Free running series honoring 50 years of the five-borough marathon route wraps up in the Bronx

Runners from all five boroughs met in the Bronx on Sunday, Oct. 4, for the fifth and last 5K of New York Road Runners’ five-borough Open Run series. The race started and finished at East 149th Street and Cauldwell Avenue, in St. Mary’s Park.

That park is where NYRR got its start, and it is also the birthplace of the nonprofit’s free Open Run program.

A tribute to the NYC Marathon’s five-borough course

The series celebrates half a century of the New York City Marathon running through all five boroughs. It also pays tribute to the community members who have helped shape the race over the decades. Routes and street closures for this year’s race are in our NYC Marathon spectator guide.

Manhattan hosted the opening event, held Aug. 15 in Morningside Park. Staten Island came next with a Sept. 20 run in Conference House Park, and Queens followed on Sept. 26 in Astoria Park. Brooklyn’s turn, planned for Marine Park on Sept. 27, was called off because of weather.

People who took part could collect several keepsakes. A five-borough “passport” carried a stamp from each event, and participants also received a commemorative bib and a water bottle. The final item was the “50 Years Through the Five Boroughs” pin, issued in a limited edition.

Free weekly runs and walks in NYC parks

Open Run is the community program of New York Road Runners. Every week it hosts runs and walks at no cost, spread across 16 local parks in the five boroughs and in Jersey City.

Beyond Open Run, the nonprofit puts on 60 races a year for adults and young people. It also runs free youth and community programs throughout the year.