Frequently Asked Questions

What is SBRC?

We are a group of runners who like to get together and run with other people. Coming out of South Brooklyn (Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Red Hook) we represent many different levels, from people just starting out to competitive runners. Our goal is to make everyone welcome, and to give everyone positive running experiences. If you want to just run around the park, we can help you meet that goal. If you want to run a sub-3:00 marathon, we can help you too.

Cobble Hill and Red Hook? That’s not South Brooklyn! Isn’t South Brooklyn Bay Ridge?

Historically, the area south of Atlantic was South Brooklyn, as opposed to north of Atlantic, which was the City of Brooklyn. Bay Ridge is southern Brooklyn. Wikipedia can explain it more.

Do I have to live in South Brooklyn?

Of course not! Even though we think South Brooklyn is the best, we have members from such far away places as Wisconsin and New Jersey, but they don’t get to run with us that much. If you want to run with us, come and do so, we’d love to have you. If you want to find a closer running club, you can find lots of them through NYRR. Other Brooklyn clubs include Prospect Park Track Club, Brooklyn Road Runners, and North Brooklyn Runners.

Is South Brooklyn really the best?

Yes.

Well, you’ve convinced me. How do I join?

Just come and run with us. We try to have lots of runs at different paces, so come on by on we know you’ll have a good time.

But what if I’m out of shape or don’t like running or am slow or have never ran?

Come and run! We’ve all been there, and it’s a lot easier to get going with some other people running next to you. We are runners of all levels, so you won’t be alone, and we promise you’ll have fun.

You guys sound great! It must cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to run with you. Which is it?

Neither. Running with us won’t cost you a dime. Just come on out.

Awesome. When can I meet you all?

Just refer to our handy schedule.

What a well-prepared schedule! And your routes are so convenient! But when do you run each route?

We don’t have plans for this route on this day. Some days may be windy and cold, so we’ll stay away from the bridges, or we may want to have a relatively flat day, so we we’ll run the waterfront. The people who show up that day set the route.

So how far could I expect to run on any day?

Most weekdays are in the 5-7 mile range -maybe longer on Wednesdays- and weekends have a range of 5-20+ miles. Those distnaces are set again by whomever is doing the running.

But what if I want to run a shorter distance?

Some people turn around earlier, using the motivation of meeting people to get them going, and sometimes someone else is looking for a shorter run too, so come run, you’ll be glad you did.

Favorite running books?

Daniels’ Running Formula by Jack Daniels
Faster Road Racing: 5K to Half Marathon by Pete Pfitzinger and Phillip Latter
Today We Die a Little!: The Inimitable Emil Zatopek, the Greatest Olympic Runner of All Time by Richard Askwith

Where can I get those sweet, sweet tree identification run notes?

When stopped at a light, do you jog in place?

No.

This all sounds good, but can you give me a sampling of conversations I would expect?

The life changing benefits of the post-run robe, ever notice there are no written words in Star Wars, who really wore it best, Miller High-Life is only 2$ at Vekslers, do tatoos affect sweating performance, difference between A skip and B skip, I saw Ethan Hawke the other day, yea I saw Michael Cera, solutions to byzantine generals problem, my left side is killing me, you need to alternate your park loop directions, I can no longer complain about GPS watches because the latest ones are really awesome, that’s strange because a draft at Vekslers is like 6$ and its tiny, it’s called Ladies and Gentlemen where one player tries to make as much money as possible and the other spends it on jewelry and clothes, weatherspark says Casablanca has identical weather to NYC but I don’t believe it, the rice and egg bowl there is really the best post-run meal, that’s the pole I ran into, sure Charles Carroll gave us the Maryland 400 but it was Richard Butts that gave us the gardens, I think they call those scrapper bikes, Frank is hands down the best at Area, I’ve been going to Malaga lately since they have a runner’s yoga, so it all started when someone noticed their bees producing red honey, it’s called a quadriggia and faces South toward the defeated army, they call them Morning Glory muffins but they’re really just fruit cakes, a two week taper just seems like too much, did Smith Canteen get their bench back, lovely American Elm coming up on the left, that’s a nice watch face, my harbor seal painted it, etc.

I really want to discuss politics when I run.

Nope.

You guys really like running, huh?

Yes we do.