WHY RUNNING IN NYC?...........................02 BENEFITS OF RUNNING..........................03 RUNNING ROUTES IN NYC......................08
- CENTRAL PARK RESERVOIR - HUDSON RIVER PARK - BROOKLYN BRIDGE - EAST RIVER PROMENADE
RUNNING STORES IN NYC ......................26
- NIKE RUNNING STORE - JACK RABBIT SPORTS - SUPER RUNNERS SHOP - NEW YORK RUNNING COMPANY
RUNNING APPS & TECHNOLOGIES.......36 THEMED RACES IN NYC ..........................44
- COLOR RUN - ZOMBIE RUN - SPARTAN RACE - NYC MARATHON - EMPIRE STATE RUN-UP
REFERENCES............................................55
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ew York City is one of the largest cities in the world with full of energy, and it also has one of the best skyline views in the world. Living in the city costs a lot; in order to keep yourself healthy and stay in shape without breaking the bank to buy gym memberships, why not take a run in the city to enjoy full of benefits in addition to the health factors? There are many benefits of running in New York City. First of all, you do not have to spend a lot of money to run in the city; all you need is a pair of running shoes to get started. There are also a lot of running stores in the city that specialize in finding the perfecct pair of running shoes based on your needs. Some of the stores even host weekly or bi-weekly running events through out the city. Therefore, you get to meet people and make new friends
while joining these events. Second, running in New York City allows you to see the beautiful views of the city in a short amount of time. No matter which neighborhood you live in in the city, you can always find a place nearby to run, whether it’s near the water or in the park. If you feel like running only for the purposes of staying in shape and keeping you healthy aren’t enough, and you want some more challenges and fun. There are a variety of themed running races being hosted in the city through out a year to keep you motivated to train yourself. I hope that you will find this book helpful if you are just starting to get ready to run in New York City. Or if you are already an expert of running in New York City, you can still enjoy reading this book!
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IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH
Believe it or not, running is actually a great way to increase your overall level of health. Research shows that running can raise your levels of good cholesterol while also helping you increase lung function and use. In addition, running can also boost your immune system and lower your risk of developing blood clots.
PREVENT DISEASE
For women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer. It can also help reduce the risk of having a stroke. Many doctors today recommend running for people who are in the early stages of diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis, and it is proven to help reduce the risk of having a heart attack. By helping the arteries retain their elasticity and strengthening the heart, your chances of suffering a heart attack can be significantly reduced.
LOSE WEIGHT
Running is one of the best forms of exercise for losing or maintaining a consistent weight. You will find that it is a leading way to burn off extra calories and that it is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute, following only after cross country skiing.
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BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE
Not all of the benefits of running are physical. Running can provide an noticeable boost to your confidence and self-esteem. By setting and achieving goals, you can help give yourself a greater sense of empowerment that will leave you feeling much happier.
RELIEVE STRESS
Stress can actually cause a number of health and mood problems. It can also diminish appetite and sleep quality. When you run, you force your body to exert excess energy and hormones. Running also helps to reduce your chances of developing tension headaches.
ELIMINATE DEPRESSION
When you are depressed, the last thing you likely want to do is to get up and go for a run. Yet you will find that after only a few minutes of running, your brain will start to secrete hormones that naturally improve your mood. In fact, there are few things in the world that can better or more rapidly treat depression than exercise such as running.
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CENTRAL PARK Reservoir The famous New York Marathon has its final miles in Central Park every year and it’s easy to understand why: the park, with a variety of terrain and excellent scenery, is the ultimate runner’s dream.
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ith its many paths that range in level of difficulty, Central Park allows a runner to experience clarity and freedom in this picturesque urban oasis.
Named for the former First Lady who enjoyed jogging in the area, the Reservoir, as it is more commonly known, covers 106 acres between 86th and 96th Streets in Central Park. The site is home to Mallard ducks, Canadian geese, and many other species of birds, and provides a stunning backdrop to a sometimes-mundane activity. The views of the skyline from the Reservoir are some of the best in the City and, in the spring, blossoming cherry trees offer additional splendor.
