Celebrating Global Running Day with Group Runs
In 2009, the United States’ leading running organizations and races banded together to create National Running Day, a day to celebrate running, overall fitness, and to foster connection among runners. From there, the day grew to Global Running Day in 2016, where 2.5 million people from 177 different countries partook in a run for a total of ~9.2 million miles. Global Running Day’s foundational initiatives of promoting movement and emphasizing the physical and mental health benefits of the sport continue to be the drum beat to which the movement steps to. Since its genesis, the day has been celebrated on the first Wednesday of June- today! All around the world, races, events, and runs are underway. Our very own club is celebrated with free non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Co at our weekly Wednesday group run this evening. It drew the biggest crowd PPTC’s seen in quite some time and the non-alcoholic beer was flowing!
If you missed the chance to participate in tonight’s run, weekly runs meet up on Wednesday nights, and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings at various locations around Prospect Park.
Friday morning’s running group pictured here post-run. Friday mornings are the newest addition to weekly runs, they meet up at the South East Corner (Ocean/Parkside) of the park. Many attendees live nearby and expressed gratitude regarding the new meet-up location!
PPTC’s group runs serve as a cornerstone to the club and the entry point for many members. The simple premise of group runs draws people in with its promise of little commitment and often hooks them by the run’s end. Like Global Running Day, group runs inspire movement and cultivate community, making it the perfect way to celebrate.
Despite the positive impact of running with others, the world’s events led me to take a long hiatus from group runs, and I just recently joined again for May 19th’s pub run. After 15 months sans group runs, I found myself shy in such a large group. The kindness and positivity of other members helped me quickly overcome that and I was struck by how much I missed the camaraderie and energy of a group run. The vibrance of the people, their conversations, and the power of endorphins sweeps you along and before you know it, you’re divulging your birth date and deepest struggles to someone you just met. Ahhh, the weird and joyful phenomenon of group runs!
To capture the essence of PPTC’s group runs I tagged along for many of last week’s runs and did the poorest interview job one can imagine. Fortunately everyone was very gracious went above and beyond the line of duty for interviewees. Major thanks to you all!
Gabby Borenstein
Gabby post-NYC marathon in 2019!
Photo provided by Gabby Borenstein
Why did you start joining group runs?
Red shirt envy. I had just moved to BK and the mass of smiling runners in red was impossible to miss in Prospect Park. I was in search of a way to make marathon training more enjoyable and social (!!) after the year of isolation-- turns out I didn't have to look very hard!
What is something significant that you get out of group runs?
Fun, new friends, and a foray into different Brooklyn neighborhoods. Plus, motivation when mine is lacking and conversation to pass the time. I'm so excited I found such a welcoming and diverse community of runners. Miles are made a whole lot more enjoyable when you get to meet new people, swap stories, and venture outside the park. Also, despite the fact that I'm a NYC native my sense of direction is terrible, so the ability to follow group leaders on routes is a huge benefit.
Is there anything about PPTC group runs that has surprised you?
I only joined PPTC recently and was immediately taken by how supportive members were despite their varying goals. It's not easy finding a running group that prioritizes community over competition. Every runner I've met on PPTC group runs was nothing short of friendly and encouraging -- even in undesirable hot and cold climatic conditions. After only a couple of runs I felt like part of the group, which is a rare and pleasant surprise.
What keeps you coming back?
The people and an ambitious fall race schedule. Long runs for marathon training are made a whole lot more enjoyable with good company and conversation. Plus, I really can't rely on my navigation skills when I venture beyond Prospect Park!
Dipen Desai
Dipen on a Brooklyn Bridge run!
Photo provided by Dipen Desai
Why did you start joining group runs?
To be more consistent. I always have PPTC’s Saturday and Sunday schedules in the back of my mind - it helps me to get out of bed and start running.
What is something significant you get out of group runs?
Motivation, learning from experienced runners, and meeting new runners.
Is there anything you found surprising about PPTC group runs?
Openness and the efforts to make everyone feel welcome: especially captains leading weekly runs & having conversations with everyone running.
What keeps you coming back?
The wonderful feeling that I get after a long run is completed with the PPTC group and that I love running. :)
Chad Donnick
Chad prepares to lead the Wednesday night group run in a rainstorm.
Why did you start joining group runs?
I needed to get out of the house and get into a routine. I'm more of a night runner so I joined the Wednesday night run starting in January and really enjoyed the group and chill pace.
What is something significant you get out of group runs?
I love making others feel welcome and supported (it's that Midwest hospitality gene, I guess), and being a group leader and pacer really fulfills that. A loop of the park isn't necessarily easy for everyone so I make it a point to make sure no one is left behind and everyone feels supported. Even if I had a lousy day, I always leave the Wednesday night run feeling good.
Is there anything you found surprising about PPTC group runs?
It seems like there's at least one new PPTC member every week. I never saw such a stream of new folks in the other clubs I've been a part of. Love it!
What keeps you coming back?
Seeing the other night run regulars and catching up with them. Being able to meet a new PPTC member, make them feel welcome, and chatting with them for the loop. It makes the 3 miles go by fast!
Jennie Matz
Jennie running ship at the track
Provided by Jennie Matz
Why did you start joining group runs?
