Sleepy Hollow is not a bustling metropolis. It is not a massive city with millions of residents lining the streets and post race parties all across town. No, it is not these things, but it is home to one of the more personal and welcoming half marathons I’ve run. On a Saturday morning in late March that felt more like late fall, the 2016 iteration of the half marathon lines up downtown to begin.

Every year in New York City, millions gather around Times Square to revel in memories of the previous year, celebrate the upcoming one, and see the ball drop. At midnight, the immense ball descends the tower, and confetti sprays across the whole city. Revelers cheer, toast, kiss, or possibly do all three. Several blocks uptown, another group, a somewhat smaller and less warmly dressed one, watches fireworks in Central Park, and begins running a four mile loop of the park on the stroke of midnight.