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 193rd 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 161st 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-161st 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: