Brooklin running club. Brooklyn Track Club: A Vibrant Community for Runners of All Levels

How does Brooklyn Track Club foster a diverse and inclusive running community. What training opportunities does Brooklyn Track Club offer its members. Why has Brooklyn Track Club grown to over 700 members since 2016.

The Origins and Growth of Brooklyn Track Club

Brooklyn Track Club emerged in 2016 from humble beginnings. A small group of friends discovered the transformative power of running together, and this spark ignited a movement. As word spread, more people joined their runs, drawn by the sense of community and shared purpose. What started as an informal gathering has blossomed into a thriving organization with over 700 members across New York City’s boroughs and connections to running communities worldwide.

Why has Brooklyn Track Club experienced such remarkable growth? The club’s success can be attributed to several key factors:

• Inclusive atmosphere welcoming runners of all abilities
• Diverse membership representing various backgrounds
• Focus on personal growth and community building
• Consistent training opportunities and events
• Emphasis on expanding accessibility to running

The club’s philosophy centers on the belief that running can be a catalyst for positive change in individuals’ lives and communities. This resonates with many people seeking not just physical fitness, but also connection and purpose.

Brooklyn Track Club’s Inclusive Approach to Running

At the core of Brooklyn Track Club’s mission is a commitment to inclusivity and diversity. The club actively works to create an environment where runners from all walks of life feel welcomed and supported. How does Brooklyn Track Club foster this inclusive atmosphere?

• Welcoming runners of all paces and experience levels
• Offering a range of training sessions to accommodate different schedules and goals
• Providing educational resources and leadership opportunities
• Promoting equitable access to running experiences
• Celebrating the diverse backgrounds of its members

This approach has created a rich tapestry of runners within the club, from beginners taking their first steps to seasoned athletes chasing personal records. The diversity of the membership enhances the overall experience, as runners learn from and inspire one another.

Training Opportunities with Brooklyn Track Club

Brooklyn Track Club offers a robust schedule of training sessions designed to help runners of all levels improve their performance and enjoy the sport. What types of training does the club provide?

• Weekly track workouts in Brooklyn and Manhattan
• Bi-weekly tempo runs in Central Park and Prospect Park
• Saturday long runs at various locations
• Seasonal training plans for major races
• Trail running sessions

Each training session is led by at least one BKTC run coach, ensuring proper guidance and support. The club caters to a wide range of paces, from sub-5:30 per mile to 10+ minute miles, allowing runners of all speeds to find their place within the group.

Specialized Training Programs

In addition to regular group runs, Brooklyn Track Club offers specialized training programs to help members achieve specific goals:

1. Marathon training plans for major races like Boston, New York, Chicago, and Berlin
2. Half marathon preparation for events like the NYRR NYC Half and Brooklyn Half
3. Time trials for the mile and 5K distances
4. Trail running sessions for those interested in off-road adventures

These targeted programs allow runners to focus on particular distances or types of running, enhancing their overall development as athletes.

Community and Events: The Heart of Brooklyn Track Club

While training is a crucial component of Brooklyn Track Club, the sense of community fostered through events and shared experiences is equally important. How does the club build and maintain its strong community?

• Weekly email updates from BKTC coaches
• Access to event schedules, message boards, and photos through partner platform “Heylo”
• Pace group team mixers
• Community collaboration runs
• Neighborhood and park clean-ups
• Events featuring industry professionals

These activities create opportunities for members to connect beyond their training sessions, strengthening the bonds within the club and contributing to the broader community.

Racing and Competition

For those with a competitive spirit, Brooklyn Track Club participates in various racing events throughout the year:

• NYRR Club Points Races
• Major marathons (Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London)
• The Brooklyn Mile
• USATF Club Cross Country

These events allow members to test their fitness, represent the club, and experience the thrill of competition alongside their teammates.

Membership Options and Accessibility

Brooklyn Track Club strives to make membership accessible to as many runners as possible. What membership options does the club offer?

• Monthly membership: $18/month + $40 initiation fee
• Annual membership: $200
• Sliding scale membership for those with financial constraints
• Olympic Development Program for elite athletes

The sliding scale membership option demonstrates the club’s commitment to serving runners of all socio-economic backgrounds. This initiative ensures that financial limitations do not prevent anyone from experiencing the benefits of the Brooklyn Track Club community.

Benefits of Membership

Joining Brooklyn Track Club provides members with numerous benefits beyond just group runs. What perks do members receive?

