NYC Rollerbladers

The New York City Marathon is back, and Marathon Week is underway. After the skate community has logged some major miles at the Annual NYC Skate Marathon and 100K Race, Empire Skate's Halloween Skate to Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, and at other events over the past season, IT'S TIME FOR THE STREET SKATERS TO WATCH THE RUNNERS DISPLAY THEIR ABILITY TO GO THE DISTANCE!

TIME:
8:30 a.m. Group-Up
9:00 a.m. Skate-Off
(Remember clocks "fall" back 1 hour at 2 am on Sunday)
(If a later start works better for you, join us on First Avenue in the vicinity of 116th Street around 10:00 a.m.)

MEET-UP LOCATION:
DANTE PARK
63rd Street and Broadway (The Empire Hotel and PJ Clarkes Restaurant is on the south side of the park and Lincoln Center is on the west side of the park across Columbus Avenue)

THE SKATE:
We will begin with a skate to the upper east side of Manhattan (116th Street and First Avenue) where we will watch the elite runners up close just before they take the Willis Avenue Bridge to the Bronx.

Because the start times of the elite groups are earlier than prior years, we are skating off earlier so that we will reach our first viewing spot (Mile 19) before 10:15 am when we estimate that the elite women will arrive. The elite men should be about 15 to 20 minutes behind them.

We should be able to get a second look at the elite men just after they re-enter Manhattan by skating across 116th Street to Fifth Avenue.

There are small crowds on these sections of the course, and it is quite a thrill to view the best runners up close.

Once the elite groups have passed, you can join us for additional miles as we explore the block parties and street musicians in upper Manhattan and the Bronx, or you can head to other viewing spots to the south.

In a prior year, we stopped at the Bronx Brewery in the Port Morris section of the Bronx. If time allows, we will return.

A visit to Yankee Stadium, the High Bridge and Randall's Island, and the JOKER STEPS is also possible.

We will try to keep the skate near subway lines in the Bronx and northern Manhattan so that you can bail out if you have had enough miles.

The skate route will cover approximately 12 to 15 miles casual miles.

Members of the NYC Rollerbladers may help you to locate the group if you reach out and ask for them to post the group's location.

THERE is FREE NYC Marathon APP that you can download to your device for detailed information about the marathon route, tracking the runners, entertainment etc.

(Please click on the "Discussion" link of this Empire Facebook event or the NYC Rollerbladers Whatsapp group discussions (Announcements and General) for event updates

If you have questions, please text or call Pete at (914) 262-7950

Treat yourself to some R & R. It's been a long skate season.
Skate 15 miles/2 hrs from Union Square to Edgewater NJ. Then spend the afternoon recovering at Sojo. Then take the bus back to Port Authority.

Sojo is a modern Korean bath house with heated pools, therapeutic baths and saunas in both indoor and outdoor areas. The areas are mainly co-ed, however there are also single-sex areas available with both pools and saunas.
Sojo has multiple heated pools, pools with jets, dry saunas, steam rooms, infrared sauna, heated stone beds, cold plunges, ice room etc. They also have a cafe.

NYC Rollerbladers never charges. Sojo definitely charges for entrance and food. Entrance fee includes access to all indoor and outdoor amenities, unlimited towels, robes, and toiletries. Prices and menu can be found at sojospaclub.com.

Make your sojo reservation at sojospaclub.com for 11/8/25 at 12pm. I usually reserve a few days before. Afternoon tickets can sell out.
Rain date 11/15/25. We can cancel the day before with no fee. I will announce 2 days before if we plan to postpone to the 15th.

Bring:
Safety gear for the skate
Swimsuit for the spa
Optional: change of clothes
Shopping Bag for your skates. You'll store them in your locker in the locker room.