Your First NBR Run: What to Expect
Let us guess, after hearing about North Brooklyn Runners since you first moved to the city, you’ve finally decided to see what all the racket is about. Welcome! We’re happy you’re here. If you're feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about your first meetup, don't worry—you're not alone. Here's a rundown of what you can expect on your inaugural run.
Choosing a Run
Every runner has their own pace and comfort level, which is why we offer a variety of distances and paces to accommodate everyone. On the run schedule, you can click “beginner friendly” to find some of our runs with fewer miles. A classic beginner run is the Saturday Bridge & Coffee Run; it’s a great option to get a few miles in on the weekend and then socialize over coffee.
Finding “The Bins”
Our meetup locations vary run-to-run, though McCarren Park in Williamsburg is a popular starting point.
When a run starts at McCarren, the club usually meets on the track side of Tom Stofka Garden, at the corner of Driggs and Lorimer. This spot is occasionally referred to as “The Bins” as there used to be recycling bins located here.
For track workouts at McCarren, the club meets on the inside of the track across from the fitness equipment.
Start Time
People tend to show up right on time, so don’t be worried if nobody is at the meeting spot 10 to 15 minutes early. The run leaders will start the workout 5 to 10 minutes after the meeting time.
Routes/Workouts
While the time and location for each run remains the same week to week, the routes or workouts change. For these details, you’ll want to check out the Google Group. Run leaders will email out the run route or workout one to two days in advance.
The Run
After doing a quick name circle with estimated paces, the fun part starts! People gather into pods in relation to their pace and follow the route mapped by the run leaders. Many runners leave their earbuds at home and strike up casual conversation with the runner next to them.
Pacing
A handful of NBR runs have Party Pacers, runners who bring up the rear of the group by running 10:30-11:30mm+ depending on the distance. You’re sure to find these Party Pacers at Monday Night Easy Runs and Wednesday Night Beginner Runs.
If you’re headed out for a longer run, like Narwhals, feel free to send your estimated pace in the Google Group chain. It will help you and others get an idea of how many running buddies you’ll have.
Post-Run Socializing
At NBR, we love runs that end in food or drinks. It's a great opportunity to unwind, chat with fellow runners, and make new friends.
The Salmon Run happens on the first Friday of the month and ends at Acme Smoked Fish. We’ll arrive just as they open at 8:00 to take advantage of their Friday AM smoked fish sale. Be sure to pre-order your fish for pickup!
Or, if you’re not a morning runner but want to socialize, check out our Thursday Night Track Workout. We end at Turkey's Nest Tavern on Bedford Ave for cheap beer and whatever sports game is on TV.
Whether we're grabbing a coffee at a local cafe or enjoying a cold beverage at a nearby bar, the post-run hangout is an integral part of North Brooklyn Runners. Refer to our run schedule for other social runs.
Join Us
Ready to take the first step? Join our Google Group and find a run that suits your needs. We can't wait to welcome you to the pack.
Need more info? Check out our FAQ or contact us here.
