New Balance Bronx 10 Mile to Feature More Than 14,000 Runners of All Ages and Abilities on Sunday, September 24

New Balance Bronx 10 Mile to Feature More Than 14,000 Runners of All Ages and Abilities on Sunday, September 24

Bronx's Latin music star Prince Royce to race this year's fourth event of the NYRR Five-Borough Series

Free fitness games and short runs for kids to take place at Macombs Dam Park as part of newly launched Rising New York Road Runners youth program

New York, September 21, 2017 - More than 14,000 runners of all ages and abilities are expected to participate in the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, the fourth race in the 2017 NYRR Five-Borough Series, on Sunday, September 24.

The New Balance Bronx 10 Mile will also feature free fitness games and shorter distance races in Macombs Dam Park for Rising New York Road Runners, NYRR's new youth fitness program, which is designed to build running skills in ways that work for kids of all ages and abilities and instill kids with the confidence and ability to stay healthy and active for life.

New York Road Runners was originally founded in the Bronx in June 1958 as the Road Runners Club-New York Association with about 40 members. The group met at Macombs Dam Park, right near the finish line of the current New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and 1952 Olympic marathoner Ted Corbitt was elected its first official president.

"The New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, like all of New York Road Runners' events in the Bronx, has a special meaning for me," said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. "I was born and raised in the Bronx, which is also the original home of New York Road Runners. Over the past six decades, NYRR has made a commitment to making a difference in the Bronx, and together with New Balance we are working hard to continue making an impact."

Bronx native Prince Royce, an American singer and songwriter who has been nominated for more than 10 Billboard Music Awards, will run the race as part of his TCS New York City Marathon training. On November 5, he will race his first marathon to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation and Change for Kids.

The New Balance Bronx 10 Mile will also feature runners from Team 52 at the PitCCh In Foundation, which was formed by New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and Amber Sabathia to enrich the lives of inner city youth. In total, 56 participants will run for the cause, including nine spouses of New York Yankees players. Earlier this week, New York Yankees outfielder and Team New Balance athlete Brett Gardner distributed free New Balance running shoes to Rising New York Road Runners participants at PS 43 in the Bronx.

The New Balance Bronx 10 Mile race will begin at 8:00 a.m., while the Rising New York Road Runners activities will take place in Macombs Dam Park from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Kids ages 2 to 18 are welcome to join in the event's activities, which will include: Zumba, Shop and Dash, Bean Bag Bocce, Egg and Spoon Challenge, and a Stepping Stone Obstacle Course.

"The New Balance Bronx 10 Mile will be the first race in our NYRR Five-Borough Series to showcase our new Rising New York Road Runners program, promising for a fun-filled day that gives kids of all ages and abilities an opportunity to join in on the race's festivities," said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. "We are also excited to be working with the New York Yankees and their families for this race, and embracing the entire Bronx sporting community."

In addition to Rising New York Road Runners, NYRR has a significant presence in the Bronx with multiple programs and events available to members of the community, from kids to seniors. NYRR hosts three free weekly Open Runs in the Bronx in Crotona Park, Soundview Park, and St. Mary's Park, as well as free NYRR Striders walking sessions for seniors in Bronx parks and neighborhood centers.

Since its first running in 1995, the Bronx 10 Mile has been a festive gathering for runners, family and friends, and the local community. After runners boogie down through the vibrant New York City borough, they can celebrate with New Balance and local hip-hop legend DJ Cool Herc at the post-race festival, take part in fun social photo opportunities, and purchase the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile merchandise.

New Balance is serving as the title partner of the Bronx 10 Mile for the second consecutive year. New Balance is the Official Athletic Footwear and Apparel Partner of New York Road Runners and the TCS New York City Marathon. The partnership ranges from event sponsorship, youth programming, and philanthropy to global licensing, e-commerce, retail rights, and the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub. The year-round NYRR Foundation Partnership touches all NYRR events and programs, including New Balance branded events and programs such as the Brooklyn Half Pre-Party presented by New Balance, New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and New Balance 5th Avenue Mile.

About NYRR

Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world's premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR's commitment to New York City's five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR's premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world's top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit nyrr.org.