The New York Road Runners (NYRR) hosted another great race in Central Park in New York City to kick off June. The NYRR put on the Italy Run (5M) by Nutella Cafe as part of the Festa della Republica which is the Italian National Day and Republic Day. The race started and ended with a great festival that shared Italian culture with the New York running community from foods to travel destinations and of course Nutella Cafe was on hand to hand out samples of the delicious chocolate to all those in attendance. There was also a DJ that got everyone pumped with some great music. This was a nice sized race that consisted of 8,068 finishers (3,868 men and 4,200 women). With water stations placed just before each mile on Miles 1 through 4 (and water at the finish line) runners should feel plenty hydrated throughout this race. Those that register for this race will receive a great short sleeve running tech shirt with the race logo on the front. Unfortunately, this race did not award finisher medals.

Runners of the Italy Run (5M) will line up in Central Park on West Drive near 67th Street. The great thing about this race, for those that frequently run races in Central Park with the NYRR, is that it has a different starting location than some of the other races so the hills you expect to hit in the park will come at a different point in the race making it feel fresh. From West Drive, runners will begin running south and complete the lower loop of the park and then turn back onto East Drive before hitting Mile 2. As you head north on East Drive you pass the 72nd Street Transverse and begin to make the climb up Cat Hill. This will be the steepest hill that you will face on this particular course. Runners will see some small rolling hills and then a downhill stretch as they come to Mile 3. Mile 3 continues along East Drive and passes the Reservoir on your left. You’ll pass Engineer’s Gate near East 90th Street and as you pass Mile 3 there is another steady hill that you will climb to Mile 4. This hill is long but very manageable. You approach Mile 4 and turn left onto the 102nd Street Cross Drive. Another left quickly follows that brings runners back onto West Drive. A few small rolling hills will meet runners as they begin to run south. Runners will hit a nice downhill coming onto Mile 5 before hitting a flat finish. Turn onto the 72nd Street Transverse and finish strong just west of Bethesda Terrace.

This was a great race with a fun pre / post race party that all runners should look into running. Central Park is a beautiful park to be running through and the NYRR always put on an amazingly well organized event.