your weekly nyc fitness and wellness guide: june 29 - july 5
World Cup pop-ups, free summer series workouts and sports coaching, and a new initiative to resort NYC running tracks.
Good morning everyoneee. After a nonstop summer so far, I tried to slow down a bit this weekend. I woke up early on Saturday morning to go to Runna’s track workout at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. Athlete and run coach Kayla Jeter led two separate sessions, and I have to say—running intervals with 30+ others definitely helped me push the pace on a humid morning more than I would have on my own. Turns out there might be something to this whole running-with-other-people-for-motivation thing (even though as a self-diagnosed slow runner, I often choose to do it alone.) Runna had a lil gifting station (just a water bottle and Nuun tablets), and free coffee and bagels from Rollin Bagels (I majorly regret not getting one.)
Because half of New York disappears for Fourth of July weekend, this week’s calendar is lighter than usual — but we packed the happenings section with plenty to keep you busy.
This week: World Cup pop-ups, free summer series workouts and sports coaching, and a new initiative to resort NYC running tracks.
on the radar: this week’s fitness and wellness events
Monday June 29: The Wimbledon Court in Central Park (Central Park), 730AM - 5PM, free
This tennis pop-up has been going on all weekend, but there’s one more day to get in on the free live screening of day one of The Championships and a community masterclass on the grass court. It’s truly a sports summer!
Monday June 29: Vital Run Club x Balmoral 5k Run (Williamsburg), 7PM, free
Vital Run Club is teaming up with Montreal-based apparel brand Balmoral for a 5k starting at Party Rock before sunset. The brand has a vintage sports aesthetic (ringer tees, vertical stripes) that makes it feel like the public school version of Tracksmith. There will be raffle giveaways, but you must be RSVPd on Forte to partake.
Tuesday June 30: Paragon Sports Pride Run (Flatiron), 630PM, $18
Celebrate Pride with a fun run with Paragon Sports, Brooks Running, and As Is Bar. It’s not just a run club—that’s why it costs money—there will be a finish line, complete with beer for every participant. Proceeds also go to The Center, an LGBTQ+ community center in Manhattan.
Wednesday July 1: Salomon Store Soft Opening Pop-Up Run (Flatiron) 730AM, free
Salomon’s new Flatiron store officially opens next week, but they’re having a soft opening on Wednesday morning. The first part of the event is a mysterious and “disruptive” (as per the press release) running pop-up, where runners race from the Flatiron store to the UWS store and back as fast as possible. We won’t personally be there for that part because we aren’t early birds, but we will be there that morning for the soft opening (open to the public at 10AM).
Wednesday July 1: Asics Summer Trial Run Series: Novablast 6 (Meatpacking), 6PM, free
Shoe brand Asics is hosting a summer running series where attendees get to try different shoe models, and the Novablast is one of my absolute favs: It’s squishy, soft, and well cushioned for a VERY comfy easy/long run.
Friday July 3: Brooklyn Grange’s Rooftop Yoga (Brooklyn Navy Yard), 9AM, free
Brooklyn Grange’s free rooftop yoga series has been consistently filling up, but as of publishing, there are a few spots left for their Friday morning class. While we can’t speak to the quality of the instructors, the setting (a rooftop urban farm surrounded by greenery) looks pretty dreamy. Bring your own mat!
Saturday July 4: Contra x Fluent Mag Coffee and Chill (Montauk),9AM - 12PM, $75
We know this isn’t technically in NYC, but since so many people get out of town on Fourth of July weekend anyway, we figured we’d put you onto something happening in Montauk. You can expect an ATEAM workout, cold plunges from Coffee and Chill, brand activations, food and drinks. Tickets also include access to the Montauk Project’s Day Party Afters, too.
we think you should know…
One thing I (Maddie) often lament about the wellness world is how at some point it was hijacked by tech and has taken on the culture of optimization, efficiency, and productivity. When I first started teaching yoga, I went down an overly disciplined, strict path of wellness, often obsessive about the quality of products I used and food I ate. The last several years, I’ve reclaimed my version of wellness, which is about listening to my body and filling my life with things that bring me joy and pleasure. The discipline is still so built into my life: I am active almost every day for work, so what is actually most balanced for me is to relax and let go of strict routines.
