Running on the Upper West Side
Running and Track and Field are are among our favorite afterschool activities. Central Park, just one block to the east, is the site of a road racing event almost every week. It’s a place where thousands of people come from all over the world to run…and it’s our home course!
At the Armory Indoor Track 
Cross country in Central Park 
The 166 Track Team 
Road Racing Times Square
Developing a lifelong love of running
The aim and focus of our running classes is to launch each child’s lifelong enjoyment of this amazing activity. Children will cover a couple of miles each time out, but it’s always done as a playful adventure. Let’s run to that bench! Who will lead as we run this hill? Maybe we should do a relay next! We want children to develop skill and fitness, for sure, but we also want them to develop positive associations with the activity, so that they will come back to it again and again throughout their lives.
Running, Coaching, Hosting running events, and Educating Coaches
Our director, Neil Fitzgerald began training with some of the country’s best coaches in Berkeley, California when he was in elementary school. An 800m specialist with a personal best of 1:50, Neil has looked for ways to give back and share his knowledge and love of the sport with people of all ages.
Neil’s running resume includes:
–Founder/Director of the NYCDoE Developmental Track and Field Series
–Coach of marathoners with the “Team for Kids” charity running group
–Host of “Friday Night Miles” through his Metropolitan Milers Club
–Trainer of over one thousand coaches for USATF Level 1 certification in the United States Track and Field Coaching Education Program.
–On camera consulting coach with the NYRR instructional running videos
Masters World Championship 2011 (California)–Gold medal 800m 
Master World Championship 2009 (Finland) Silver Medal 800m
Neil is still running in international track meets, competing in masters world championships in Spain, Italy, Finland, and France, and winning medals in the 800m and 4x400m relay. Watch here: The 2011 World Championship 800m was a highlight!
Upcoming Programs
In addition to afterschool running classes for our kids at all three school sites, we also plan to offer evening running groups for adults and running camps for kids through high school age on weekends and over the summer. These will meet at our 88th Street Studio location. Call or email Neil at 917-279-7345 / neil@artsandathletics.org for details.