Front Runner events may be altered due to holidays or racing events, so please check the
calendar before heading out.
The centerpiece of the club's activities is our Saturday fun run/walk/social. Indomitable
in mind, body and spirit, our club members come out to Central Park regardless of the weather.
If you wish to drop off your bag, stretch or change before running, please come to the basement
of Rutgers Church (236 W 73rd) on the South Side of 73rd Street just west of Broadway by 9:45 AM.
Runners who do not need to drop off bags can catch up with the group inside Central Park, just across
the road to the south of the Daniel Webster Statue (West Drive and 72nd Street Transverse) at 10:00 A.M.
Each Saturday, we have a short round of introductions where we make sure every new runner knows the park
and has a buddy who will run his/her pace and distance. All Front Runners are strongly encouraged to go
out of their way to welcome new members and run the newcomer's pace and distance.
Front Runners also supports recreational walkers. Anyone interested in walking in Central Park with
the club should meet at 9:15 in the same spot as the runners; this allows walkers to complete a six-mile
loop (if so desired) at the same time as the runners. Jim Brandon coordinates the walkers and can be
reached at (212) 279-3520 (preferred) or Walk@FRNY.org.
After the run, we all head back to Rutgers Church for continental breakfast featuring bagels, cereal,
juice, coffee and tea, with all the fixings. All first time visitors to Front Runners receive their
breakfast free as our guests!
It's not all about Manhattan! Our Brooklyn runners show great spirit and pride in their borough,
congregating at the 3rd St. and Prospect Park West entrance to Prospect Park for a run every Tuesday night
at 7 P.M. After running, they head out to a local establishment to eat, drink and be merry.
Speed training is not just for sprinters and runners of all speed and ability partake in these
sessions. Speed training benefits runners at all distances and can have very immediate effects on your times!
Beat the long, cold prospect of outdoor running all winter and the conveyor belt monotony of treadmills
by joining Front Runners every Tuesday and Thursday at the Armory. Located at 168 St. and Fort Washington
(just a block from the A,C and 1,9 subway lines), the Armory boasts one of the fastest indoor tracks in America.
Front Runner coach Kelsey Louie guides us through a workout from 8-9:30
PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays (a sample is listed below) and afterward, depleted runners gather for quick chow and
pitchers of ale at a local restaurant.
Sample workout (Tuesday):
- 1 mile warm-up done on your own
- 4 sets of 4 x 200 meters with 30 seconds between reps and 4 minutes between the sets. The 200s should be run at about 80-85 percent effort
- 1/2 mile cool-down down on your own
Sample workout (Thursday):
- 1 mile warm-up done on your own
- 4 sets of one 800 followed immediately (30 sec.) by one 200; three minutes between sets, run at just under 5K pace
- 1/2 mile cool-down down on your own
In the spring/summer season, we meet at an outdoor track — location to be determined — for our speed
training.
A weekly mainstay like our Saturday morning run, the club religiously meets in Central Park each Wednesday night.
If you wish to drop off your bag, change, or stretch before the Park run, please arrive at Rutgers Church (236 W 73rd)
on the South Side of 73rd Street just west of Broadway in the small gymnasium in the basement by 6:45 PM. Runners
who do not need to drop off bags catch up with the group at the entry to the park at West Drive and the 72nd Street
Transverse at 7:00 PM. Please note that this location is up the hill from where we normally meet on Saturday mornings
due to traffic. Once at the Park, short introductions are made to make sure every new runner has a buddy who will run
his/her pace and distance. All Front Runners are strongly encouraged to go out of their way to welcome new members,
and run the newcomer's pace and distance. After the Wednesday fun walk/runs in the Park, the group decides on dinner
at a neighborhood restaurant.
