Piece o' Cheesecake: Run Free!

Last week we discussed The Secrets to Resolutions You Can Actually Keep. If your new year's resolution includes getting more exercise or running more, or if you are a regular runner, then this week's blog may be for you. This week features my latest post in the Piece o' Cheesecake series, New York-specific blog posts for the best in healthy eating and free, cheap & unique workouts around New York City. And today we are talking about the many free run clubs offered around Brooklyn and Manhattan (as well as nationwide). Check it out: 



Jack Rabbit Stores
Jack Rabbit offers free group runs from each of their stores, which are located in Manhattan in Union Square, on the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side, and in Brooklyn in Park Slope. According to their website, Jack Rabbit offers both long runs (8-13 miles. 7-10 minutes/mile. 2 pace groups.) and fun runs (Conversational. All fitness levels welcome.). All Jack Rabbit stores offer a place to get changed and lock up your things before a run. The stores also offer free yoga & pilates classes. Sign up online at jackrabbitsports.com or follow them on Twitter: @JackRabbitNYC and @JackRabbitRuns.

Lululemon Athletica
Lululemon stores across the US and Canada offer free group runs as well as free yoga classes (and free summertime yoga in the park in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and the city's Bryant Park). Runs vary by store but all ability levels are welcome. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, especially if it is your first visit and/or you are commuting from work. Lululemon locations offer a dressing room & place to store your belongings before runs. Find your local store here to check out their events calendar. You can also sign up for e-mails from your local store for updates or follow any of the Lululemon Twitter feeds: @lululemon, @lululemonnyc, @lululemonbrklyn, @lulusoho or search for your local "Lulu" on Twitter.

Nike+ Run Club
Nationwide Nike, NIKETOWN and Nike Running stores are offering free group runs. To find your store, click here. The NIKETOWN store in New York on East 57th street between 5th & Madison Avenues has group runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 PM and Saturdays at 9 AM. Meet at the store, where there will be a place to change and leave your stuff. Follow @NikeRunning or @NikeNYC, or search for your local store on Twitter. 

Paragon Sports
Paragon's free run club will start up again in mid-January, on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. Meet up at the store, which is located at 867 Broadway at 18th Street. Call for more info: (212) 255-8889 and follow on Twitter: @paragonsports.

Prospect Park Track Club
The Prospect Park Track Club (PPTC) meets at Grand Army Plaza on Saturdays at 8 AM, Sundays at 9 AM and Wednesdays at 7:15 PM for its free group runs, which non-members are invited to join. According to their website: "Distances and paces vary according to the group make up." Saturday "we usually go somewhere and back so bring a MetroCard." Sunday, we "typically...run one loop of the [Prospect] park, as a recovery run from Saturday's long run." Read more on PPTC free group runs here. PPTC members enjoy: speed workouts, group runs, races, social events, monthly newsletter updates on club activities, monthly meetings with guest speaker, club picnic and relay in summer, awards party in winter. To learn more about membership, click here. You can also follow PPTC on Twitter: @ProspectParkTC.

The Running Company
The Running Company offers three free runs per week (including Saturday morning) from both its West Side Store, in the Time Warner Center, and its East Side Store, at 1059 Third Avenue, in Manhattan. According to the East Side website, the runs go through Central Park and are split into 3 groups/3 paces. Follow The Running Company on Twitter: @nyrunningco.

Super Runners Shop
The Super Runners Shop offers free groups runs on Saturdays at 9 AM and Sundays at 10 AM, at three different paces, from its two locations: 1337 Lexington Avenue in the city and 123 Court Street in Brooklyn. Learn more about their group runs here. 

For more reading on running and group activities, check out:

Get A Gym Buddy - Piece o' Cake, 3/10/2010

4 Tips for Group Runs - Active.com

8 Steps to a Successful Running Habit - About.com, 7/8/2012


Image: sizesmallplease.tumblr.com

Last week we discussed The Secrets to Resolutions You Can Actually Keep. If your new year's resolution includes getting more exercise or running more, or if you are a regular runner, then this week's blog may be for you. This week features my latest post in the Piece o' Cheesecake series, New York-specific blog posts for the best in healthy eating and free, cheap & unique workouts around New York City. And today we are talking about the many free run clubs offered around Brooklyn and Manhattan (as well as nationwide). Check it out: 



Jack Rabbit Stores
Jack Rabbit offers free group runs from each of their stores, which are located in Manhattan in Union Square, on the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side, and in Brooklyn in Park Slope. According to their website, Jack Rabbit offers both long runs (8-13 miles. 7-10 minutes/mile. 2 pace groups.) and fun runs (Conversational. All fitness levels welcome.). All Jack Rabbit stores offer a place to get changed and lock up your things before a run. The stores also offer free yoga & pilates classes. Sign up online at jackrabbitsports.com or follow them on Twitter: @JackRabbitNYC and @JackRabbitRuns.

Lululemon Athletica
Lululemon stores across the US and Canada offer free group runs as well as free yoga classes (and free summertime yoga in the park in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and the city's Bryant Park). Runs vary by store but all ability levels are welcome. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, especially if it is your first visit and/or you are commuting from work. Lululemon locations offer a dressing room & place to store your belongings before runs. Find your local store here to check out their events calendar. You can also sign up for e-mails from your local store for updates or follow any of the Lululemon Twitter feeds: @lululemon, @lululemonnyc, @lululemonbrklyn, @lulusoho or search for your local "Lulu" on Twitter.

Nike+ Run Club
Nationwide Nike, NIKETOWN and Nike Running stores are offering free group runs. To find your store, click here. The NIKETOWN store in New York on East 57th street between 5th & Madison Avenues has group runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 PM and Saturdays at 9 AM. Meet at the store, where there will be a place to change and leave your stuff. Follow @NikeRunning or @NikeNYC, or search for your local store on Twitter. 

Paragon Sports
Paragon's free run club will start up again in mid-January, on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. Meet up at the store, which is located at 867 Broadway at 18th Street. Call for more info: (212) 255-8889 and follow on Twitter: @paragonsports.

Prospect Park Track Club
The Prospect Park Track Club (PPTC) meets at Grand Army Plaza on Saturdays at 8 AM, Sundays at 9 AM and Wednesdays at 7:15 PM for its free group runs, which non-members are invited to join. According to their website: "Distances and paces vary according to the group make up." Saturday "we usually go somewhere and back so bring a MetroCard." Sunday, we "typically...run one loop of the [Prospect] park, as a recovery run from Saturday's long run." Read more on PPTC free group runs here. PPTC members enjoy: speed workouts, group runs, races, social events, monthly newsletter updates on club activities, monthly meetings with guest speaker, club picnic and relay in summer, awards party in winter. To learn more about membership, click here. You can also follow PPTC on Twitter: @ProspectParkTC.

The Running Company
The Running Company offers three free runs per week (including Saturday morning) from both its West Side Store, in the Time Warner Center, and its East Side Store, at 1059 Third Avenue, in Manhattan. According to the East Side website, the runs go through Central Park and are split into 3 groups/3 paces. Follow The Running Company on Twitter: @nyrunningco.

Super Runners Shop
The Super Runners Shop offers free groups runs on Saturdays at 9 AM and Sundays at 10 AM, at three different paces, from its two locations: 1337 Lexington Avenue in the city and 123 Court Street in Brooklyn. Learn more about their group runs here. 

For more reading on running and group activities, check out:

Get A Gym Buddy - Piece o' Cake, 3/10/2010

4 Tips for Group Runs - Active.com

8 Steps to a Successful Running Habit - About.com, 7/8/2012


Image: sizesmallplease.tumblr.com