Revived Thursday Night Run Commemorates Early Flyer History

Michael R

When Frederick Law Olmsted founded the New York Flyers in 1854 he recognized that there were few suitable places for the growing team to run in the rapidly developing city.  The club first started running the open fields of Brooklyn but there were too many stone walls to hop over and often Frederick’s troubled left knee would give out as he landed.  He was frequently injured as a result.  That’s him, on the far left, with the original Flyers in the image below.

Go Freddie, Go!

Olmsted, being a visionary, knew that the Flyers needed more suitable running terrain.  When New York City announced a design competition in 1857 for the newly created Central Park, Olmsted and Flyer teammate Calvert Vaux jumped on the opportunity.  They crafted a plan for a runners’ paradise but positioned it as an, ahem, “cultural resource.”  For example, Olmsted needed a soft running surface for his knee but cleverly labeled it “Equestrian Path” (now the Bridle Path) in the design submission.  Seen any horses on it lately?

Fortunately, Olmsted and Vaux won the competition and we now have our stunning Flyers’ playground.  In fact, the park entrance at what is now West 106^th Street was originally named Flyers’ Gate (the name was changed to Strangers’ Gate by Mayor Koch in 1979 after a freak collision with a group of Flyers doing speed work on Harlem Hill).  To celebrate the win Olmsted designed the first Flyer uniform pictured below and modeled by his son Frederick, Jr.  Occasionally you can see some of our senior members sporting the original design as they run through the park on a weekend morning.  

Flyers Have Always Been Fashion Conscious

Why the history lesson? Because our newly revitalized Thursday Night Group Run through Central Park commemorates those celebrated early days of Flyer history.  It was well known that the Thursday night run was Olmsted’s favorite run.  Even back then, Thursday night was the new Friday night and he loved to throw back a few ales after the run with ye olde gang.  Below is a picture of a typical Thursday night out with the Flyers in the 1860s.  They were a bit more formal back then and there were no women.  That’s Vaux dancing.

Karaoke Was Not Until Later in the Evening

The Thursday night run has come and gone over the years but our Flyers Executive Committee, led by Siggy T, decided it was time to bring it back in style after a period of hibernation.  Flyer Claudia O ("O" for Olmsted?) suggested we add extra historical significance to the run by holding it on the Bridle Path to commemorate Olmsted’s soft spot for that soft surface.  Siggy and I coordinate this run and planning began in June.  We channeled Olmsted’s spirit to guide us (channel 262 on Time Warner).

Our inaugural run was on August 2.  It was a beautiful 5-mile jaunt along the Bridle Path, through the park, on a gorgeous summer day.  The present-day Flyers showed up in force.  We’ve met every Thursday since then and, as the daylight recedes, gradually moved the run onto the park drive.  There have been enough of us to spread out comfortably into a range of pace packs but we convene midway for water and again at Columbus Circle where the run begins and ends.  It’s a well attended, fun, casual, friendly run and a fitting tribute to Flyers founder Olmsted.

Thursday Evening Flyer Runners Strike a Pose

We also re-instituted Olmsted’s favorite night out- Flyers Third Thursday.  We held the first event after the group run on September 20 at the On-Tap bar in the Time-Warner Center.  The beer was flowing, the food was good and the company extraordinary! This will become a regular social event following the run on the third Thursday of each month. 

Flyers Doing What Flyers Do Best...

Enjoying Each Other's Company is What Flyers Do Best
(You Didn't Think I Meant Drinking, Right?)

Join us!  If you’re lucky, you might spot Olmsted’s ghost as he runs silently alongside us on the Bridle Path.  There have been one or two sightings already!

RUN DETAILS

• Meet every Thursday at Columbus Circle, 7PM (Merchants' Gate under the Maine Monument).  59th St and Broadway, 1, A, B, C, D trains
• Stow your stuff at The NY Running Company store in Time Warner Center (10 Columbus Circle, 2nd floor).

See you there!

-Michael R