Co-Hosts of our final bridge, Resident Runners is a small crew of runners, who gather together weekly to outrun one another. Co-founders Eric Blevens, Raymond Hailes, and Rahsaan Rogers, know that running is more then just training for your next race, but instead about the community formed outside of running. We couldn't agree more! Read on to hear what inspired their formation, and how you can join them on Saturdays to eat tacos and drink too many margaritas (and beer).
PHOTO BY MICHELLE KIM | @michellekimphoto
RESIDENT RUNNERS . . . GROUP, CLUB, OR CREW?
CREW, but the definition/difference between a crew and club probably varies depending on whom you're talking to. For us, crews represent a different approach to running, primarily as a lifestyle in which running is only one of many variables - not just training or a means to an end regarding races. We don't just run, we don't just train, we do it on top of building bonds, bridges, and community outside of running. For Resident Runners in particular, we consider our weekly meetings to run on Thursdays a reminder of our brotherhood and importance of the bond we've developed as friends, then runners. But trust us, we don't take things too seriously!
TELL US THE HISTORY AND INSPIRATION FOR RESIDENT RUNNERS. HOW HAS THE GROUP EVOLVED?
Resident Runners began in March of 2013 as co-founder Raymond Hailes urged co-founder Eric Blevens to start their own crew. The inspiration came from watching notable crews like Bridge Runners do running differently. At its inception, there was no real direction or definitive goal for what Resident Runners would be. It grew naturally over the course of a year until the third official member, Rahsaan Rogers, randomly showed up at our door for a TACO RUN... and that's that. Over the last two years we've grown in bond, visibility, and size - now holding weekly runs of 15-20 runners compared to 4-5 only last year. While still only 3 official crew members, the Resident Runners family is comprised of runners, other crews, and friends who show up on Thursdays to run, Saturdays to eat & drink, and any other instance they're looking for a good time.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE KIM | @michellekimphoto
WHAT SETS RESIDENT RUNNERS APART FROM OTHER CREWS IN THE CITY?
We're small. Like, just three dudes small. We consider this to be a real strength, our "strength in numbers." Founded on the relationship and love that we have as friends, our approach to running and the events we host maintain the same simple approach: showing up, running, and then hanging. No other incentive, nothing promised, just running, good energy, and a near 100% guarantee of beer at some point. We owe our awesome times to the other crews and runners we call friends that also show up bringing the same energy and ability to have a good time.
WHERE IS YOUR HOME BASE?
SoHo is definitely home now. After partnering with Under Armour Run in October of 2015, we moved our Resident Runners HQ to the Under Armour Brand House on Broadway and have been loving every minute/mile. Our Thursday runs are known to be fast, with no pace groups or stops. We post the route ahead of time on our website and Instagram, plus have it available for everyone to view and follow on MapMyRun during the run. We treat Thursdays like a tempo, with whomever is feeling good setting the pace and everyone else chasing from the start. While it's possible some runners get left behind at some point, we encourage everyone to push and chase that person in front of them for as long as they can... In doing so you sometimes get lost, learn new routes, and definitely improve your pace over time. And at the end of the run, once everyone is done, we head nearby for beers to hang.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE KIM | @michellekimphoto
HOW CAN WE GET IN ON THESE TACO RUNS YOU ORGANIZE??
Simple, once a month on a given Saturday, it's going down! We post the TACO RUN dates in advance on our website (residentrunners.com/calendar) and post flyers on Instagram the week or so leading up. The next TACO RUN will be on October 29th, so mark your calendar and think of your excuse to cut work... we hear the flu is going around that time of year. Otherwise, show up ready for a chill run and 4-5 hours of tacos & margaritas at Gueros Brooklyn.
FAVORITE RUNNING ROUTE?
We have a 5.6 mile route that takes us from the Under Armour Brand House in Soho, over the Williamsburg bridge, down Bedford Avenue to Grand, to Kent up to Broadway and then back over the Williamsburg bridge back to the Brand House. It's a killer route because its always fast and we hit the bridge back to back, so you have to get your mind right to speed over the bridge on the way back into the city to finish the run.
FAVORITE BRIDGE?
Definitely the Williamsburg bridge. We run that bridge more than the others. Manhattan is always a good choice for a quick crossing too since it's the least crowded.
FAVORITE WORKOUT?
Tempo run. There's no stopping and no off time. Run as fast as you can for as long as you can. Tempo runs show you what you're made of. /// The workout that you don't know anything about. It's something about not knowing what you're getting into, it really pushes you to get it over with. Also, any workout with the three of us because it gives us an opportunity to push each other.
FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT FOR POST RUN RE-FUELING? COFFEE OR BEER?
After our Thursday night runs we hydrate at Bleecker Street Bar. Other than that, you can find us at Guero's or Rosco's Pizza in Brooklyn. Beer is always on the menu.
FAVORITE TACO SPOT?
Gueros. Easily. It's like a second home. Always get the large frozen margarita, be a champion.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE KIM | @michellekimphoto