• Access to all training sessions and events
• Discounts with partner brands like Tracksmith, Brave, and Brooklyn Running Company
• Reduced rates for physical therapy and massage services
• Seasonal training plans for major races
• Opportunities to participate in team events and competitions

These benefits enhance the overall value of membership, supporting runners in their training, recovery, and racing endeavors.

Partnerships and Sponsorships

Brooklyn Track Club has cultivated relationships with various brands and service providers in the running industry. These partnerships not only provide benefits to members but also help support the club’s operations and growth. Who are some of Brooklyn Track Club’s key partners?

• Tracksmith: 20% discount on in-line products
• Brave: 10-20% discount on orders
• Finish Line Physical Therapy: Member services discount
• Brooklyn Running Company: 15% discount during special events
• Crows Massage: 15% discount on sessions

These partnerships reflect the club’s integration within the broader running community and its ability to leverage relationships for the benefit of its members.

The Impact of Brooklyn Track Club on the Local Running Scene

Since its inception in 2016, Brooklyn Track Club has made a significant impact on the New York City running scene. How has the club influenced the local running community?

• Increased accessibility to structured training for runners of all levels
• Fostered a sense of community among diverse groups of runners
• Organized events that contribute to the vibrancy of the local running calendar
• Partnered with local businesses to support the running ecosystem
• Promoted running as a means of personal growth and community building

The club’s presence has enriched the running experience for many New Yorkers, providing structure, support, and social connections that enhance their enjoyment of the sport.

Brooklyn Track Club’s Role in Major Events

Brooklyn Track Club’s involvement in major running events further cements its place in the New York running community. The club participates in and supports races such as:

• New York City Marathon
• Brooklyn Half Marathon
• NYRR NYC Half Marathon
• The Brooklyn Mile

These events showcase the club’s presence and allow members to represent their community on a larger stage.

Looking to the Future: Brooklyn Track Club’s Vision

As Brooklyn Track Club continues to grow and evolve, what does the future hold for this dynamic organization? While specific plans may not be public, the club’s trajectory suggests a focus on:

• Expanding membership while maintaining a strong sense of community
• Increasing diversity and inclusivity in running
• Developing new training programs and resources for members
• Strengthening partnerships within the running industry
• Contributing to positive change in local communities through running

The club’s commitment to fostering better lives, relationships, and communities through running will likely remain at the core of its mission as it moves forward.

Challenges and Opportunities

As with any growing organization, Brooklyn Track Club faces both challenges and opportunities in the coming years. Potential areas of focus may include:

• Balancing growth with maintaining a close-knit community feel
• Adapting to changing trends in running and fitness
• Expanding resources and support for members
• Navigating the evolving landscape of urban running in New York City
• Continuing to promote inclusivity and accessibility in running

How Brooklyn Track Club addresses these challenges and capitalizes on opportunities will shape its impact on the running community in the years to come.

In conclusion, Brooklyn Track Club has established itself as a vibrant and inclusive community for runners in New York City. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a 700-member strong organization, the club has remained true to its core values of fostering personal growth and community through running. With a diverse membership, comprehensive training programs, and a strong sense of camaraderie, Brooklyn Track Club continues to make a positive impact on the lives of runners and the broader community. As the club looks to the future, its commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and the transformative power of running will undoubtedly guide its path forward.

BROOKLYN TRACK CLUB – Home

Team Sponsor:

BKTC Partners

Membership – BROOKLYN TRACK CLUB

We’re exited to welcome you to become a member of Brooklyn Track Club.

Please note, membership is capped at 550 members. You may find that we are showing as full, but check back regularly. 

Here’s what membership offers you:

Training Sessions:

• Weekly Tuesday Track (7 AM/ 7PM)
  1. McCarren Park Track, Brooklyn
  2. East River Park Track, Manhattan
• Bi-weekly Tempo (7 PM) – Central Park & Prospect Park, various locations
• Saturday Long Run (9 AM) – Various Locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan
• More to come in 2022

Community Download:

• Weekly Email from the BKTC Coaches
• Access to BKTC’s event schedule, message boards and photos our partners at “Heylo”

Members Events:

• BKTC Trail Sessions 
• Mile and 5k Time Trials
• Pace Group Team Mixers
• Community Collaboration Runs
• Neighborhood and Park Clean Ups
• Events with Industry Professionals

Seasonal Training Plans:​

• NYRR NYC Half Marathon
• Boston Marathon 
• Brooklyn Half and Full Marathon
• NYRR Popular Brooklyn Half
• The Brooklyn Mile
• Berlin Marathon
• London Marathon
• Chicago Marathon
• NYC Marathon 