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The Reservoir is encircled by a 1.58 mile track dedicated specifically for running, jogging, and walking- no wheels allowed. The trail is a bit narrow; therefore, posted signs urge that travel around the Reservoir continue in a counter-clockwise motion, and this advice is wisely heeded to avoid angry glares from fellow users. Unlike the Park Drives, which are made mostly of asphalt, the surface of the track is comprised of very fine gravel, which is softer and easier on a long-distance runner’s knees. Additionally, the shape of the track is easier on a long-distance runner’s psyche because she can see how far she has gone and just how much farther she is going.
96t
hS
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WHERE:
between 86th St and 96th St in Central Park
SUBWAY: C B 4 5 6 LENGTH:
1.58 mi
WHEN TO GO:
86t
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
hS
t
Anytime!
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
The views of the skyline of the City and cherry blossom in the spring.
Central Park 86
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HUDSON RIVER PARK Hudson River Park is a waterside park on the Hudson River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City borough of Manhattan.
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icycle and pedestrian paths, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, span the park north to south, opening up the waterfront for recreational use. The park includes tennis and soccer fields, batting cages, children’s playground, dog run, and many other features. The parkland also incorporates several rebuilt North River piers along its length, formerly used for shipping.
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Whether heading north towards the George Washington Bridge or south to Battery Park, the tree-lined stretch along the Hudson River is one of the city’s most well traveled running routes. Above 96th Street the fences give way and you are running right along the grassy banks of the Hudson. The southern end is dotted with playgrounds and sprinklers until you reach the gorgeous oasis of Rockefeller Park. While running, be careful to look out for bikers and the cars in the midtown stretch.
George Washington Bridge
Bronx
WHERE:
Westside from the Battery Park to the George Washington Bridge
SUBWAY: 1 2 3 A C E
Central Park
LENGTH:
12 mi
WHEN TO GO:
Anytime!
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
Views of the Hudson River
Jersey City
Battery Park
Manhattan Brooklyn
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
The Brooklyn Bridge has become an iconic symbol not only associated with New York City, but also as part of American pop culture. With all of this history, why not take a run on the first steel-wire suspension bridge and gaze at the incredible New York City Skyline?
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o get started on your run, there are two entrances on the bridge from either the Manhattan or Brooklyn Boroughs. To enter the bridge by foot from Manhattan, choose the walkway at the end of Centre Street to start your run. Conversely, from the Brooklyn side, enter the bridge from Tillary and Adams Streets. Also, another option is walking up the stairs at Prospect Street between Cadman Plaza East and West.
It’s extremely crucial to know which lane to run in when going over the Brooklyn Bridge. The right lane is designated for bicyclists. It’s imperative to stay out of the right lane since these bicyclists are moving at soaring speeds. Unfortunately, too many accidents have occurred with runners and bicyclists sharing a lane. Therefore, the left lane is for runners and walkers alike. Advanced runners, please be mindful of slower runners, walkers, and even leisurely sightseers during your run.
The Brooklyn Bridge is approximately 1.1 miles each way. Most avid runners can run the bridge each way without breaking a sweat. To give yourself more of a challenge, time yourself to see how long it would take you to run the bridge three times for a solid 5K. However, if you are a beginner runner, the bridge might seem daunting and an unachievable task. If so, make it a solid goal to run the bridge at least half way while walking the other half.
To get a head-start over the crowds of wandering tourists, it’s best to run earlier in the day if possible, ideally before 11:00am. The historic Brooklyn Bridge is a popular site year-round, but crowds fill this iconic spot fairly quickly in the warmer months, too. No matter when you go, though, your run will be a truly unique experience for sure--besides, you never know: you may just witness a wedding proposal in the midst of it!
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Pl
Pike St
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St Ja m es
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Cen
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WHERE:
From Manhattan, choose the walkway at the end of Centre St to start your run. From the Brooklyn side, enter the bridge from Tillary and Adams St.
Manhattan Bridge
SUBWAY: 2 3 4 5 B D F A C
Brooklyn Bridge
LENGTH:
1.1 mi each way
WHEN TO GO:
Ideally before 11am
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
New York City Skyline
Tillart St
Adams St
Cadman Plaza W
East River
EAST RIVER PROMENADE If you live along the East Side of Manhattan, this is your little getaway from the tall buildings into the open air along the water.
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urprisingly, you can run over 6 miles in an uninterrupted out and back run. The recommended start is the 60th Street ramp along York Avenue. From there you can run uptown. This is right near the 59th Street Bridge, which makes for a nice addition for those Queens runners entering the city from the Queensboro Bridge.