The club offers 101 ways to be involved but I feel like the best way to connect with members on a regular basis is via Group Runs. I quickly found that I could talk to people that I may not have come across otherwise, so that's cool. “We like talking about running or not talking about running...we both love soup.”
What is something significant that you get out of group runs?
Usually, it's motivation and a natural way to go for a longer weekend run than you might on your own. I sometimes say that I'm going to do "hang-over pace" at introductions to keep my expectations low. Yet, once you set-off and you've crossed some bridges while gabbing away, you have no choice but to run the rest of the way home*, and may find you're in the double digits mileage-wise, and that's satisfying and fun. It's also a built-in social hour (or three); it's always there for you if you want it. (That is, if you can get your ass out of bed to make it in Oren-time —Oren always leaves right on the hour, no buffer time there!)
*Note for newbies: you can always turn around or bring a Metro card.
Is there anything about PPTC group runs that has surprised you?
I grew up in New York so it's not a common thing when I discover a new patch of the city I haven't seen before. Driving through a new neighborhood is different than running through it and that's happened a few times on Group Run (thanks, Mark G!). Some dumb observations:
- Bushwick is noticeably garbage-strewn. Wth *cough* Kathryn Garcia
- Chinatown is the worse place to run through but hands-down the best place to end your run
- I love the curated running tours; we should do more of them (a plea, not an observation)
What keeps you coming back?
Group Runs are like a moving party. Unlike an actual party where you're looking for an awkward exit out of that boring cocktail convo, you can organically stop at lights and mix it up with other people. I have nothing more to say about this other than that you should flake on your plans and join a Group Run. I don’t care if you’re getting married or going to Pop-pop’s 100th birthday party. Both those things can wait.
John Griffiths
John at the Wednesday group run right before the downpour.
Why did you start joining group runs?
When lockdown struck, I focused on what I could do, not what I couldn’t. As an orienteer I had always been interested in running, so I joined the club, donned my mask, and turned up at the Wednesday evening run.
What is something significant that you get out of group runs?
Meeting interesting, inspirational, like-minded runners who stay awake when I talk about shoe technology. :)
Is there anything you found surprising about PPTC group runs?
How tolerant everyone is of my variable paces!
What keeps you coming back?
Great company, great fun, super stories.
Mal Ward
Mal running the Brooklyn Half Marathon in conditions much like the Sunday group run this weekend!
Photo provided by Mal Ward
Why did you start joining group runs?
Prior to Covid-19, I ran group runs with a charity group that met at Central Park. During the pandemic those trainings were cancelled and had yet to start back. After my vaccination, a running friend moved to Brooklyn and mentioned PPTC. Working from home for the past year and a half, I hoped to find a group near my apartment. I was hesitant about getting back into shape and building up miles, but after attending the first Sunday group run in the sun, I was in!
What is something significant that you get out of group runs?
There is an energy that comes with group runs in the conversations and laughter that I don't find in the long miles by myself. I love meeting new people, hearing about their running journey, and anticipating the coffee that awaits us to celebrate after logging the miles.
Is there anything about PPTC group runs that has surprised you?
Community > everything else.
What keeps you coming back?
Accountability -- I'm inspired by a group working toward personal goals and welcoming others to join in on the journey.
Rafael Davis Portela (Rafa)
Rafa enjoyed his non-alcoholic beer at the Global Running Day run and got a lot of miles on the joke, “Yeah, I’m almost drunk now!” *Please note: non-alcoholic beer
Why did you start joining group runs?
I love group runs. It’s much more pleasant to run in a group than running by myself. It also helps me with accountability. I recently moved to Brooklyn. We moved in the middle of the pandemic, it was August 2020 and here in NYC, I learned that running groups are the best way to make friends. There’s something about running groups that makes it so much it easier to have casual, friendly relationships, because every week you’re seeing the same people and running with them and struggling with them, having good and bad days with them.
What is something significant that you get out of group runs?
There’s a lot of knowledge, I learn so much about running, there’s people that have been doing this for a long time. I also have a lot of different conversations and because it’s NYC, there are people from everywhere in the world, every kind of culture, so you end up learning about different religions, different cultures. You’re always learning, you’re just chatting with different and fascinating people.
Is there anything you found surprising about PPTC group runs?
It was much bigger than I thought it was, because I’m coming from my smaller group runs. So, there’s much more happening and the level of the structure is high. This week was the first summer run and it’s kind of fancy, you have the real bibs and the time tracker and I thought, “Wow, this is a serious group.” Even I volunteered and I got a volunteer shirt and when I was leaving I asked if I should wash it and give it back and they said, “No, it’s yours!” and for them to have shirts on hand, I thought, “Whoa, this is big group!”
What keeps you coming back?
Runners are friendlier and always non-judgmental. I don’t know if it’s because we’re always struggling together through something, but people are always happy and it’s so rare to see people in a bad mood. I never see conversations going wrong or people getting angry at each other. It’s always this nice atmosphere.
If this piece indulged you and you’re hankering to try out a PPTC group run, sign up here. Can’t wait to see you there! Happy Global Running Day everyone!
PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.
Introductory text by: Rachael DePalma (she/her)
Interviews conducted by: Rachael DePalma
Photos: Rachael DePalma unless otherwise noted
Edited by: Linda S. Chan (she/her)
Produced by: Rachael DePalma