BKTC Partnership Discounts:

• Tracksmith – 20% off in-line product
• Brave – 10%; off all orders & 20% off orders over $100
• Finish Line Physical Therapy – Member Services Discount
• Brooklyn Running Company – 15% off (during discounting events)
• Crows Massage – 15% off sessions
• ​Strength Training w/ Coach Lena – 20% off private sessions

Local, National & International Team Events:

• NYRR Club Points Races
• NYRR NYC Half 
• Boston Marathon
• NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon
• The Brooklyn Mile
• Berlin Marathon
• Chicago Marathon
• New York City Marathon
• USATF Club Cross Country

Standard Dues:
BKTC Monthly Member – $18 /month ($228) + $40 Initiation Fee
BKTC Annual Member – $200

Become A Member

Sliding Scale Membership:
​Brooklyn Track Club is dedicated to serving runners of all ability levels, and socio-economic means. We created the BKTC Sliding Scale Membership to further our commitment to access no matter your income. 

Learn More

Olympic Development Program:
The Olympic Development Program provides complimentary membership and additional benefits to athletes who are striving to compete for their country on a National or Olympic level.

Learn More

New York State in NewRunners

We continue to talk about the running clubs of America, and today we have New York State in turn.

We continue to talk about running clubs in America, and today we have the state of New York.

New York is just made for running, it has all the necessary infrastructure: paths, parks and even special traffic lights for runners. It was here that the running fever once began, which spread throughout the world. In New York, it is easy to find a partner for training: there are about 200 running clubs in the city, united by a variety of interests. New York is a trendsetter in everything. Not so long ago, urban running clubs appeared here, which turn their workouts into outdoor parties. You can talk endlessly about running in this city, as well as about its clubs. We have selected the brightest of them.

Traditional running clubs:

New York Road Runners (NYRR)

A post shared by newyorkroadrunners (@nyrr) on Apr 3, 2017 at 9:00am PDT 9000 5

In 1958, an African-American runner, one of the first ultramarathon runners in the world, Ted Corbitt, founded the Road Runners of America club, which consisted of only 47 athletes. In the next ten years, the number increased to 250 people, many of whom took part in the first New York City Marathon. Two years after that, Fred Lebow led the NYRR. Under his leadership, the New York Marathon grew and the first Crazylegs Mini Marathon (New York Mini 10k) for women was organized. In the wake of the running craze, NYRR has grown into a massive organization that promotes a nationwide running culture. Now the NYRR races are known all over the world, the TCS New York City Marathon is one of the six largest running events in the world. The club has its own running center, training programs have been developed for people of all ages: children, students, the elderly. In 2016, over 120,000 students took part in NYRR’s free training. The once local running club has become the umbrella organization for hundreds of running clubs and races around the country.

Warren Street

In 1978, three runners – Paul Fetscher, Hugh Sweeney and Alan Silber – decided to create a running club that would be a little more fun and free than other clubs of the time. The name was coined by Sweeney, who lived on Warren Street, where the runners found their first sponsor, the Shannon Bar. This is how the tradition of ending the workout with a glass of beer appeared – it has survived to this day. Group training takes place on Tuesdays in Central Park during the summer, with groups moving to the New Balance Track & Field Center during the winter. Club membership is free, but you must come to training in a branded T-shirt, which can be purchased for $50.

Alternative Running Clubs:

BridgeRunners

A post shared by NYC BRIDGERUNNERS (@bridgerunners) on Apr 9, 2017 at 8:46pm PDT

“Never run alone” is the slogan of the BridgeRunners Club, founded in 2004. The idea of ​​​​creating it came to Mike Saes when he was late for his son at school. Attempts to hail a cab were unsuccessful, and he had to run across the Brooklyn Bridge to get there. “Bridges are just made for running,” he told Cedric Hernandez that evening. Together they created the BridgeRunners, a concept very different from traditional New York City running clubs. For the BridgeRunners, running is a fun part of life, and training, like a party, is a great excuse to get out into the city. Several times a week, about 300 people take to the streets of New York in the evening and use it as a large playing field. They do not have clear routes, and every workout turns into an adventure. This approach attracted the attention of Nike, who became a sponsor of the club and its events. In 2012, the BridgeRunners met up with fellow London running club Run Dem Crew in Berlin and called the meeting Bridge the Gap. With the help of Nike, these informal get-togethers have become regular and are held before major running events around the world. In 2016, Bridge the Gap took place on the eve of the Musical Half Marathon in Moscow.