Now as summer hits New York in full force and the Knicks win brought refreshed energy to the city that a lot of people haven’t seen since before the pandemic, I find myself leaning into the spontaneity that the longer days bring. (As I write this, I’m sitting on my friend’s couch eating chocolate chip cookies and ice cream while my plans were to stay home.) Earlier my friend, Jenn, and I happened upon Toñita Fest, an iconic Puerto Rican block party in Williamsburg, and it reminded me how crucial community and connection is to wellbeing. It’s easy to think of health as a series of individual habits (workouts, meals, sleep routines, fitness trackers), but the relationships and experiences we build into our lives matter more than we acknowledge for healthy aging.
Often to connect deeper with others, we need the absence of rush—which can be hard to find in a city that demands punctuality, planning, RSVPs, and reservations. I feel optimistic seeing this counterculture of block parties, pop-ups, impromptu watch parties on projectors in the streets, and spontaneous DJ sets like the mobile rave Moving Company (which has a WhatsApp group that shows you their live location). It brings people together and makes New York feel alive.
In today’s social media-influenced world, people have a strict definition of wellness, and the scene often involves making social sacrifices for our health and longevity. But maybe the healthiest thing we can do sometimes is to relinquish a little control and lean into a life of spontaneity and joy, even if that means missing a workout or eating an “unhealthy” meal.
happenings around town
Track workouts have gotten wildly popular with the running boom, and McCarren Park is one of the most accessible spots but is overcrowded with run clubbers. New York Road Runners + New Balance started a project to rebuild NYC tracks, and first up is Star Spangled Playground in west Bed-Stuy to be completed in late summer/early fall. Maybe the run clubs will finally spread out?
From June 26 to July 19, the Hypebeast Cup will be in SoHo, bringing screenings, exclusive drops, brand showcases, and jersey customization workshops to the public to serve as a cultural hub for football (futbol). Seems to be open until 7PM all days except Sunday (when it closes at 6PM), but we can’t find a schedule so may be best to check their IG.
More on the World Cup front: Iconic Bushwick party spot House of Yes is hosting a soccer pop-up—House of Goal—in Industry City from this Friday until July 19th. There are interesting ticketed events, but also free GA passes for watch parties.
A new free Lululemon Summer Series workout just dropped—this one with Kelly Cole, an instructor who combines pilates, cardio, and strength (although we’re skeptical of how much strength training can actually fit in that mix.) But the bigger reason to go: The Rooftop at Pier 17 venue is insane and would be a gorgeous spot to spend a morning sweating. Hannah visited last week (pic below) for their launch party with a performance from Kaskade, and we gotta say he looks real good for 55.
HQ Tennis Academy is hosting a free Open Court Summer Series in partnership with Lululemon. Every Friday from 5 to 7PM you can show up to the Linden Park Tennis Courts in East New York, and they’ll provide the racquets, balls, and instruction.
The Rockefeller Center FIFA World Cup fan village opens next week. It doesn’t look like there’s as much going on as there was at the Queens Fan Zone that just closed, which had performances from Busta Rhymes, Ella Mai, and more.
That’s all for this week. If you make it to any of these events, we want to hear about it. Let us know in the comments. And if you come across something worth featuring, send it our way or drop it in the community chat!
PR and brands, our inboxes are always open for news and events we need to know. New studios: We’d love to come join a class and write about it.
Know someone who'd be into this? Forward it to them.
See you next Monday.
“But maybe the healthiest thing we can do sometimes is to relinquish a little control and lean into a life of spontaneity and joy, even if that means missing a workout or eating an “unhealthy” meal.” this is literally my training motto this summer and i’ve never been more excited