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Road Runners Debut First-Ever Bronx 5K This Weekend

By Eddie Small | September 24, 2015 10:41am
 For the first time ever, the New York Road Runners is hosting a Bronx 5K on Sunday alongside the established Bronx 10-mile race.
For the first time ever, the New York Road Runners is hosting a Bronx 5K on Sunday alongside the established Bronx 10-mile race.
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NYRR

THE BRONX — Scared of running 10 miles in The Bronx? For the first time ever, you can opt for three instead.

The New York Road Runners’ annual Bronx 10-Mile race will feature an additional option this Sunday: the group's first-ever Bronx 5K.

"Some folks, a 10-miler might be a little scary for them," said NYRR President of Events Peter Ciaccia. "We want to get them out there."

Both runs are Sept. 27, and there's still openings for the 5K. The 10-mile race has reached capacity with an estimated 10,000 runners.

The 5K is expected to allow an additional 1,500 people to take part in the day's events.

"At some point, maybe the folks that participate will say, 'Hey, you know what? This isn’t so bad. I could really do this,'" Ciaccia said. "'Let me train a little more and maybe come back for the 10-miler next year or, eventually, the marathon.'"

The 10-mile and the 5K both start near Grand Concourse and East 166th Street. The 10-mile race kicks off at 8 a.m., and travels up to Mosholu Parkway and back down to the starting point. The 5K starts at 7:30 a.m., and wends its way to East 179th Street before looping back to the starting line.

For the second year in a row, hip-hop legend DJ Kool Herc will serve as the official DJ at the start and finish and provide entertainment for runners and spectators alike. 

Free health screenings will also be available at East 161st Street and Joyce Kilmer Park from 6 to 11 a.m. allowing Bronxites to get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked, Ciaccia said.

The Bronx 10-mile race is part of NYRR’s five-borough series, which also includes the Queens 10K and the Brooklyn, Staten Island and New York City Half Marathons.

NYRR recently brought Open Run to The Bronx as well, an initiative that aims to bring free weekly runs to city neighborhoods through work with volunteers and community leaders.

The initiative launched this year at St. Mary’s Park in The Bronx and takes place every Saturday at 9 a.m. with 1-, 2- and 3-mile runs.

"We launched it in June of this year, and about 100 people showed up," Ciaccia said. "And it’s free."

NYRR plans to make the 5K an annual part of the 10-mile race as a means of attracting more people to the sport, Ciaccia said.

"New York Road Runners' mission is to get people moving thorough health, inspire people to get healthy through running and moving, but also to make our races more accessible and less intimidating," he said.