Joined NBR: 2011
Why I joined: To get faster in order to qualify for the Boston Marathon
What I love about NBR: Generosity (it's free! all volunteer led!). And my teammates, who I love like family.
Favorite Race Distance: The marathon–it's the most illogical thing anyone can do, but here we are keep coming back. It proves life is not about logic.
Favorite Race: Tie between Chicago Marathon and New York
Best Running Memory: Qualifying for Boston for the first time in the Berlin Marathon.
Fun Fact: My first marathon was Chicago in 1997, I signed up the day before with pencil and paper, ran in Nike Air Max’s and a cotton shirt. The race was only measured by gun time.

Joined NBR: Spring 2016, right before the Brooklyn Half Marathon
Why I joined: To find new friends; to get in shape; to build a community.
What I love about NBR: It's a group of such multifaceted, talented, interesting people, and such generous spirits. I learn something new every time I'm on a run with NBR. Also, the fierce team loyalty and pride really inspire me.
Favorite Race Distance: The marathon is best to race, and the mile is best to train for (wait, maybe I mean the opposite).
Favorite Race: NYCM or the Bronx 10 Mile or 5th Avenue Mile or the Red Hook Crit (GAH! Can't decide!)
Best Running Memory: This is tough! I think probably some kind of marathon-training long run where I thought I'd die and some teammate (Mike Hill?) magically appeared with a Gatorade and I knew all would be right in the world. Or running past Mile 12 during NCYM, both times I've run it.
Fun Fact: ...I've never lived in North Brooklyn (that's how much I knew I'd like y'all from the time I joined!).

Joined NBR: 2015

Why I Joined: I was very new to running and wanted to learn how to be better at it, and to meet other runners.

What I love about NBR: The team spirit. I have met some of my best friends though the team and it’s the most amazingly supportive group of people.

Favorite Race Distance: The Marathon! I have a problem and can’t stop signing up for them...

Best Running Memory: Running Berlin and seeing an NBR cheer squad at Mile 20!

Fun Fact: Prior to 2015 I had never run and used to be oddly proud of this while I lived out my dreams of never making it big in a metal band.

Joined NBR: Late 2015
Why I joined: I'd just moved to Brooklyn and wanted to meet some people to run and socialize with in the neighborhood
What I love about NBR: So many things! The opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and become really good friends with them. The camaraderie and team spirit. The amazing volunteers. The drinking. And it's all free!

Favorite Race Distance: Half marathon. Not too long, not too short.
Favorite Race: NYC half; I've run it every year since 2013. Not sure why through; it's always freezing cold!
Best Running Memory: Running 18 miles of the 2018 NYC marathon with 4 NBR teammates. The cheers when we passed through the mile 12 water table were incredible

Fun Fact: I used to deliberately avoid running at school by hiding at a friend's house during gym class.

Joined NBR: 2016

Why I joined: I wanted to explore my potential as runner.

What I love about NBR: It's a big, open, inclusive, and competitive group. I've met so many people of different backgrounds that I never would have met had I not joined the group.

Favorite Race Distance: The Mile

Favorite Race: 5th Ave Mile, Anything at the Armory (Mile to 5K)

Best Running Memory: Night at The Races - 3000 Meters, Jan 11, 2017. It was my first ever race on a track and the first time I ever wore spikes. There is something about the rhythm and the competitive nature of the track that makes me feel very alive. Grabbing post-race beers and burgers at Coogan's also rocks.

Fun Fact: Never ran more than once a week (and usually not even that) until I joined NBR in August of 2016.

Joined NBR: 2009

Why I joined: To train with a team.

What I love about NBR: Our runs are open to everyone. That’s pretty awesome.

Favorite Race Distance: 4 milers

Favorite Race: The Pulaski Classic of course!

Best Running Memory: Winning the Mooathon Half Marathon in Ireland because a farm dog chased me for two miles. By the time I realized it was friendly, I had dropped the second place female. After the race, she told me she slowed down because I picked up the pace so much. Thanks farm dog whose bark was way bigger than its size!

Fun Fact: I beat Paula Radcliffe in a 10k once. She was 6 months pregnant and running it for fun but it still counts!

Joined NBR: I joined NBR in the summer of 2015 when I was training for my first 5k.

Why I joined: I was a ballet dancer for years, and a pretty good one. However, when I joined NBR, I was a horrible runner--bad form and could barely run a mile without walking. Honestly, I wanted to join a group to run with people and make running suck a little less. Soon after, my dislike for running turned into a love, and I haven't looked back since. Am I a better runner? Jury's still out on that one.

What I love about NBR: NBR is a club for the people: It's for new runners, tenured runners, casual runners, and professional runners alike. Being a part of NBR means being a part of an amazing community who races, cheers, and celebrates together. This team is a collective of the most generous people in New York who devote their time and energy to a club out of the goodness of their hearts, and that's pretty amazing.

Favorite Race Distance: It used to be my least favorite, but I've grown to really appreciate the 10k. It tests your training and race strategy, but doesn't hurt as much as a 5k or marathon.

Favorite Race: The New York Marathon! What an amazing race to run or to spectate -- truly one of the best days of the year.

Best Running Memory: Piling into a van with 11 other people and driving up to Easton, MA for the 'Gansett Summer Running Festival, racing either the 5k, 10k, or Half marathon and consuming (at least) twice as many beers as kilometers run. Greatest weekend ever.

Fun Fact: I placed 2nd in my age group at 5k race in Loudon, Tennessee (population, 5500). My prize was a ribbon and a fried chicken sandwich.