The running elite run through the night streets of New York, overtaking unsuspecting pedestrians, through parks and the subway. A post shared by BLACK ROSES NYC (@blackrosesnyc) on Oct 25, 2015 at 7:14pm PDT

Black Roses NYC actually grew out of BridgeRunners. The founders of the club – Knox Robinson, editor of a hip-hop magazine, and runner Jessie Zapo – were once members of the BridgeRunners. In 2012, at the Shanghai Marathon, they announced a new running project – Black Roses NYC. Jessie wanted to focus on developing women’s running, and Knox, being an experienced runner, was convinced that special training was needed to reduce the risk of injury. Together they developed a program that combines classic workouts with urban runs, while, according to the organizers, they are no less incendiary and fun than Bridge Runners. In the first six months, the number of participants has doubled, and now Black Roses NYC is one of the most famous urban running clubs in New York and its main partner is Nike. You can join the ranks of the Black Roses for $125 per year. 9A post shared by Joe DiNoto (@orchardstreetrunners) on Apr 3, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

New York is one of those cities that never sleep. Joe Di Noto, a young architect from the Lower East Side, loved to run around the streets of New York at night. One day he came up with the idea to unite experienced runners who can overcome 6-10 miles in a city at night. So in 2011, Orchard Street Runners appeared. To become one of its members, you must not only be hardy, but also follow a few rules: know the route (it is published in advance), be careful (the risk of injury increases at night), and do not use headphones while jogging. Often the guys from Black Roses NYC join the OSR, and then the training turns into a massive party on the run. When the number of participants exceeded 100, Joe decided to arrange a street race starting after midnight – Midnight Half. The running elite run through the night streets of New York, overtaking unsuspecting pedestrians, through parks and subways, with the winner at the finish line receiving only a few hundred dollars and the respect of the running crowd. Midnight Half does not have sponsors, although many brands would like to become one, but Di Noto does not want the race to be accompanied by advertising slogans. Despite being semi-legal, Midnight Half is attracting more and more of the running elite, such as Jerry Faulkner and Christina Phillips. Analogues of the race began to appear in other cities, but with such drive it takes place only in New York.

Running Clubs of America: Washington State
Running Clubs of America: California State

Photo: facebook.com/WWW.WarrenStreet.org

Where to Run in Europe and America

1

9 0003 LONDON

Run Dem Crew

Shamik Farrell

“My favorite route and absolute favorite is the run in Greenwich Park. From there you have an incredible, atmospheric and honest view of the city. London can be seen from there in all its glory and diversity: Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf and other non-obvious areas of the city. If you start your run from the outskirts and run towards the City (or vice versa), you also see two sides of the same coin: areas with successful clerks, and poor backyards – and this is the whole of London. I usually start at Liverpool Street, then run down Mile End, then run through beautiful Canary Wharf, swarming with business bankers, and run to Cutty Sark. There’s a huge underpass there – it’s the only underpass under the Thames that stretches for almost a kilometer, and it’s a huge cylinder. When you finally get out of the tunnel, you will practically run into the Cutty Sark boat itself, restored and sparkling, and, having run past it, you will find yourself in Greenwich Park. The length of the route is approximately 10-11 kilometers. It was my very first route: I still remember what a shitty day I had and how much it improved after the run. The best time to go for a run is around 6-7 pm when the sun starts to set, gleams in the windows and everything around is freckled with red flashes.”

Tips

“If you want to run in the city center, you should be prepared for the fact that you have to stop all the time – at pedestrian crossings. But as soon as you drive a little to the west, south or east, huge parks for jogging become available to you.

Much depends on what time you run: in the morning there are many runners in the center, in the evening there are no more, because people rushing from work fill the whole space.

If you go jogging at rush hour, take the routes along the waterfront: there are no traffic lights, this is not a busy street, but at the same time it passes many sights – St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Gallery. You can even run to Westminster. In general, we must remember that running in London is a great alternative to boring tourist routes.

London by day and London by night are two different cities. So if you get bored with your usual route – just go for a run at an unusual time for yourself.

