El ritmo de las calles: El equipo de WRU trae las corridas al Uptown

Hector Espinal and Joshua Mock, the founders of We Run Uptown (WRU) Crew, grew up on the streets of uptown in predominantly Latinx neighborhoods.

Back in 2013, Josh—who was athletic but had no strong feelings for running—heard he could receive a free pair of running shoes for attending a group run downtown. Urged on by Hector and other friends, he showed up. He received more than a new fashion accessory, as he met runners from all over the city and discovered a new passion.

“Everybody was running together, sticking together, pushing each other,” he recalls. “That’s kinda what drew me in.”

Hector was a non-runner until a breakup served as the impetus to start exercising. But running down Broadway on his own wasn’t his thing—he needed company.

So, wearing cotton hoodies, nine-inch gym shorts, and basketball shoes, the duo organized the first meeting of WRU Crew, inviting friends and neighbors to show up for a group run.

“Everyone was from our neighborhood, but no one was a runner,” says Hector. “It was for us to bring running uptown.”

Distance running wasn’t seen as a sport for Latinx or Black people, says Josh: “It was mostly white folks that were running.”

At first, the crew regularly got stopped by police wondering who or what they were running from. Their presence grew more familiar over time, but their first logo, developed by Josh’s tattoo artist, depicted crosshairs trained on a target and was inspired by the hip hop group Public Enemy.

Hip hop, of course, was born uptown, from the breakbeats of DJ Kool Herc to the legendary Grandmaster Flash. Like running, which had been obscure before the 1970s running boom, hip hop grew from a subculture into something far bigger than the music itself.

From an initial handful of members, WRU Crew slowly gained momentum. “No one knew what they were doing. We were all figuring it out as we went,” says Hector.

Josh and Hector are both from Dominican immigrant families—Josh was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in the Bronx; Hector was born and raised in Washington Heights. They feel that their Dominican heritage has played a big role in setting WRU Crew apart—and in driving its success as a community.

“We can mix the NYC transplants with the locals and have everyone feel welcome,” says Hector. “[That] is super unique, and it has a lot to do with Josh’s and my being Dominican and that family orientation. If you came to my house, my mom would make you feel like you’re at home. And that’s the same thing we bring to running.”

WRU Crew includes runners of all ages and from all walks of life. Before COVID-19, members took part in NYRR races throughout the city. Hector’s first race was the 2014 NYRR Fred Lebow Half, and his accomplishment inspired a group of WRU Crew members to do the NYRR Washington Heights Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K a few weeks later.

WRU Crew’s Monday night runs have continued through the pandemic. “Running on Broadway, right when you wanna quit someone honks the horn or yells a term of endearment,” says Hector.

Josh stopped running briefly last spring but soon returned to the group runs. “We definitely just needed to run,” he says. “It’s something that’s ingrained in our lives.”

Year-round, NYRR recognizes the contributions of the Latinx community. For Latinx Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), we are highlighting stories and achievements from Latinx perspectives.