Initiative builds on NYRR and New Balance partnership that has provided
nearly 70,00 pairs of free shoes since 2017
U.S. Olympian Parker Valby and Mr. and Mrs. Met to help distribute shoes
to kids from all five boroughs
2025 EVENT VIDEO
RSVP REQUIRED
WHAT:
Before nearly 60,000 athletes run the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 1, New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City, will give free New Balance running shoes to more than 400 students from 12 NYC Public Schools across the five boroughs. The elementary, middle, and high school-age students are part of Rising New York Road Runners, the nonprofit’s free, flagship, running-based youth program, serving annually nearly 200,000 kids nationwide, including more than 100,000 in New York City.
WHERE/WHEN:
Friday, October 30
TCS New York City Marathon Pavilion Presented by Mastercard
Central Park and West 67th Street
9:45 a.m. – Media Arrival
10:00 a.m. – Opening Remarks
10:15 a.m. – Shoe Distribution and Activities
WHO:
- Rob Simmelkjaer: CEO, New York Road Runners
- Tom Carleo: VP Running, North America, New Balance
- Nnenna Lynch: Board Chair, New York Road Runners
- Parker Valby: U.S. Olympian, New Balance Athlete
- Mr. And Mrs. Met: Official Mascots, New York Mets
- Rising New York Road Runners: 400+ youth ages 5 to 18 from Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
Several special guests will help celebrate with the students, including U.S. Olympian, and New Balance athlete Parker Valby and New York Mets mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Met.
Since 2017, New York Road Runners and New Balance have distributed free pairs of shoes to nearly 70,000 students across more than 1,000 schools and community centers nationwide.
TCS New York City Marathon race week began Saturday, October 24 with day one of the TCS New York City Marathon Kids Kickoff, the nonprofit’s largest and marquee youth event. This year, the TCS New York City Marathon Kids Kickoff expanded to all five boroughs over two days for the first time as part of a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the original 5-boro New York City Marathon. Many of the students receiving New Balance shoes participated in the TCS New York City Marathon Kids Kickoff.