NBR Board of Directors

AMANDA STEIGMAN
President

Joined NBR: 2022
Why I joined: Joined for the long run company (marathon training solo is too much time alone with your thoughts), stayed for the friends.
What I love about NBR: So many things, but number one is the community. NYC feels a lot smaller when you are running in the neighborhood and see fellow friends and teammates also out training! On the flip side, NBR has made my New York bubble less homogeneous, and I am super grateful for the connections that I would have never made otherwise.
Favorite Race Distance: Marathon. I love how runners can completely take over a city for a weekend, you can strike up a conversation with just about anyone, and everyone is in it together, even though we may have taken very different paths to get to the start line. They are learning experiences!
Favorite Race: Broad Street 10 Miler. I know this directly contradicts my answer above, but running in a straight line on a forgiving course (read: net downhill) is a blast. Philly is fun to visit. Get a sandwich at Middle Child.
Best Running Memory: Grandmas Marathon 2024! I ran with some NBR teammates, and we had a really fun squad for the whole weekend. The pre-race pasta dinner is a ton of fun (we even got to meet Olympian Dakotah Lindwurm) and it fueled me to a BQ. Jumping into Lake Superior the next day was also super fun and great for ‘thon legs recovery.
Fun Fact: I once ran a half marathon with my shoes untied!

HARRISON GRINNAN
Team Captain

Joined NBR: 2021
Why I joined: I started running a little bit before the pandemic then it turned out it was the only thing to do for two years and I got really into it. I live a quarter mile from the famous bins that don't exist, so it wasn't a big leap to join the club once being around other people felt safe again. Running with the club has helped me set my goals higher than I ever would have expected when I ran alone, plus I've met a whole lot of friends!
What I love about NBR: Because it's a free running club and not a climbing gym, you can meet all kinds of people here! I also really enjoy when run leaders have a little too much fun with the emails they send out.
Favorite Race Distance: I've had races I felt went really well from the mile to the full marathon. I did not enjoy running the 800.
Favorite Race: My first race as a serious runner was the Bronx Ten Miler in 2021 and I beat my goal time by two full minutes. Since then I've been setting more accurate, harder goals, but every time I reach the last part of a race ahead of my goal pace it feels amazing. I love being able to settle in and just pick people off instead of racing a clock.
Best Running Memory: Running to the beach with LC and Narwhals is amazing every year. The route is simple (run down bedford, left at the ocean, right at the bridge, left at the beach), the views are great, we've had great luck with the weather, and the first two times I did it I got a wonderful sabich from a cafe in the rockaways. Last time we went, the sabich was off the menu and I ended up getting a kimchi grilled cheese from a different place that could only be described as a crime against kimchi, cheese, and sliced bread.
Fun Fact: I have never run on a treadmill!

TARA MERIGAN
Team Captain

Joined NBR: Around March 2022 (though I was definitely lurking in the Google Group for a while before showing up)

Why I joined: Running alone was getting boring! I was relatively new to the city, and I thought it’d be a good way to meet people in the neighbourhood and stay motivated.

What I love about NBR: The welcoming vibe, focus on competition and communiton, the friendships I’ve made, and always having people to commiserate about training/racing/lack of toenails with.

Favorite Race Distance: Half marathon - long enough to settle in and enjoy it (somewhat) but less brutal than the full. I’m also working on my 5K at the moment (though that’s a bit of a love/hate relationship)

Favorite Race: Brooklyn Half - in our backyard, fun vibes, and the boardwalk finish is iconic. Something about a post-race beer and hotdog…. I’m also really excited for the Brooklyn Mile! Perfect summer race and unbeatable energy.

Best Running Memory: Negative-splitting NYCM and feeling strong the whole way (rare but magical when it happens)

Fun Fact: I broke my neck in two places while bike riding on April Fools’ Day