I recently saw the film Dark Days directed by Mark Singer in 2000. The story describes a swirling underground of homeless floaters who inhabit the vacant subway tunnels of New York City. Living on the street can be a cold world. You would think that life for a bunch carrier crackheads and can collectors in a dank sewer they called home would be a morbid tale of spiraling depression, and cut throat street grime. On the contrary the story turned out to be more like a salute to the savvy New York street survivor. For those that couldn’t stomach the rat race they became the rat race.

The city can make you feel like a mouse, that same rat you see down near the subway track grinding on a spent Blow-pop stick. You say to yourself is that thing gona get fried on the third rail or is the next train that comes along gona take its head off. Neither actually, the rat is master of the intricate hidden pipes and labyrinths below the city. For some New York City is just a big free glazed doughnut for the taking if you know where to look.

Those people down in the subway actually built wooden houses and had electricity and TV. The dudes were on constant surveillance mode when up top in the day light, continually scanning each block for a potential come up or scrap to salvage. And nobody really noticed their hustle, because nobody really wants to actually look at homeless person, and yet this person is one on of the smartest guys out here. While you scrape together 1600$ for a studio in the E. village this guy lives in a 5000 square foot loft right under your feet. New Yorkers usually have everything, so eventually this guy gets everything. He just grabbed little piece of your overworked hustle and made over one of the 64 rooms in his sublevel mansion. This guy just comes along at the right time, in the right neighborhood and gets hooked up without as so much as a second look.

The key to surviving in New York may not be to join the rat race but become the rat race. Ignore nothing, everything has it’s purpose. As soon as you get this through your head and act on it you will start to become a real New Yorker.

I personally enjoy the drawbridges in and around Ft. Lauderdale. I've run them on balmy days when I've had to apply my NYC Bridge Running experience. Not many other hills of any kind in that area, so they're welcome challenges. Some are short and sweet, others long and neverending. I also have a memory of being slowly pulled up on in a ricshaw and feeling so bad for the driver.

We're looking to add more bridge runs later this summer to expand the horizons of nyc runners. Please keep checking this website for updates.

What's everyone's favorite bridge to run over, NYC or anywhere? Having lived in Nocal, The Golden Gate is tough to beat. In NYC, Brooklyn tops my list.

The run over the Queenborough Bridge was awesome. Great night, great run and great eats. Harry's was a killer spot. Props to Nike. I can't wait for the next run.

EVER? Are you a Bridge Runner kid, what up with the not running?

The run to queens was cool, enjoyed runnign up 1st ave with 60 other people. It was strong with everyone in the Feelin' Groovy shirts. Loved the tour of the Fun Factory. The picture on the west side of the building is going to be hot. That should be up on the site. Big ups to Uncle Ralph for showcasing the Queensbridge history.

Saes peeled back his cap. I think it is time you got with some scissors.

Nothin' better than runnin' the bridges with T and the rest of the crew. Lookin' forward to the next level run over some new bridges. Need to change the scene. Love the BK, the Manhattan and the Willie B but, let's get out and roam.