PPTC Al Goldstein Speed Series 5Ks

We are pleased to announce the return of the PPTC Al Goldstein Speed Series for 2024.  As always, races are scheduled on alternating Wednesday evenings: May 22, June 5 (Global Running Day!), June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31, and August 14. 

"Rain Date" Race on August 28: In the event of inclement weather that results in a race cancellation, Race Directors will hold a make-up race on Wed, August 28. If you would like to obtain the 7-race Series medal and a race is cancelled, you will need to participate in the race on August 28 to complete the race series and get the medal.

Pricing and registration info: You can register for the complete series of 7 races for only $50. Don't think you can make 7 races?  You can register for individual races at $12.50 per race.  Finally, if the race has not sold out, you may do walk-in registration in-person on race day for $15 credit or cash from 6:15 to 7pm. 

Series Bib Pick-up on Tue May 21: Don't stress, pick up your bib early at Brooklyn Running Co (480 Bergen St) on Tue 5/21, 4-6:45 pm! You can also pick up your bib at the first race from 6:15 pm.

Registration

INDIVIDUAL

• You can purchase a series bib that is used for all 7 races for only $50. Season bibs are on sale now, and will not be available for purchase after 5/21 at noon.

• The entry fee for individual races is $12.50 each when registering online in advance. If the race hasn’t sold out, the Day-of-Race registration fee is $15, and you can register online or on-site at Race Central. If you register on-site, you may pay by credit card (via registration on your phone) or with cash, available from 6:15-7pm on the evening of the race. Please bring exact change if paying by cash.

• Online registration for individual races will open 2 weeks in advance and close at 5 pm on race day. Registration for race 1 (5/22) will open 3 weeks in advance on 5/1.

• The season bib allows you to race any of the 7 races. If you register for individual races, you can only register for 1 race at a time. A new registration is required for each race.

• Apologies, but we will not offer bib transfers or refunds.

• Due to liability reasons, we cannot allow strollers or pets.

• Prospect Park Track Club welcomes athletes with all abilities. As a courtesy, we ask that runners who need Achilles guides or other special equipment please start at the middle or back of the pack, or message us for an early race start time. If you have questions about race accommodations, please email us.

Bag Check Guide

Our bag check (and the entire race) is fully staffed by volunteers. Please be courteous and read the suggestions below, so that our team can care for your bag as best as possible!

1. Rip the strip from the bottom of your bib and use a safety pin to attach it to your bag in a highly visible spot. Safety pins are available at the bib pickup station. If you lose your strip, you can DIY the bag check strip with markers and paper.

2. Bring your own bag. Everything you check must be in a bag. Things that are not bags: sweatshirts, water bottles, fishing rods, scooters, a pack of juice boxes, collapsible bikes, dogs.

3. Consolidate your bags. If you have more than one bag, put them all in a bigger bag, or make sure they are connected to each other. Tie the handles together with a necktie, use a bungee cord, take off your shirt and use it as a rope. Be creative! If you're running with a buddy and know you'll be finishing at the same time, tie your bags together and pick one person's bib number to represent both.

4. Don't store your water bottle (or anything else) in the holder on the outside of your bag. They have a habit of falling out.

5. One number per bag. Your bag can only have one bib number on it.

6. Get your bag by 8:10 pm. We need to close the bag check and get home too!

7. Make sure you have everything you need (and nothing you don't) before checking your bag. If you're going to stick some clothing back in your bag immediately before the race, give us a head’s up.

8. Stay outside of the bag check zone. Respect the barricades.

9. Silence your phone. If we hear an alarm or some other grating noise, we will go digging for it and turn it off ourselves.

10. Don't check anything super valuable. We are not responsible for any theft or damages. This is a public park; something may spill or be taken without our noticing.

Sponsors

We are excited to partner with sponsors who value community—especially our Brooklyn running community—as much as we do. Over 2000 runners participate throughout the course of the summer, so this is a great way to get your message out to a diverse community.

Ascent Physical Therapy NYC: We are a private, independently owned/operated physical therapy clinic in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. With unparalleled expertise and experience in the field we provide the highest level of care to professional athletes, weekend warriors and anyone looking to move and feel better. Our team specializes in manual orthopedic physical therapy with a focus on returning athletes to their sport and maximizing performance. We provide you with the tools and confidence to not only get back to your activity, but to exceed your prior performance.

Community Partners & Solidarity Bibs

We are proud that a portion of the proceeds for this race will be donated to community partners:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Back on My Feet: Make a profound difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness or addiction in your community.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

In addition, we are offering solidarity bibs to local schools and community organizations, whose members would benefit from complimentary access to our races:

• Montauk IS 223: We offer bibs to junior high school students who are members of the IS 223 running team, which strives to create life long runners and well-rounded young citizens.

• Additional partners TBA

We encourage you to check out how these organizations making our community better, and if you’d like, you can make an additional donation to our partners when you register for the race. All donations collected throughout the series will be shared equally among our charity partners. Should you like to make an additional donation, please donate here, and thank you kindly for your generosity.

Prospect Park Track Club welcomes journalists and photographers who would like to cover our public races. These races include the PPTC Cherry Tree 10 Miler & Relay, the PPTC Al Goldstein Speed Series 5Ks, the PPTC Turkey Trot: Race for Reconciliation, and the PPTC 50 Miler / 50K Endurance Fest. If you would like to cover a race, please email to let us know at least 3 days in advance of the race date, and include information below. If approved, you will be issued a press badge that will identify you as press.

• Full name(s)

• Phone number(s)

• Media outlet (if applicable)

• Running club affiliation (if applicable)

• Race you would like to cover

• Coverage explanation: intended goal, story pitch, is there anyone in particular you’d like to interview, etc

• Are you willing to give Prospect Park Track Club the rights to share your photos online for future race promotion purposes? Do you have an Instagram handle you’d like credited?

We will use this info to better coordinate coverage and photographer positions on the course. Journalists and photographers who do not obtain media clearance before the race may be asked by course marshals to leave the race course and race premises. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Contact

For any additional questions, please contact summer5k@pptc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at @ProspectParkTC, where you can follow us for all kinds of great running-related content!

Previous Years

2023