The Bronx is home to the shortest stretch –approximately nine blocks– of the 26.2 mile TCS (formerly ING) New York City Marathon. The marathon route peaks at 138 Street in the Bronx at Mile 21, before dipping back down Fifth Avenue and to the finish line, at Central Park West Drive and 67th Street.
Those nine blocks, however, are strategic because they represent the critical 20- and 21-mile mark where many runners — elite and age-group– need a physical and moral boost in order to complete the grueling course.
“It’s that time of year when a few of us give our time and energy to encourage and motivate over 55K runners participating in the 2015 New York City Marathon,” said community activist and organizer of Nine Blocks Of the Bronx, Julio Pabon.
This year, Pabon firm’s Latino Sports will join forces with Heavy Rotation Promotions, the South Bronx Community Association, BronxNet TV and Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center to inform the world know that the ‘BRONX IS MUSIC’.
Pabon and his Nine Blocks Of the Bronx band of party-hearty and proud Bronx cheerleaders will gather at Alexander Avenue and 137th Street to cheer on with music and dance over 55,000 runners trodding through the Bronx. Pabon’s Bronx Bandstand is designed to create a positive and lasting memorable moment for every marathoner, representing over 75 countries, of the borough.
“Together we will provide some of the sounds and entertainment of the Bronx to encourage and motivate all the runners at this critical 20-mile mark,” said a smiling Pabon.
Nine Blocks Of the Bronx promises to provide some of the best salsa and hip hop music that any group of volunteers can provide. Volunteers recruited from the local community will be stationed along the nine-block route providing water and medical care to the runners.
“On Marathon Sundays, Blanca (Pabon’s fiancee) and I probably dance more that we have in some dance clubs,’ said Pabon.
These organizers want the world to know that although nine blocks of the Bronx might be the shortest race distance in any borough, the Bronx will be remembered as the borough with the best music that helped many runners complete their goal of running the best Marathon in the world.
Update: This morning, Pabon posted an email urging Bronxites to “join us in our annual “‘he BX is Music’ providing the best music for the Marathon while we cheer our Bx girl running: Busuneth Deba. [Join us at] 137th & Alexander Ave. Bring ur dancing sneakers. “
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