byLarry EderWe received this press release today, seems someone besides Competitor Group was considering a marathon in New York! This one sounds fun, pretty low-key and in a park. Nice way to get something going! Anyone who runs it, send us pictures and let us know what you think!
A New
Marathon Comes To Brooklyn
Hundreds
of Runners to Participate in Inaugural Race at Prospect Park
November 2011:
Brooklyn, NY: With
Brooklyn being the most populous of all of the five boroughs and the number of
runners within Kings County steadily on the rise, NYCRUNS is supplying this
outer section of New York City with what it demands: The Brooklyn Marathon.
Taking place in Prospect Park on Sunday, November 20, NYCRUNS will host
hundreds of runners from the metropolitan area and beyond as they attempt to
conquer a USATF-certified 26.2 mile course.
New York City is renowned for legendary races that are
respected the world over. This global attention heightens the excitement of the
race, but it also increases the popularity of it, unfortunately leaving many
local runners left out of the competition.
Races presented by local running organizations have begun to sell out in
record time, turning down many–in some cases thousands of– NYC area runners,
despite their history in or contribution to the local running community.
With just a month left before the start time of the Brooklyn
Marathon, the race reached capacity, but registration cap has now been raised
to accommodate increasing demand. Additionally,
any local runner who participated in the ING New York City Marathon, but were unable
to complete it (and can provide proof as such), will be automatically accepted
into the Brooklyn Marathon for a second shot at glory.
“Brooklyn is an ever-evolving entity and is home to a
thriving–and growing– community of independent races and running clubs,” said Steve Lastoe, Founder of NYCRUNS. “The Brooklyn Marathon will offer a new
landmark event to celebrate the city as one of the greatest running towns in
the world and will also offer a new racing option to local runners wishing to
run a marathon in their hometown.”
Recognizing the need for a wider variety of events to cater
to the growing market, NYCRUNS worked closely with city officials such as
Councilman Brad Lander and governmental organizations like the Prospect Park
Alliance on the details of this debut competition. The Brooklyn Marathon is
being supported by local sponsors such as SUNY Downstate Medical Center/LICH, The
Brooklyn Cyclones, Six Point Craft Ales and JackRabbit Sports; in conjunction
with NYCRUNS. Brooklyn-based running
clubs such as Brooklyn Road Runners, North Brooklyn Runners, Prospect Park
Track Club and South Brooklyn Runners have pledged their support the day of the
race.
On the morning of November 20, the Brooklyn Marathon will begin
promptly at 8 a.m. on Center Drive in Prospect Park. The race course will stay within the
boundaries of the park, requiring runners to complete six full laps of the park
and three lower loops for a total of 26.2 miles. For more information on the
Brooklyn Marathon, please feel free to visit http://www.
About NYCRUNS
NYCRUNS is an online destination where runners, running
clubs, and race directors can connect to find and provide up to date
information and news on races in the greater New York metropolitan area. The
website features a comprehensive area race calendar, and NYCRUNS also provides
race management, registration and marketing services, helping race directors
put on successful events that cater to runners in the New York metropolitan
area. In 2011, NYCRUNS expanded to launch its own races including the Brooklyn
Marathon, and is actively involved in directing or co-directing new races on an
ongoing basis. For more information on
NYCRUNS, please visit http://www.nycruns.com.