Music

More Fire Crew – Oi

UK Garage Scott ft. Mc Styles – It’s a London Thing

Sia – Little Man (garage version)

Shy FX & UK Apachi – Original Nuttah

Kanye West & Big Sean – Clique

2. AMSTERDAM

Running Junkies

“Vondelpark is not only a pretty park in the center of Amsterdam, but also a safe jogging route. It’s in the center and you can walk to the Museum Square (where the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the huge “I Amsterdam” sign with which everyone always takes pictures are located), which is very convenient if you are a tourist and want to see everything at once. The route itself is circular, about 3.5 kilometers, but nothing prevents you from going to the second (or even third) lap or lengthening the route at the expense of the Museum Square, and then running back to the Vondelpark to finish. After the finish, you can go to one of the good cafes in the park, such as Vondel Central, an old atmospheric cafe with a 19th century spirit in the exterior, not far from the main entrance. The Vondelpark is especially cool in the summer: people come in after lunch or in the evening and have barbecues on the lawns, so it’s possible that extremely appetizing smells will accompany your run. Vondelpark is very safe, so you can run late in the evening.”

Tips

“Never run on bike lanes. Never. This will not only bring the righteous wrath of local cyclists on you, but also create a risk to life and health: some tourists who rent a bike are not ready for such deceit as an athlete crossing the road. If nothing but bike paths is available to you, at least run against the traffic: they will notice you and you will control the situation.

If you are tired of the center, go to the Amstelpark – it used to be very popular, but now it has an air of light desolation. But the great thing is that it has a maze of clipped bushes that is a lot of fun to run around. Good advice: it’s better if someone shows you the way from the upper tiers of the park.”

Music

Dexys Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen

Adele – Rolling In the Deep

Avril Lavigne – Complicated

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home

90 004 Hanson – MMMBop

*NSYNC – Bye Bye Bye

Toto – Africa

The Doobie Brothers – What a Fool Believes

Earth, Wind & Fire –

Britney Spears – September Oops!. ..I Did it Again 9 0005

Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’

Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson

The Beatles – Hey Jude

Shakira – Hips Don’t Lie

Robbie Williams – Angels

Train – Hey, Soul Sister

The Emotions – Best of my Love

Smash Mouth – All Star

Kenny Loggins – Footloose

Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight

OutKast – Hey Ya!

Coldplay – Viva la Vida

Spice Girls – Wannabe

Kenny Rogers – Islands in the Stream

3. MILAN

Red Snakes Milano

Rome

“Rome is a place with some great historical landmark around every corner. Therefore, running is a great opportunity to see them all. I would advise you to start from the Colosseum, and then run along the lanes to Piazza del Popolo, then to Piazza Navona, and then to the Barcaccia and Trevi fountains. Running will not be easy: the streets in Rome are narrow and there are a lot of people, but it’s worth it. Along the Tiber, however, there is a footpath, and across it there are bridges, so that you can run back and forth for quite a long time.

Milan

“Milan is different from Rome: it has a smaller historical center, so you can easily see it in a couple of days. Therefore, I would advise running here in parks: for example, in Sempione Park – there is a circular route for 4 kilometers. Another park is Parco Forlanini, it is larger and you can run there for a very long time. In the center, an excellent route can be started at the Duomo, from there move to Piazza San Babila, in the area where all the most important shops are concentrated, run to Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, and then to the green elegant Parco Porta Venezia with its fountains. You definitely need to run through the Piazza Gae Aulenti area – there is a Nike store, from which the runs of our running club start, and then – Parco Sempione and the Navigli canal area. Last year it was improved, and now there are paths for pedestrians and cyclists, and they stretch for tens of kilometers: you can run away to the suburbs. ”

Music

Hudson Mohawke – Scud Books

Run the Jewels – Close Your Eyes

Beyonce – Run the World (Girls)

Major Lazer ft. MØ – Lost

Disclosure – You & me (Flume remix)

4. COPENHAGEN

NBRO

NBRO

“We have a tradition in the club – Long Saturday. It’s very simple: on Saturdays we run long distances. On average it’s 15-25 kilometers, and we run from the center of Copenhagen, from Søpavillonen, across lakes and bridges, and after about six kilometers we turn out of the city, where we run 15 kilometers around large lakes in the forests, and then we run back to the city. And this feeling – when you return to the center – is like if you spent the whole day outside the city, went on a small but real journey. Outside the city is always very quiet and picturesque. The area has hills (meaning you won’t get bored) and no asphalt roads (meaning your feet will thank you).

