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Whether you're having NYC Marathon FOMO, trying to get back into running or have never run a day in your life, the Brooklyn Bridge Parkrun invites you to join NYC's newest addition to running culture—and it's completely free.
Parkrun is a weekly community event where people of all ages and abilities are invited to walk, jog, run or volunteer in a 5K every Saturday morning in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The event is designed to be a positive, community-focused event that is welcoming for all. To join, you register online to receive a unique barcode used to track, time and record your participation and results, even though it's not a formal race. The group also meets for a post-event coffee and snack catch-up at the Breads Bakery near Brooklyn's Pier 1.
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Since its official launch in NYC last month, Parkrun has hosted weekly 5K events every Saturday at Brooklyn Bridge Park, welcoming over 2,000 participants. But this event isn't exclusive to only NYC residents. Parkrun is actually a worldwide, global event, with its first U.S. event launching in Michigan back in 2012. It was first created in the UK and its popularity has stretched all the way to Japan, South Africa and Australia, with 3,000 local events happening every weekend across the world.
Not only is this an easy way to meet and connect with your neighbors, but it's a great way to hold yourself accountable if you've been trying to start a new running habit. There's no pressure to be the fastest or even finish the race in a certain time. Plus, it all ends with a sweet treat at Breads afterward.
"Given the recent running boom, our ethos is to be open to all—evidenced by the fact that our fastest runner so far completed the course in 16:11," Brooklyn Bridge Parkrun director Ben Roach told Time Out. "So far we've been going for nine weeks and have welcomed over 2,800 finishers, with the youngest age being 7 and the oldest being 80 plus."
Participants are also welcome to run with their dogs or with their children or even a stroller. Anyone over the age of 4 can register, but children must be accompanied by an adult if under age 11.
Parkrun is free with registration. Heads up that the event is canceled on Saturday, November 1 due to the NYC marathon weekend. The race is moving to a 9am start time beginning on November 8.