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Heading north, you’ll get a nice view of Roosevelt Island and Queens. There aren’t many options, except for a side stroll through Carl Schurz Park and a glance at Gracie Mansion. On the way return you’ll get a nice view of the 59th Street Bridge and the Air Tram crossing the river to Roosevelt Island.
91s
t St
85t
Ave
3rd Av e
hS t
79t
2nd
WHERE:
Between 60th St and 91st St. The recommended start is the 60th St ramp along York Ave.
hS t
SUBWAY: 4 5 6 N R LENGTH:
72n
dS t
2 mi
WHEN TO GO:
Anytime!
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
Ro
os
ev elt
Isl an d
Views of Roosevelt Island and East River
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NIKE RUNNING STORE
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his 9,000-square-foot, bi-level spot is dedicated to cardio enthusiasts and is the first of its kind in NYC. The specialty store caters to runners by offering services and promotions beyond just selling sneakers, clothes and accessories. For example, the stores offer running workshops and allow customers to try out new merchandise. The space features a wall with high-definition screens playing videos about sponsored athletes, a custom
graphic on the stairwell sketched by Nike Free shoe designer Mark Miner and a wood floor made out of reclaimed bleachers from a local college. There are tons of free extras for workout friends: If you’re looking for some electronic juice mid-run, stop by to recharge your iPod and nab a digital gait analysis on an iPad. We especially dig that you can drop off old sneakers for donation, and they’ll be recycled into sport courts and new Nike shoes.
NIKE RUNNING STORE 156 5th Ave New York, NY 10010
N R F M 6 212.243.8560 nike.com
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JACK RABBIT SPORTS
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eatly organized to outfit runners, cyclists and swimmers alike, this depot offers a well-edited selection of clothing, shoes and gear for triathletes, with a secondary focus on yoga clothes. Jack Rabbit’s knowledgable staff can point you to the right items for your needs, many of which boast the latest technologies to keep you dry, comfortable and moving swiftly. The staff goes through at least a month of both classroom and hands-on training before being qualified to assist people with shoe fittings along with a requirement to
complete a rigorous set of written training on all aspects of running, swimming, cycling, nutrition, training, and recovery. Regardless of the great lengths ensuring that everyone on our staff understands how to work with people of all athletic levels, our staff will ask questionsto make sure we truly understand each customer’s background and needs so we can make the best suggestions. JackRabbit Sports brings years of experience to an ever evolving industry of innovation and trends. We help people cut through the hype and make more educated decisions.
JACKRABBIT SPORTS 42 W 14th St New York, NY 10011
N R F M 4
6
212.727.2980 jackrabbitsports.com
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SUPER RUNNERS SHOP
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uper Runners Shop has been in business for over 33 years. They have 7 Shops throughout New York City. The company has a long history in the running community and they strive to continue that same involvement in the future. It all started with Gary Muhrcke and Jane Muhrcke, who envisioned a running shop that would provide runners with the best service and products possible. Gary, winner of the 1st New York City Marathon, instills the philosophy in his staff, that everyone and anyone can start and keep
running. As his famous phrase speaks for itself, Never Stop Running! Whether you’re training for a marathon, running cross country, or just running, this small chain has the best selection of serious running shoes anywhere, with names like Newton, New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Nike and Adidas. There’s a solid selection of Crocs, running clothes, socks, water-bottle holders, running watches and jogging strollers. The staff also organizes group runs.
SUPER RUNNERS SHOP 1337 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10128
4 5 6
212.369.6010 superrunnersshop.com
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NEW YORK RUNNING COMPANY
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his Princeton-based athletic chain stocks footwear and apparel for both amateur runners and marathoners. Athletic clothing ranges from basic dry-fit tops to customized sports bras according to cup size. But the brand’s main draw is its free gait analysis, meant to match each customer with his or her proper sneaker. Tall shelves display dozens of styles from Nike, Puma, Adidas, and more.
Depending on how the shopper’s foot strikes the ground while jogging on a treadmill, a trained staffer will recommend a cushion shoe (featuring a high arch and little support), stability shoe (with an extra wedge under the arch for maximum support), or a motion-control shoe (rigid, durable styles for the flat-footed). The running enthusiasts on staff also lead various weekly training groups ranging from long runs to women-only outings.