Running in the center of Copenhagen is also good: in fact, we have ideal conditions – because the policy of the state is such that it is customary to reduce the number of cars all the time and do everything to encourage runners, cyclists and walkers. The city has special pedestrian routes through the entire city, without traffic lights, which allows you to run through the city almost through and through in 15 minutes. For example, on Mondays NBRO hosts the Bloody Monday race, and for 15 kilometers of the route we come across only three traffic lights. We start at Søpavillonen, then we run through the Lakes, Nordhavn, the tunnel to Langelinie, from there to the Little Mermaid, along the bay, through the Royal Theater and back through the Lakes to Søpavillonen.”

Tips

“Be sure to download the Nike+, Endomondo or Strava apps and try to select Copenhagen from them. There are a lot of runners in the city, and they all religiously bring their runs there. So if you don’t know where to run in the city, you can find a whole encyclopedia of routes in Nike+. And if you make friends with someone, then they will certainly take you with them and help in every possible way.

Run with a team – firstly, it’s fun (our motto Run, Party Repeat), and secondly, it’s simple and convenient. We are, of course, very fast runners, but at the same time very funny. We train a lot, and one of our newcomers, for example, suddenly became the winner of the Copenhagen Marathon.”

Music

Drake – Started From The Bottom

DJ Snake ft. Lil Jon – Turn Down for What

HAIM – Falling (Duke Dumont Remix)
Major Lazer – Original Don ft. The Partysquad

Panjabi MC – Beware Of The Boys (ft. Jay-Z)

5. NEW YORK

BridgeRunners

“Our team has hundreds of steep routes, but perhaps my favorite is BMW or Triple Bypass. We try to include bridges in every run (see title), and this one has all the most notable ones: the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge. This route is a great opportunity to get a good look at the city. There are many hills on the route, and when you climb the bridge, you see New York at a glance. And this is a long route – 13-15 kilometers. We run out of downtown Manhattan, from the lower part of it, we run along Delancey Street, it leads to the Williamsburg Bridge (look at the streetcars from it!). And then the next bridge is either Brooklyn (beware of tourists) or Manhattan (they are nearby). It is better to run in the evening or in bad weather: on sunny days there are usually many tourists here, and at night the bridges will be provided only to you. When you cross the Brooklyn Bridge, it’s better to run to Manhattan – so you will have all these skyscrapers and an incredible panorama of the island in front of your eyes.

Tips

“It is better for women not to run across bridges alone at night. In the dark, these are quite deserted places, and if there are a lot of police on both sides of the bridges, it can get a little uneasy on the bridge itself.

If you really want to explore New York, the best place to do it is at a running club. The fact is that there are wonderful areas, very interesting, but considered not very safe. They can look askance at a crazy lonely runner there, and sometimes even throw something at him. In the club, they usually run along well-defined routes: firstly, we know people from this area, and they know us, and secondly, we always have an escort with us.

If you run with a player, slow down your speed: taxis, cyclists, cars are all an integral part of the city, very fast, noisy and often dangerous.

Run in the rain when it’s very hot. Not in the usual rain, but in a real, heavy downpour. Run without socks, just in sneakers and shorts: men can even take off their T-shirt, and girls can stay in a sports bra. Feelings are comparable only with a cold shower after the heat. As a bonus, the roads are only yours, and the city is empty: everyone pitifully huddles under umbrellas, sits indoors or stands in traffic jams.”

Music

Jay-Z – Public Service Announcement

Notorious BIG – Hypnotize

Craig Mack – Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)

Fat Joe – All the Way Up (Remix) 90 005

Drake – Big Rings

6. MOSCOW

Moskva River Runners

“If you want to run for a long time in Moscow, it is best to run along the embankment, because there are no traffic lights, you run, you run – and you don’t sweat it. All our routes one way or another pass through the embankment of the Moscow River. We specifically compiled the routes so that they included public places: for example, Solyanka, the Propaganda club. It’s great, because you run through, and someone you know sees you. We have our traditional route, simple and convenient. We start at the Sneakerhead store and run along Rozhdestvenka, turn behind the Lubyanka building, then run past Propaganda along Maroseyka, through Petroverigsky Lane. These are very quiet lanes: you run through busy streets, and then hop – and you find yourself in some kind of wilderness. Then we go down to the church, climb through Khokhlovka and run out to Solyanka. We make a stop here and warm up in the Fatherland Border Guards Park – the sight of a high-rise usually has a good effect on everyone. Having warmed up, we run across the bridge, from the skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya to Balchug Street, because it is quiet and interesting to run along it. Then we run to the Moskvoretsky Bridge, and here those who run a little, 5-7 kilometers, fall off and run back through Red Square past Detsky Mir to Rozhdestvenka.