Join Chris Solinsky (a 10 time All-American), this evening for a free clinic on maximizing your 10k race. Sponsored by Nike running, this lecture takes place tonight from 6PM to 8:30 PM at NY Running Co. in the Time Warner Center at 59th Street, Columbus Circle, New York City.

Local, NYC runner Aileen Conlon will also be present, imparting some of her wisdom regarding the 10k distance. After the lectures, There will be 3 and 5 mile training runs. Nike will also be giving away plenty of freebies at the event.

Nike will also be on hand to help out those who have not yet registered for next month’s Nike Plus Human Race.  For more information, contact NY Running Co. at the Time Warner Center.

[Photo: Wikipedia]

The Norwegian Festival is this weekend in Central Park. Organized by NYRR, there is literally a race for everyone. The festival takes place in Central Park, this Saturday, with the main location being at the Central Park Band Shell. the festival will have a 1.7 mile race that spans the 72nd Street Transverse, to the lower loop of the park; a 13.1 mile half marathon, that consists of two loops of Central Park Drive; and, a kids race, to top it all off.

For those who were thoroughly frustrated by the transportation breakdown at the Queens Half-Marathon, on the 20th, this will be the perfect opportunity to show up and run a stress free 13 miles. As of Monday, September 28, online registration is still open.

Check the NYRR official event page, for further details, including start times, and course map.

[Photo: Jacob Breinholt/Run-NYC]

According to Gothamist, there were 25,000 participants in this year’s Tunnel to Towers Run. The 5k race took place on Sunday morning the 27th. Even though the weather was less, than optimal, the turn-out was incredible. As if the massive turnout was not inspiring enough, the real inspiration comes from the event upon which the race was conceived. The Tunnel to Towers Run is a tribute to the Brooklyn firefighter, Stephen Siller, who on September 11 2001 decided to run through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, wearing 70 pounds of firefighting gear, to the World Trade Center. After arriving at Trade Center, Siller lost his life trying to save victims of the attack on the Trade Center Towers.  The race starts at the Gowanus approach to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and enters Manhattan on West Street.

In addition to the rainy weather, this year had an additional setback, at the UPS truck carrying t-shirts, and other items for the event, caught fire, and was partially destroyed. Management at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island stepped in, as soon as they caught word of the incident, and offered to launder all of the salvageable t-shirts, so that they could be ready in time for the race.

All of the money raised from the event, goes to a charity, called Stephen’s House. The Tunnel to Towers run has raised $5 million so far, with the money going towards to burn victims and needy children. Stephen’s House, a new New York Foundling facility that will house teenagers, is almost complete; here’s information on how to donate.

[photo: Hilton Flores/Staten Island Advance]

The NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix continues this weekend, in the Boro of Queens. The 2009 Queens Half-Marathon will take place on Sunday morning, September 20th. The race starts and finished in Herman A. MacNeil Park, at College Point. The course makes a loop through Queens, while winding through College Point and Whitestone. Click here for the official Course Map.

The start time will be at the bright and early hour of 7:00 AM. Race day registration will be available starting at 5:45, near the starting line. Registration on line can be done through the NYRR website.

This race will be an excellent opportunity for runners who are training for a fall marathon, to get in some distance training in a race setting. Stay current on NYC’s fall race schedule with the RUN-NYC event calendar.

[Queensboro Bridge (photo: Raj)]

It was fantastic weather for running, Saturday morning. The overnight rain kept things cool, and the clouds were still blocking the sun. These conditions made the 2009 NYRR, Fitness Magazine Fitness® Mind, Body, Spirit Games, 4 mile race, even more enjoyable.

The race was a NYRR club points race, and were divided up by gender. The mens’ race started at 9:00 AM, and the women’s at 10 AM. Both heats were had very exciting finishes that came right down to the final stretch.

Before the women’s race, Kara Goucher happened to be out for a run in the park, and Mary Wittenberg of NYRR, noticed her passing by. Goucher was a good sport about giving an impromptu address to the women runners, who were already all lined up in the starting chute.

The winner for the men, was Bado Worku Merdessa, with a scorching time of 19:08. For the Women, it was Aziza Aliyu, beating out Katrina Janosikova by less than a full step. Aliyu scored a 22:22, time.

In total, there were nearly 5000 finishers. As always, NYRR and Fitness Magazine put on a great event. Congratulations to all of the finishers. Full results can be found here.

Click here for the photo gallery.

Don’t miss a rare opportunity to run with American track super-star Kara Goucher, tomorrow night at Niketown, NY. There will be a question and answer session before the run, beginning at 6:30 PM, with the run starting at 7. The run will be held in honor of Fashion’s Night Out. RSVP at the NYC Nike Facebook page.

Sunday, August 6, 2009, join together with fellow New Yorkers, in the spirit of celebration of the lives of those lost on September 11, 2001. This event will offer a great opportunity for all people who were affected by the events of 9-11 to come together to remember each victim, while running, or walking, around beautiful Governors Island, in the heart of New York Harbor. The even is called “World Trade Center Run to Remember.”

The event will host a 5k Run, and a 3k family run/walk. Online registration for the 5k and the 3k is available online. If the weather continues the way that it has been, Sunday should be an incredible day for running, especially on an island located in the middle of the harbor.

Don’t forget to check the events calendar, for all upcoming races in the month of September.