NEW YORK RUNNING COMPANY 10 Columbus Circle Ste 210 New York, NY 10019
A C B D 1 212.823.9626 run.com
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APPS RUNKEEPER RunKeeper allows users to track fitness activities such as walking, running and cycling using GPS and to see detailed statistics around their pace, distance, and time. It also allows users to get statistics, progress, and coaching through their headphones with built-in audio cues; listen and control music while working out; measure their heart rate and take pictures to share and save while engaged in an activity. This application tracks performance over time, allowing users to view a detailed history of activities; get notifications for new personal “bests” and milestones; measure progress against current goals; follow detailed plans and turn any activity into a route to do again later using built-in
GPS. RunKeeper allows users to share their personal content with friends through posting activities, achievements and plans to Facebook and Twitter, and allows supporters watch live maps of workouts and races as users run. RunKeeper integrates with the built-in music function of the phone and social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare. This application also has an online social network of users that share progress, goals, training programs and mapped routes. What makes this application unique is having released an open API for outside developers to plug into RunKeeper users’ feeds.
Nathan Yau from FlowingData has mapped runners’ itineraries living in 22 different cities, including 18 in The United States. He used the app RunKeeper to trail runners’ paths and he noticed that their circuits are often near water and parks. Maps to discover, where runners run on each other’s sneakers.
RunKeeper, the popular running, walking, and cycling tracking app for iPhone, has gotten even better recently with a whole new design, and funner, easier to use experience.
NIKE+ RUNNING Much like RunKeeper, the Nike+ Running provides all the stats, history, and sharing capabilities you could ask for. Nike+ has its share of tricks up its sleeve though. You can get cheered on by a real time crowd, activate a powersong to help you finish off your run, and keep track of your performance in different weather. Nike+ works with out without any of the Nike accessories as well, so if you want to just run with your phone, it won’t be a problem. There are some shortcomings, however, that need to be mentioned too. Firstly, the app generally prefers to be kept in the foreground -- and provides its own lock-screen button -- but that means your phone’s screen is never completely turned off, which together with the liberal use of the GPS radio will make a quick dent in your battery’s juice supply. We’d advise against using the Nike+ GPS app on a half-hour jog in the morning and then expecting
a full day’s productivity from the same phone without a recharge. Another foible for us is the perplexing omission of a lap counter. The iPhone’s ultra-basic stock Clock app can keep lap times, but not the Nike+. And oh yes, we almost forgot -- when you achieve a milestone of some description, you get a celebrity giving you a peppy Attaboy message. We’re not joking, Nike calls the audio greetings Attaboys 2.0, and we call them absolute rubbish. To conclude then, Nike has put together a very polished app, with few downsides that we can really harp on. It makes for an entertaining little accompaniment to what’s usually an unpleasantly dull affair, and it certainly manages to generate an itch to keep improving and bettering your numbers. Which, given the budget price of $1.99, makes it a winner in our eyes.
Much like RunKeeper, the Nike+ Running provides all the stats, history, and sharing capabilities you could ask for.
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MAP MY RUN Whether you’re a serious runner or a casual jogger, tracking your workouts will help you get and stay in shape. Enter MapMyRUN. This free cloud-based service offers a host of tools for runners of all levels. Getting started with MapMyRUN is a breeze: Sign up for a free account, and you’ll be good to go. Your options for planning and tracking workouts and nutrition are neatly laid out, in a tabbed interface across the top of the screen. From your Home screen, you can see your recent activity, including workouts you’ve completed and food you’ve logged. As the name suggests, MapMyRun is all about tracking your route. On top of that, MapMyRun tracks your distance, calories, elevation, and your nutrition for the day. The nutritional info is what makes MapMyRun stand out the most. If you are lagging behind your regular times you
can check in to see what you ate on other days and try to improve your overall health. It also gives you an estimate on how much you should eat, and how many glasses of water you need. MapMyRUN’s controls could use a bit of fine-tuning, but I found it a very useful tool for planning my workouts. The Web-based app syncs with the company’s mobile apps, which allow you to use the GPS on your iOS or Android device to record your workouts as they happen. The mobile interface isn’t as slick as that offered by the Nike+GPS app, but the desktop component is far superior: While the NikePlus.com service often feels like one big Nike ad, MapMyRUN.com manages to put you--and your workouts--front and center.
