Tough Love for the Park Relay

Join the Van Cortlandt Track Club in supporting the park we love by helping to raise money to improve the cross-country trail. NYC Parks’ budget has been slashed but there are still the same number of runners racing on the cross-country course which is over 100 years old! 

Thousands of middle school and high school, college, and adult runners use the trail every year, and that really takes a toll on the course. So let's pull together and raise money to allow the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance to create a test patch on the course with a new runner-friendly surface. They need at least $25,000 to do a large enough section to see if it will work for us runners. 

The race is a two-person relay of two miles per leg. The course will start on the Broadway side of the park, toward the north end of the flats, heading south like the 5k course, pole to pole into the cow path. From there, runners will take a sharp left about a mile in, taking the long way up Cemetery Hill, then another sharp left back down to the flats. The relay handoff will be just north of the Tortoise & Hare. The second leg will follow the same path as the first leg, finishing at the Tortoise & Hare.

The kids will also do a relay, around the flats, of about a half mile each. If you don't have a partner, kid or adult, you can sign up that morning and we will pair you with someone. Registration is $30 per pair for adults and $10 per pair for kids.

Can't make it on February 8th but still want to support the trail? Select the virtual option and run with a friend or alone at any time between February 7 - 15. Tag this race on social media (#ToughLoveforVCPA) when you're done. We will send you the giveaway and post your results on the race page.