One Queens-based running group is bringing the borough its very first marathon next year.
A group of local athletes came together to bring a unified running community to Queens. They founded their running organization, Queens Distance Runners (QDR), in 2013 with only three members, and have grown to more than 160 runners in two years.
“The Queens Distance Runners came to fruition on the premise that Queens, the largest and most populated borough in the city of New York, lacked a true running community that could unite not only runners living in Queens, but encourage new runners from all communities to join us and be a part of our running community,” said Kevin Montalvo, founding member of QDR. “We like to think of ourselves as the diverse family of runners that lives in Queens and uses its streets and parks as our personal backyard.”
Montalvo has had the vision to bring a marathon to Queens for a long time, and now, with the help of the runners of the QDR and their sponsor, they are about to make his vision a reality. Montalvo believes that bringing a marathon to Queens will not only vitalize the borough’s running community, but also bring runners from other cities to Queens.
“Our team has been blessed with selfless and enthusiastic members that have done nothing besides help and boost our running community,” Montalvo said. “I’ve traveled to other cities ranging from Albany to Rio de Janeiro to Yonkers, Miami and Boston, and I believe that the effects of hosting a marathon within a city is inspiring and truly gives the city an opportunity to demonstrate to the runners coming by — and to the community itself — what the city and community culture is all about. The bottom line is, since taking part in all these events, I want people to come to Queens.”
The inaugural Queens Marathon is scheduled to take place on April 30, 2016, with registration to open earlier in the year.
“The course will be five loops of Flushing Meadows Park, and while on a normal day you would have little around you besides Meadow Lake and plenty of open road, we are promising to stack spectators, music groups and beyond to fill our course with entertainment and keep you inspired along the way,” Montalvo said.
The QDR is inviting the all communities to come out and be a part of this historic event for the city.
“We at the Queens Distance Runners don’t just want runners, we want everyone to be involved in this event one way or another; whether you are interested in spectating, supporting our efforts by volunteering or simply asking their friends and family to come be a part of history, we want this event to honor our great borough for everything it stands for,” Montalvo said.
