New York Road Runners Presents Running Week
Posted Thursday, 5 June, 2008
NYRR Presents Running Week, June 1-8, kicks off with events and happenings that frame the 50th anniversary of its founding on June 4, 1958. The celebratory mood will continue through the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon on November 1, 2009.
The Running Week schedule features three races including the NYRR 50th Anniversary Run, runner education programs with NYRR staff in Central Park and a brand-new initiative for all New Yorkers to build a greener future by running or walking to work.
Sunday - Sunday, June 1-8
Runner Station (East Drive at 90th Street, Central Park)
NYRR is committed to educating the local community on running as a sport and lifelong fitness activity, and it offers races, classes and other learning events throughout the year. During Running Week, NYRR will set up shop in Central Park - the training ground for thousands of NYC runners - with expert coaches and staff to offer free tips and tools, including gait analysis and training programs.
Sunday, June 1
Japan Run
Running Week kicked off with the sold-out Japan Run, a road race that highlights NYRR's ties to runners around the world. In its second year, the 4 mile Japan Run and accompanying kids races are part of Japan Day @ Central Park, a festival that celebrates traditional and contemporary Japanese culture with activities, music, children's games and more.
Monday, June 2
Kids Aim for 50
Nine-time New York City Marathon winner Grete Waitz, chairwoman of the New York Road Runners Foundation, joined more than 200 NYRRF kids from five Harlem elementary schools for a morning of running-themed events and activities from 9:15am until 10:30am at PS 192, 500 West 138th Street (near Amsterdam Avenue). The event featured the Mighty Milers Fun Run, with 50 kids running a mile each in honor of the New York Road Runners's 50th anniversary.
Monday, June 2
Honoring Our Legends
Some of the greatest runners of all-time have made history in NYRR events. On this day, NYRR hosted a special media event to honor three of these extraordinary athletes: Bill Rodgers, Grete Waitz and Frank Shorter.
Tuesday, June 3
NASDAQ Closing Bell
Running legends and select industry leaders joined Bob Greifeld, the CEO of NASDAQ, for the Closing Bell on Wall Street.
Wednesday, June 4
ING New York City Marathon Lottery Drawing
A long-time NYRR tradition, the ceremonial selection of the first lucky runners in the ING New York City Marathon lottery drawing kicked off the five-month build-up to the big race, taking place this year on Sunday, November 2. Rookie marathoner Janet Schroeder, 41, of New York City, was the first name selected by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. Matthew Weinberg, 44, also of New York, and Fred Mendes, 43, of Van Nuys, CA, were the second and third lottery entrants selected for the 39th running of the race. The marathon received a record number of nearly 105,000 applications this year.
Wednesday, June 4
NYRR 50th Anniversary Run 5 Mile (Central Park)
The New York Road Runners began as a club for all runners, and in that spirit, a scheduled a 5 mile road race open to all - free of charge - to celebrate its founding on June 4, 1958. The race was capped at 5,000 participants.
Friday, June 6
New York Runs to Work
NYRR staff and volunteers plan to station themselves on or near bridges and other entry points into Manhattan to create a sense of camaraderie for fellow running-commuters, and to offer tips and techniques for making the commute on the run a part of one's daily routine.
Saturday, June 7
NYRR New York Mini 10K (Central Park)
The NYRR New York Mini 10K made history 37 years ago as the world's first road race exclusively for female participants. It was then the six mile Crazylegs Mini Marathon, and 78 women took part, including women's running pioneers Nina Kuscsik and Kathrine Switzer. The turnout was extraordinary for the time period; distance running was a fringe activity for a handful of devotees, and in most races, the number of female finishers could be counted on one hand.
How times have changed! Now this women-only race features a top professional athlete field - which this year will include 2008 U.S. Olympic marathon teammates Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell - leading thousands of runners at all levels. The original women-only road race, the "Mini" continues the tradition of celebrating all that is good about women's running.
Sunday, June 8
Naples Park to Park (Naples, Italy)
Running Week ends with another event that highlights NYRR's international reach. The Naples Park to Park race in Italy showcases our partnership with the Napoli Road Runners; on July 12 in Central Park, NYRR will stage the second annual Park to Park, a 10K race that includes Italian festivities and post-race admission to Lasker Pool.
This Week in NYRR History
Each week throughout 2008, NYRR will present This Week in New York Road Runners History. Digging deep into its archives, NYRR found interesting, inspiring and sometimes unexpected facts about its first 50 years. Visit: www.nyrr.org/about/this_week.asp
At the start of its 50th anniversary year, NYRR is one of the world's premier running organizations, with more than 45,000 members, a year-round calendar of races including the famed ING New York City Marathon, fitness offerings for all members of the community and a running program serving 30,000 children in New York City and around the world.
For more information, visit: www.NYRR.org
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