subsequent NYRR races for which they originally registered for, or the three (3)-year guaranteed entry window has passed.
Additional Requirements and Considerations
An athlete must claim their non-complimentary guaranteed entry during the application window and pay the entry fee in the year they intend to run. They will receive an email at the start of the application window about their guaranteed entry advising them how to claim. If they do not claim the guaranteed entry, it will automatically roll over into the following year until the three (3)-year guaranteed entry period is complete. Athletes do not need to contact NYRR or take any action during the application window if they do not intend to run that year.
If an athlete claims their guaranteed entry and registers for the event, but does not participate in the event, their Pregnancy and Postpartum cancellation will still be considered complete. Athletes will still be permitted to follow the standard cancellation policy for that event and receive guaranteed non-complimentary entry for the following year.
NYRR will consider any registration for one of the next three (3) subsequent NYRR races for which they originally registered for as a completion of the cancellation request. If an athlete registers for the race in a subsequent year through the drawing or another guaranteed entry method, they will not continue to have their guaranteed entry for any subsequent years.
Consecutive Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation Requests
If an athlete becomes pregnant again during a pregnancy and postpartum guaranteed entry period, they may request a second consecutive pregnancy and postpartum cancellation to extend the time the athlete can defer their race entry to the three-year period allowed by the most recent Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation request.
NYRR will allow no more than two consecutive Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation requests per NYRR event (for a single entry to that event). If the athlete is unable to compete after requesting two consecutive cancellations, the athlete understands they waive their right to a guaranteed entry through the Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation policy and must gain entry via the drawing or another guaranteed entry method. However, athletes are allowed to request additional non-consecutive pregnancy and postpartum cancellations for future pregnancies.
Team for Kids Runners
If you have received entry for the event through Team for Kids, you may cancel and obtain a Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation. Athletes will still be responsible for fulfilling the fundraising pledge commitment by the original deadline. Fundraising commitments cannot be deferred to the following year; they must be completed in the year the commitment was made. For more information and to request a cancellation, please contact teamforkids@nyrr.org.
Official Charity Partner Program Runners
If you apply through an Official Charity Partner for an event and wish to cancel or defer for any reason, please contact your charity directly for cancellation requirements. Charity entrants who meet their fundraising requirements with the charity partner and are registered for the race may contact NYRR for a Pregnancy and Postpartum Cancellation after completing the cancellation process with their charity. NYRR will contact your charity to confirm that the fundraising pledge was met in the current year before granting the cancellation request.
International Tour Operator Runners
If you apply through an official International Tour Operator and wish to cancel or defer, please contact your tour operator directly for their policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay again when I claim my guaranteed entry?
- Yes. The guaranteed entry you claim within the next three (3) years will be non-complimentary.
What if I already qualified for guaranteed entry through the 9+1 program, but get pregnant prior to claiming my guaranteed entry?
- To be eligible for a pregnancy and postpartum cancellation, you must be officially registered for the event. To qualify for the cancellation after completing 9+1, you must first claim the guaranteed entry that you earned during the claim period.
What if I’m adopting a child?
- Currently the policy does not extend to athletes who are in the process of adoption.