By Katie Stiles

So you’ve decided to venture outside of Manhattan to that borough to the north, the ‘boogie down’ Bronx.  Probably you recognize the Bronx as the birthplace of hip hop or the home of the Yankees¹, but if you’ve never made it beyond the stadium, you are missing out on so much more.  Where else can you visit mansions with sweeping views of the Hudson River² (Riverdale), dine on authentic Italian-American cuisine while shopping for fresh mozzarella and Italian sausage³ (Belmont), explore nature trails along Long Island Sound⁴ (Pelham Bay), go out fishing and sample the catch of the day for dinner⁵ (City Island), and end the day with a local brew or distilled spirit⁶ (Port Morris)?  It’s all here in The Bronx.

The Bronx 10 mile course

Start the race by heading north on Grand Concourse, the Champs-Élysées of the Bronx, past art deco buildings reminding of the grandeur of the past.  Take a glance to your right just after 193^rd St. (mile 2.5) to see the cottage home of writer Edgar Allen Poe⁷.  The race continues up the Concourse until mile 3.5, where runners make a left onto Moshulu Parkway.  At the 4 mile mark, prepare to make a U-turn to go the opposite direction on Moshulu Parkway, heading toward the Botanical Gardens⁸.  Just past the 5 mile park will be another U-turn back up Moshulu Parkway and then a left turn onto Grand Course around mile 6.  From there it’s a straight shot back to 161^st St. before turning right to the finish line at Yankee Stadium.  The course is fast and relatively flat with very little changes in elevation.  There is very little tree cover, so be prepared for bright sun.

Number Pickup and Getting to the Start

Number pickup for the Bronx 10 mile will be at the New Balance Flatiron store at 150 5th Ave starting Tuesday, September 20.  Race day pickup is possible, but not recommended.  The race starts at 8 am.  The starting line is a short ride on the 4 train from the east side or the D train from the west side of Manhattan to the Yankee Stadium-161^st stop.  Please note that according to the MTA, the 2 train will not run to the Bronx on race day.

Post-race

After finishing your run, stick around for the post-race festival.  Then, instead of hopping directly back on the subway to Manhattan, take some time to explore some of the many things the Bronx has to offer.  At the very least, take some Jamaican patties and carrot cake to go⁹.

Where to visit:

1. Yankee Stadium
2. Wave Hill
3. Arthur Avenue, the real little Italy
4. Pelham Bay Park
5. City Island
6. Bronx Brewery | Port Morris Distillery
7. Bronx Historical Society
8. New York Botanical Garden
9. Concourse Jamaica Bakery