Runners get to see where some of the popular routes other people have run by going into MapMyRun’s website
TECHNOLOGIES NIKE+ FUELBAND The Nike+ FuelBand is an activity tracker that is worn on the wrist and is to be used with an Apple iPhone or iPad device. As part of the Quantified Self movement, the FuelBand allows its wearers to track their physical activity, steps taken daily, and amount of calories burned. The information from the wristband is integrated into the Nike+ online community and phone application, allowing wearers to set their own fitness goals, monitor their progression, and compare themselves to others part of the community. Nike+ relies on the gamification of fitness activities turning all tracked movement into NikeFuel points, which can unlock achievements, can be shared with friends, or can be used to engage others in competition. The FuelBand comes with access to the Nike+ web community that is setup via the Nike+ Connect Software. The software is a necessary component of the activity tracking, as the customization of personal statistics through the software is what enables the FuelBand to calculate the amount of calories burned, as well as the number of NikeFuel points gained. The Nike+ web community allows product owners to create an online profile where they can showcase their personal statistics, such as how many
goals have been met, how many steps have been taken, and how many NikeFuel points have been amassed. The profile also displays the trophies and achievements an individual has unlocked, and can be integrated with Facebook and Twitter in order to connect with friends. Upon logging into the Nike+ site, users are given a graphical display of their daily activity, proximity to hitting their goal, positive feedback, and recommendations for more activities. The website also has an activity section that gives a graphical breakdown of a user’s total activity by year, month, and day. The FuelBand has a mobile phone application that is compatible with only iOS 5.0+. The Nike+ FuelBand application is an on-the-go addition to the web community; it syncs information from the wristband to the iPhone (or iPad) via Bluetooth, and subsequently uploads the information to the Nike+ site. Users are able to change their daily goal, unlock achievements, see activity breakdown, and connect with friends through the mobile application. The Nike+ FuelBand application is 142 MB, free to download, and has a 4+ rating on the iTunes store.
The Nike+ FuelBand is an activity tracker that is worn on the wrist and is to be used with an Apple iPhone or iPad device.
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JAYBIRD BLUEBUDS X As beneficial as the right playlist can be to boosting your workout, the wrong pair of headphones can be equally detrimental. Maybe the sound is too tinny or the earbuds won’t stay put. Maybe after a few sweat sessions they start to fall apart or, worse, smell bad. Every runner is different, but every runner who runs with music appreciates the beauty of the right pair of headphones. These earbuds are Wireless. They connect with your iPhone via Bluetooth, leaving you free to move as you please. The wraparound cord is not long at all, especially after adjusted to fit your head, and didn’t bounce much as you run. In terms of fit and comfort. These earbuds are extremely customizable. The kit comes with three different sizes of
ear tips, plus three different sizes of what’s called Secure Fit Ear Cushions, which are tucked under the folds of your ears for maximum hold. The buds can be worn both over and under the ears, and the wraparound cable can be shortened with tiny cord clips around the back of your head. The over-the-ear style is a little more advanced and trickier to set up. It took a few minutes to get used to the pressure of the ear cushions, but after the first five minutes of your run, you will fall in love with these. Aside from the many, many ways in which to wear these, they also have a remote control on the cord so you don’t have to fumble with your phone while you run. The Bluebuds are the official training headphones of the USA Triathlon, so you know they’re legit. After a full charge, you should be good to go for eight hours of music.
Jaybird Bluebuds X is Wireless. It connects with your iPhone via Bluetooth, leaving you free to move as you please.
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ADIDAS CLIMACHILL Adidas’s Climachill is set to take the niche industry of cooling apparel to a new level. The line’s creators used innovative fabric woven with titanium 3D aluminium cooling spheres to design the pieces. This is said to provide athletes with an instant chilling sensation so their performance doesn’t suffer in warm conditions -- body temp erature is lowered, allowing them to train harder and longer while remaining focused. The cooling spheres are found on the back, arms and neck area, some of the body’s warmest areas. In addition to cooling skin on contact, the apparel’s micro fit fiber
works as a “mesh,” wicking sweat from skin. And the apparel’s ground-breaking SubZero flat yarn contains titanium and is featured throughout the inside of each piece. Unlike traditional yarns, flat yarn has more surface area, allowing it to easily move heat away from the body. Apparel was tested in the Adidas Clima chamber with temperatures reaching 122°F. A 95-degree hot plate was utilized to simulate functions of the human skin, allowing the brand to create an optimal body-chilling product. Pieces include tank tops, shorts, and running, tennis and training t-shirts. Apparel retails for $40 to $60 each. Find options on adidas.com and at select US stores.
