New York, May 23, 2016— New York Road Runners (NYRR) will celebrate Global Running Day and the first-ever Million Kid Run with events and activities across the five boroughs, including free runs and walks for all ages and abilities, hydration stations in parks, and giveaways on June 1. More than 2,000 NYC public school students who take part in NYRR’s free youth running program, Mighty Milers, will take part in a celebration of running at the Mighty Milers Fun Run as a part of the Million Kid Run, and the tristate area’s top runners will be there to cheer them on.

Pledging for Global Running Day and the Million Kid Run is open on globalrunningday.org through June 1. Runners of all ages and abilities can pledge to run and add their name to the list of runners from all over the world who are coming together to celebrate the sport. Groups and individuals, kids and adults, able-bodied runners, and athletes with disabilities can all pledge to be a part of Global Running Day.

“We are so excited to celebrate Global Running Day and the inaugural Million Kid Run with inspiring runners from around the world, and especially those here in New York City,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “With more than one million people from more than 140 countries already pledged to run on Global Running Day, and tens of thousands of youth runners who take part in NYRR’s free youth running programs pledged to participate in the Million Kid Run, it’s going to be an extraordinary day of running. We look forward to being a part of the worldwide celebration of health and fitness in NYC on June 1.”

“NYRR is celebrating Global Running Day by getting New Yorkers of all ages and abilities moving across the five boroughs,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “We are especially thrilled to have a number of the tristate area’s top elites join us for running and fitness activities on June 1, engaging with our youth runners at the Mighty Milers Fun Run, and helping lead pre-run stretches at free walks and runs throughout the city.”

In celebration of Global Running Day and the Million Kid Run, NYRR will host the following events and activities on Wednesday, June 1:

Mighty Milers Fun Run

More than 2,000 NYC public school students who take part in NYRR’s free youth running program, Mighty Milers, will take part in a celebration of running at the Mighty Milers Fun Run as part of the Million Kid Run. The grade 3 through 8 youth runners will participate in 800-meter runs, infield fitness games, and more.

First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray, and three 2016 US Olympic team hopefuls, 2015 USA 5000-meter champion Nicole Tully, 2015 PanAm Games gold medalist in the 3000-meter steeplechase Ashley Higginson, and world record-holder in the IAAF/BTC World Relays distance medley relay Kyle Merber, will join the students in celebrating Global Running Day.

NYRR Open Run—Free Walks and Runs

To celebrate Global Running Day, NYRR Open Run—a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative that brings free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks across NYC—will have runs starting at 7:00 p.m. in the following locations. Local elites (noted below), many of whom participated in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, will help lead pre-run stretches and distribute giveaways.

• Astoria Park, Queens – Caitlin Phillips and Sarah Cummings of the New York Athletic Club, and Alexandra Bernardi of the Central Park Track Club, New Balance’s U.S. Elite program
• Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn – Jeanna Composti of the New York Athletic Club
• Conference House Park, Staten Island
• Cunningham Park, Queens – Brendan Martin of the New York Athletic Club, and Leonora Petrina of the Sayville Running Company
• Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan – Kerwin Vega and Harrison Hunter of the Central Park Track Club
• Marine Park, Brooklyn
• Silver Lake Park, Staten Island
• St. Mary’s Park, Bronx

Also in New York, in celebration of Global Running Day, there will be a morning one-mile run with elected officials and NYRR staff, led by NYC Council Member Daniel Garadnick, starting from the East Gate of City Hall. Later in the evening, a three-mile run with elected officials and NYRR staff, led by New York State Assembly Member Michael Cusick, will take place around the Capital building in Albany.

NYRR Striders Walk

NYRR’s free, weekly walking program in senior centers, parks, and neighborhood facilities throughout the five boroughs will host a walk at Icahn Stadium at 11:00 a.m. that will culminate in handing out ribbons to youth runners participating in the Mighty Milers Fun Run at the same location. NYRR Strider and recent media sensation, 101-year-old Ida Keeling, who recently set a 100-meter world-record for women ages 100-104 years, will participate in the walk.

Hydration Stations

Runners can stop by one of the following hydration station locations between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on June 1 to take the Global Running Day pledge, grab some fluids, and chat with NYRR staff and fellow runners:

• Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park (Note: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. only)
• Brooklyn: Prospect Park (Grand Army Plaza)
• Manhattan: Central Park (Engineers’ Gate at 90th Street)
• Queens: Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• Staten Island: Clove Lakes Park

Coach-led Group Morning Runs

Runners can come for the group run and stay for post-workout treats at the following locations on June 1:

• Engineers' Gate in Central Park, Manhattan (6:30 a.m.)
• Grand Army Plaza at Prospect Park, Brooklyn (6:30 a.m.)
• Columbus Circle, Manhattan (7:30 a.m.)

NYRR Team for Kids Run and Social

The organization’s charity running program that raises money for NYRR’s free, year-round youth running programs will host a group run and social. Runners can join Team for Kids coaches and staff for an easy run starting at 6:30 p.m. meeting just inside Central Park at Central Park West and 81st Street.

#GlobalRunningDay Twitter Chat

Runners can celebrate Global Running Day on Twitter by joining a Twitter chat at 2:00 p.m. with the Global Running Day account, @runningday, and Runner’s World’s @BartYasso. Runners are encouraged to discuss why they run, where they run, and where they want to run – with a focus on running all over the globe.

Running organizations and groups, individuals, school administrators, coaches, and parents can visit globalrunningday.org to pledge, explore group runs and other events happening around the world, and find information on running activities for all abilities for adults and youth. They can also connect with Global Running Day socially via #GlobalRunningDay, and customize a Global Running Day bib and finisher certificate.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit nyrr.org.

About Global Running Day

Global Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day for people around the world to celebrate the joys of running. It is a worldwide celebration of the sport, and a way for runners of all ages and abilities to share their passion for running and inspire others to get moving. The Million Kid Run on Global Running Day aims to get young people moving. The goal is to have a million kids around the world pledge to run on June 1, 2016. The Million Kid Run is about making fitness fun, and inspiring kids to embrace running as a way to get healthy and fit. Global Running Day is a collaborative effort of the most prominent running organizations around the world, with many of the top professional runners helping to share their passion for the sport with the global running community.