The New York City Parks Department is trying to put an end to a growing tradition among the city’s running community, warning organizers of “The Last 10” pre-New York City Marathon shakeout runs that any unsanctioned event entering Central Park this October will be considered a direct violation of park rules.
In a letter dated Sept. 10 and addressed to local running leaders, Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa cited safety concerns, interference with permitted events, and a lack of coordination with NYPD and city agencies as reasons for the crackdown.
The events in question follow the final 10 miles of the official TCS New York City Marathon route, starting around East 61st Street and First Avenue and culminating near the marathon finish line in Central Park.
Often taking place the weekend before the race, the runs have drawn hundreds of participants, many of them affiliated with clubs from Harlem, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Uptown Manhattan.
“These unauthorized gatherings have not coordinated with NYC Parks and NYPD to obtain permits or to take measures to ensure these events can be held safely,” wrote Rodriguez-Rosa. “The Final/Last 10 Runs … raise serious public safety concerns for both runners and pedestrians, hinder the permitted buildout of the Marathon’s Finish Line … and impede the safe enjoyment of Central Park.”
While some runners treat the route as a symbolic ritual, especially for those not racing the Nov. 2 marathon, it has become increasingly formalized in recent years.
One of the largest and most visible events is “The Last 10,” co-organized by Wilton Tejada and Powermalu, two longtime community leaders in NYC’s running scene.
But this year, their plans may be in jeopardy.
According to the letter, not only have these events failed to obtain proper Special Event Permits, but their timing also conflicts directly with several permitted activities in the park.
On Oct. 25, the same day as the planned “Last 10” run, the Ronald McDonald House Fun Run will host approximately 800 youth runners. The following day, the NYRR Kids Kickoff will bring in 2,500 children, both with pre-approved permits and police support.
Parks officials warn that the scale of unsanctioned shakeout runs could pose serious risks in such a tightly coordinated and high-security environment.
Perhaps most notably, the Parks Department stated that the marathon’s finish line buildout will require intermittent closures in Central Park throughout the weekend, including the morning of Saturday, Oct. 25.
That means participants in any unsanctioned “Last 10” style run may not even be able to access the finish line area, a key symbolic destination for the event. Any attempt to enter that space without a permit, the letter warns, will be treated as a violation of NYC Parks rules.
Despite the warning, many runners took to social media Wednesday afternoon to express frustration and defiance.
“This run is bigger than permits,” one commenter wrote on Reddit. Others questioned how officials would enforce the restrictions or whether it would be worth trying to shut down large groups moving through public streets.
A few run clubs suggested they might still show up as individuals or smaller groups, regardless of whether the larger event goes forward.
The tension between city officials and the running community seems to have reached a breaking point. What started as an informal tradition, offering runners a way to experience the final stretch of the marathon without the full 26.2 miles, has ballooned into a citywide cultural moment.
And while there have been no reported safety issues at past events, the letter makes clear that city officials now view the size and scale of these runs as unmanageable without formal oversight.
The Parks Department did not comment further, but the letter was copied to senior staff at NYRR, the Mayor’s Office, and multiple NYPD divisions. That’s a strong indication that enforcement may go beyond simple signage or soft warnings this time around.
Neither Tejada nor Powermalu have issued a public statement in response to the letter. With the marathon just over a month away, it’s unclear whether they will attempt to secure last-minute permits, downsize the event, or pivot to another form of gathering.
A safe space for POC to gather and celebrate. No reported INCIDENTS EVER! It’s completely ridiculous.
Interesting that only certain neighborhoods were called out when the run is a collective of run groups from all over NYC. Also, why don’t they join us so they can understand the run community and partake in the last 10 tradition.