Adidas’s Climachill is set to take the niche industry of cooling apparel to a new level.
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WHEN:
5/31/2014 (Queens, NY) 7/5/2014 (Brooklyn, NY)
DISTANCE: 5K FEE: $50-$60 thecolorrun.com
COLOR RUN T
he Color Run is an event series and five kilometres paint race that takes place in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The untimed event has no winners or prizes, but runners are showered with colored powder at stations along the run. The Color Run was founded by Utah native and event producer Travis Snyder, in an effort to encourage professionals and novices to run together for fun. Its first event took place in January 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, with 6,000 participants. In 2012, The Color Run held events in over 50 North American cities, with a total of more than 600,000 participants. It has therefore become the largest five-kilometer event series in the United States. In 2013, events will be held in over 130 cities in the United States, South
America, Europe and Australia. In February 2013, IMG Worldwide announced a multi-year partnership with The Color Run, LLC, with plans to expand the event series into dozens of countries in Europe and Asia. The untimed event emphasizes fun over competition. Open to first-time runners as well as families and children, each event has a designated walking lane. Registration fees typically start at around $35 US. According to The Color Run’s 2012 figures, over 60% of the participants were running a five-kilometer race for the first time, and over 70% of the participants were women ages 18–40. In 2013, there are expected to be a million participants. Runners begin dressed in clean white t-shirts, and pass through a color station once every kilometer. Each color station is associated with a different color, with volunteers blasting the runners with dyed cornstarch out of spray bottles. Runners complete the course covered in the safe and colorful powder. At the finish line following the untimed run, there are typically celebrations featuring a dance party and food vendors.
WHEN:
5/10/2014 (Location TBD)
DISTANCE: 5K (3.1mi of gut-wrenching, blood-pumping, sweat-dripping fear) FEE: $35-$85 thezombierun.com
ZOMBIE RUN
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he Zombie Run is not for the everyday person. It will take a team to help you get over some walls, through some tunnels, slosh through mud pits and through our surprises. There are three unique versions of The Zombie Run. There is The Zombie Run, the Extreme and the Black Ops version. THE ZOMBIE RUN “The Zombie Run” is the original zombie-infested 5k Fun Run. Every Human starts with a life belt, you run through chemical spill zones, car crashes, and the apocalypse from Zombies who are on course trying to steal your lives! THE ZOMBIE RUN: EXTREME “The Zombie Run: Extreme” could be classified as a fun run…only if your idea of fun is running 3.1 miles over 8-10
insane obstacles, through mud pits, from brain eating zombies trying to steal your ‘life flags’ and hopefully celebrating at the after party. Then yes, this is a fun run too. THE ZOMBIE RUN: BLACK OPS “The Zombie Run: Black Ops” is the most extreme night run on the planet. 300 zombies.10 obstacles. Fire. Smoke. Mud. 3.1 miles of insane terrain. All of this followed by a night of camping (in select cities), bonfires, beverages, food and more. Can you survive the night? There is no age limit for participating. Any child mature enough to handle the nightmarish prospect of being pursued by a rapacious army of putrefying flesh-eating fiends without permanent psychic damage should be just fine. Bring comfortable clothes and running shoes. Snacks are available. Blood, guts and zombie makeup will be provided. If you’d rather walk, skip or sashay to your doom, please be our guest. There’s no clock. No winner. And if you’re not worried about your brains, chances are you don’t have all that much to lose. If you run faster when you’re chasing someone, then you’re probably a zombie. If you run faster when you’re being chased, then you’re probably human—for now, anyway.
WHEN: 5/31/2014 (Tri-State, NY) 6/1/2014 (Tri-State, NY) 6/7/2014 (Tri-State, NY) 6/8/2014 (Tri-State, NY)
DISTANCE: 4 hilly miles FEE: $60-$90 spartanrace.com
SPARTAN RACE
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partan Race was founded in 2001 by Joe De Sena, Mike Morris, Andy Weinberg, Selicia Sevigny, Richard Lee, Brian Duncanson, Shaun Bain, and Noel Hanna. Each has an extensive background in athletics, racing, and service.
