NYC Students Get New Sneakers Ahead of Marathon Weekend

More than 400 New York City public school students received brand-new running shoes on Friday in Central Park, two days ahead of the TCS New York City Marathon. The giveaway, organized by New York Road Runners and New Balance, brought together kids from 12 schools across all five boroughs. It's part of Rising New York Road Runners, the nonprofit's free youth running program that reaches more than 100,000 children citywide. Students unboxed their new sneakers at the event, with organizers stressing the value of getting young people moving and active. The shoe donation is part of a longer-running partnership between New York Road Runners and New Balance, which since 2017 has given out free shoes to nearly 70,000 students at over 1,000 schools and community centers nationally. Among those connected to the program is Nouri, who got her first pair of running shoes through the initiative at age 11 and has since become a youth ambassador for New York Road Runners. Organizers noted that the goal isn't necessarily to produce future marathoners — Sunday's race will feature elite runners from around the world — but to spark healthy habits early and show kids that an active lifestyle can start with something as simple as a good pair of shoes.