New York, August 4, 2025 – New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, will celebrate the 15-year anniversary of NYRR Striders, its free fitness and walking program for older adults, with activations and free events throughout the year. During the past 15 years, the Striders program has reached more than 53,000 older adults on their health and wellness journeys across the five boroughs.

“The importance of staying physically active and socially connected cannot be overstated, especially for older adults who may lack access to wellness resources,” says Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “We're proud that our Striders program has removed these barriers to entry for the last 15 years and provides a safe, inclusive space for older adults to build healthy habits and strong communities through the transformative power of running, walking, and fitness.”

In August 2010, New York Road Runners launched the first Striders session for older adults at Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem. The initiative began as a small walking group with fewer than 100 participants and has evolved into a comprehensive program with weekly functional fitness and walking sessions, serving thousands of older adults across more than 20 parks, community centers, and older adult centers throughout the five boroughs.

Along with encouraging older adults to get active and stay physically fit, the Striders program fosters social connection and community through group fitness. With more than a third of older adults ages 50 to 80 in the United States experiencing loneliness and social isolation, New York Road Runners provides free opportunities for this vulnerable population to connect with peers. Archwell Health documents that older adults who maintain regular social contact have reduced risk of depression, anxiety, heart disease, and high blood pressure, and the American Heart Association reports that 150 minutes of walking per week for older adults improves memory and reduces the risk of dementia, depression, diabetes, and heart disease.

As a nod to the program’s Harlem origins, the nonprofit will host the following activations during HARLEM WEEK—a celebration of Harlem and its history in arts, culture, business, entertainment, and sports, organized by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC):

Harlem Week Community Events

Striders kicked off HARLEM WEEK with two fitness demonstrations at the annual GHCC Senior Citizens Day Friday, August 1 at Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building.

Percy Sutton Harlem 5K

More than 160 Striders will participate in the annual Percy Sutton Harlem 5K and Hazel Dukes Memorial Family Health Walk Saturday, August 9, produced by New York Road Runners in partnership with the GHCC.

The race is named for Percy Sutton, a prominent Black leader and Manhattan Borough President who championed the first five-borough New York City Marathon in 1976 and founded Harlem Day, which is now Harlem Week. The event will also include a one-mile family health walk which has been renamed this year to honor civil rights activist and longtime Harlem resident Dr. Hazel Dukes, who died in March.

Among the many Striders participating in the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K and the one-mile walk are several older adults whose lives have been impacted by the program:

• S. Marie Davis of Parkchester, the Bronx: Marie was instrumental in getting RAIN Parkchester older adult center, where she was working at the time, to implement the first Striders site in the Bronx. She has watched the program grow over the years and especially appreciates that the Striders gives older adults a space for their voices to be heard and valued.
• Sid Howard of Harlem and Plainfield, New Jersey: Sid, 86, has been a coach with NYRR Striders since 2010 at the Canaan Baptist Church and still commutes from New Jersey for the weekly Harlem group sessions. He loves helping people and finds inspiration from the accomplishments of the Striders.
• Gertrude Lane of Harlem, Manhattan: Gertrude is 96 years old and was a member of the original Striders group out of Harlem. She has made many friends through the program, who all help each other stay active and accomplish their goals. She has participated in the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K every year since joining Striders and will be returning this year to celebrate the anniversary.
• Iola McClary of West Brighton, Staten Island: Iola, 83, joined Striders with her sister Bertha, 86, two years ago. They have participated in many New York Road Runners races together and have received age-group awards for their finish times. Iola says it’s not the trophies that keep her coming back—it's about staying social and active.
• Agustin Ricard of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn: Agustin, 67, moved to Brooklyn from the Dominican Republic 10 years ago and joined Striders last year to improve his heart health and stay active. He regularly attends the walking group in RAICES Times Plaza and enjoys the large community that gathers there every week.

Special Striders Sessions

Throughout the year, NYRR Striders will host five borough-wide events to celebrate the program's 15-year anniversary. At each event, Striders from across each borough will come together to enjoy community, fitness, fun, games and treats. The NYRR Mobile Unit will make an appearance to organize fitness games. The events are designed to celebrate 15 years of movement, community, and the journey of the Striders.

New York Road Runners currently hosts weekly Striders walking and fitness sessions at parks and community centers across the five boroughs and is launching a new Harlem-based site in August to coincide with the 15-year anniversary:

The Bronx

• PSS Highbridge Senior Services Center, Mondays (Fitness) and Tuesdays (Walking), 10:00 a.m.
• RAIN Parkchester Senior Center, Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking) and Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. (Fitness)
• Kips Bay Castle Hill Senior Center, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. (Walking) and Fridays, 10:00 a.m. (Fitness)

Brooklyn

• Albany Neighborhood Senior Center, Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m. (Walking) and Fridays, 1:00 p.m. (Fitness)
• NYCHA Tilden Houses Community Center, Tuesdays (Walking) and Thursdays (Fitness), 11:30 a.m.
• Tompkins Park Senior Neighborhood Center, Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking) and Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. (Fitness)
• RAICES Times Plaza / Wyckoff Senior Centers, Wednesdays (Fitness) and Thursdays (Walking), 10:00 a.m. (Fitness)

Manhattan

• NEW: ARC Central Harlem Older Adult Center, Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. (Fitness), Fridays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking) – launching August 2025
• Marcus Garvey Park, Mondays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking)
• Goddard NORC, Mondays (Fitness) and Fridays (Walking), 1:30 p.m.
• Greenwich House Older Adult Center, Mondays, 2:00 p.m. (Fitness) and Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. (Walking)
• Engineers’ Gate at Central Park, Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking)
• DOROT, Tuesdays (Fitness) and Thursdays (Walking), 10:00 a.m.
• Columbus Circle Central Park, Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking)
• Roosevelt Island Senior Center, Thursdays (Fitness) and Fridays (Walking), 10:30 a.m.
• Morningside Park, Fridays, 10:00 a.m. (Walking)

Queens

• Rochdale Village Senior Center, Mondays, 9:00 a.m. (Walking) and Fridays, 11:00 a.m. (Fitness)
• RAICES Corona Senior Center, Mondays, 11:00 a.m. (Fitness) and Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. (Walking)

Staten Island

• Anderson Neighborhood Senior Center, Mondays, 10:00 a.m. (Fitness) and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. (Walking)
• West Brighton Neighborhood Senior Center, Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. (Walking) and Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. (Fitness)

Throughout the year, New York Road Runners offers a variety of races, community events, and free programming, serving nearly a half a million people as part of its mission to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running.

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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.