The first Spartan Race event was held in 2010 at the Catamount Outdoor Center in Williston, Vermont and represented the city of Burlington, Vermont. Roughly 500 competitors had to “run, crawl, jump and swim” and overcome a variety of obstacles at the first ever Spartan Race.
All finishers received a medal and prizes were awarded to the top athletes—a precedent that lives on today. While Spartan Races vary in distance from 1 mile to marathon distances, the obstacles themselves also vary and are unpredictable. Participants must complete the obstacles or perform burpee penalty exercises. Many obstacles are present at each Spartan Race. Unlike other companies, Spartan Race does not provide a course map or list of obstacle to their participants until race day.
WHEN:
11/2/2014 (Manhattan, NY)
DISTANCE: 26mi FEE: $216 tcsnycmarathon.org
NYC MARATHON
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he New York City Marathon is an annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. Along with the Boston Marathon and Chicago Marathon, it is among the pre-eminent long-distance annual running events in the United States and is one of the World Marathon Majors. The race is organized by New York Road Runners (NYRR) and, with the exception of 2012, has been run every year since 1970. It is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts professional competitors and amateurs from all over the world. Because of the popularity of the race, participation is chosen largely by a lottery system. Runners who are members of NYRR can gain entry by meeting the qualifications for guaranteed entry or via nomination from an official running club.
The 2012 ING New York City Marathon was cancelled due to the effects of Superstorm Sandy. On Sunday, November 4, thousands of runners joined together to run in Central Park, and many others traveled to Staten Island and elsewhere in and around NYC to support recovery efforts. Marathoners were able to choose either a refund of their 2012 entry fee or a guaranteed entry to the 2013, 2014, or 2015 marathon or the 2013 NYC Half. The 2013 ING New York City Marathon returned to its place as New York City’s best day. A record 50,000+ runners finished the race, the most in any marathon ever. The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon will take place on November 2, 2014.
WHEN:
2/5/2014 (Manhattan, NY)
DISTANCE:
1050ft (1576 Steps)
FEE: $125 nyrr.org
EMPIRE STATE RUN-UP
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he building, located on 5th Avenue and 34th Street, has survived the Great Depression, near bankruptcy and a catastrophic plane crash when a B25 Mitchell slammed into its side in 1945. Every year it also survives one of New York’s most bizarre and grueling foot races- the great Empire State Building Run Up. In the United States, races tend to be indoor events in which runners compete in isolation (there is no space for cheering fans) and suffocating conditions (many staircases are closed for most of the year and collect dust). Staircase racing draws a variety of athletes, including squash players and ultramarathoners, but the consensus is that competitive mountain runners do best.
One day a year, a few hundred athletes gather in the foyer of the Empire State Building, shun the elevator and sprint to its 86th-floor observation deck. The Empire State Building Run-Up is a foot race from ground level to the 86th-floor observation deck that has been held annually since 1978. Its participants are referred to both as runners and as climbers, and are often tower running enthusiasts. The race covers a vertical distance of 1,050 feet and takes in 1,576 steps. The record time is 9 minutes and 33 seconds, achieved by Australian professional cyclist Paul Crake in 2003, at a climbing rate of 6,593 ft per hour.
REFERENCES Cattanach, Jacquie. “6 Benefits of Running.” ACTIVE. active.com. Web. Feburary 9, 2014. “Running in Central Park.” CENTRALPARK.COM. centralpark.com. Web. February 9, 2014. Freudenheim, Ellen. “Taking a Run or Going for a Jog Across the Brooklyn Bridge: Top Tips.” About.com. brooklyn.about.com. Web. February 16, 2014. “Nike Running.” Time Out New York. July 13, 2012. Time Out. Web. February 16, 2014. “JackRabbit Sports.” Time Out New York. April 10, 2010. Time Out. Web. February 16, 2014. Preffer, Stephanie. “Running-Store Smackdown.” New York Stores. October 28, 2012. nymag.com. Web. March 26, 2014. Klosowski, Thorin. “Five Best Smartphone Running Apps.” lifehacker. July 29, 2012. lifehacker.com. Web. February 23, 2014. “Adidas launches Climachill line of athletic cooling apparel.” myHealth. Mar 15, 2014. ctvnews.com. Web. March 29, 2014.
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