One of the reasons I love Bar Reis, a neighborhood bar on Fifth Avenue near 6th Street, is how friendly people are when they're in there but not in a drunken, weird way but a friendly, interesting way.
Case in point. Last night I met a young woman named Thomasin Bentley, Manager of Development of the New York Road Runners Club, (NYRR) sitting at the bar. Turns out she'd spent the day promoting the new date and new start location of the Brooklyn Half-Marathon, which is on Saturday, May 30th starting at 8 am. Registration is required.
Boy was she glad to run into me.
11,000 runners have signed up for next week's race, which is part of the NYRR Half Marathon Grand Prix. For the first time, the race will be starting in Prospect Park and ending in Coney Island.
The number of runners is up from 6,200 runners last year. I asked Thomasin what she thinks accounts for the increase.
"It has to do with the change in date from the dead of winter to the good weather of May. And the change in course: People wanted to end in Coney Island, near the ocean. They'd asked for that," Thomasin told me.
"In these times, people look for community to connect with," Thomasin added. "And running is the cheapest workout in the city. Spend $100 on a pair of running shoes and you're ready to go."
Thomasin's enthusiasm about her job and the Brooklyn race in particular was palpable. She told me that the New York Road Runners Club is looking to form "long term partnerships" with the communities near the course.
"We want to work with local community organizations, volunteer groups particularly in under-served areas to teach kids how to run," she said.
Collaboration with local merchants is also part of this community outreach. Starting Monday, some local restaurants are offering special discounts not just to runners but to everyone. Participating restaurants in the Park Slope area include the Apertivo Cafe, Melt, Blue Ribbon, Barrio, Playa, Sotto Voce, Alata Voce, Cataldo's, Gialeti's Cafe, Down Under Bakery/The Pie Shop and 12th Street Bar & Grill. Go to NYRR.org for more information.
"The restaurants were enthusiastic. Blue Ribbon never serves pasta but they're making a special pasta the night before the race for carbo loading," she told me.
According to Thomasin, NYRR brings thousands of people into these neighborhoods and wants to offer ways for the merchants to benefit from this.
On the Coney Island side, a Finish Line Festival is being planned. It includes discounts on rides like the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel ($2 off on each). Dino's is organizing a tug of war on the beach which will set up classic rivaliries like runners vs. bikers, Republican vs. Democrats, Yankees vs. Mets, Wall Streeters vs. Main Street.
I can think of some other interesting ones, too.
Ringling Brothers is also getting in on the act. There will be clowns, acrobats, and elephants at the finish line to greet the runners after the 13 mile race.
Go to the NYRR website, to get more information about restaurant discounts, the Finish Line Festival in Coney Island and the new race course. Here's the course:
Course:
Turnleft onto West Drive South, then left onto Wellhouse Drive, north on
East Drive, returning to West Drive; one more complete loop of Prospect
Park before exiting West Drive onto Prospect Park Southwest to Park
Circle; Ft Hamilton Parkway to North Bound Lane of Ocean Parkway
travelling south onto Surf Avenue (East Bound Lane); left turn onto
West 2nd entrance ramp onto boardwalk (near handball courts); turn
right (west) on boardwalk.
I think ending on the Coney Island Boardwalk is a fantastic idea. The euphoria of ending the race, seeing the Wonder Wheel, the Cyclone and the ocean.
What could be better?
Photo of the old start of the Brooklyn Half-marathon: www.flickr.com/photos/62266625@N00/114826679/