Take The Bridge 3.4 — Williamsburg
September 12 2017
Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York
The energy, excitement, and pure adrenalin rush of participating in an un-sanctioned urban race under the Williamsburg street lights on a Friday night can’t be captured in photos—you have to experience it in person. With that said, I present my photos of Take The Bridge 3.4 in Williamsburg on September 8th in Brooklyn, NY.
For those unfamiliar with Take The Bridge, the following is pulled from their about page:
- we race bridges
- no mile markers
- no time clocks
- only pure urban racing
- competing by intuition
- pacing on gut
- celebrating as one
- leave it on the bridge
It’s raw, exciting, and a race any and all runners should experience in their lifetime at some point. I’m going to keep my words to a minimum, and let the photos and captions tell the story. Enjoy!
Walking south on Kent Ave, the Williamsburg bridge stands tall above all buildings in the area. I feel the energy of the city before I even get to the registration area for the Take The Bridge 3.4 race in Williamsburg.
06:38:33 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.8 @ 135mm iso200
There is one goal…Take The Bridge.
06:59:52 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.5 @ 24mm iso500
Pre-game prep during registration for Jay Carroll sitting on the corner of Kent Ave and S 5th St.
06:51:08 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.5 @ 135mm iso400
Meg Boushie of North Brooklyn Runners attaches her bib number in the registration area repping the lovely threads of Brooklyn’s own RunBK. Running culture in New York runs deep with a number of apparel companies springing up in all boroughs to feed the desire of presenting style and speed.
07:12:28 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.8 @ 24mm iso1250
This Take The Bridge event is hosted by November Project Brooklyn, and the crew is getting ready to head off to their cheer station.
07:24:59 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 135mm iso2500
Not unlike the McCarren Park Track Classic I covered six months ago, the energy of the runners makes me wish I was warming up to lay it all out on the Willy B.
07:30:16 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso2500
Dan prepares for battle…err…cheering as the NP Brooklyn crew heads up S 5th St and then onto the Williamsburg Bridge. As the sunlight fades, the energy rises in preparation for what should be a couple of very exciting and chaotic heats.
07:30:54 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso2500
Details. Gotta get the bib number just right.
07:37:49 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso8000
As we approach the men’s heat, the anticipation builds and nerves start to appear as the guys tie up all loose ends before heading to the starting line just east of Kent Ave.
07:46:44 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso8000
TTB organizer Darcy Budworth gives the gentlemen one final run through of the rules, regulations, and safety concerns with the Williamsburg Bridge overhead. “If a car is coming…stop…it will hit you”. Famous last words.
07:56:43 pm on 08.09.2017 — f1.4 @ 24mm iso6400
The men toe the line.
08:03:15 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso8000
Being an unsanctioned race on the streets of Brooklyn, there is no set start time, so the guys are left standing and waiting until the radio call comes in saying the two streets ahead are blocked off temporarily, and the countdown starts.
08:04:51 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 135mm iso12800
Off the street now, the guys don’t have to worry about cars anymore…just pedestrians that will have no idea they are smack dab in the middle of a race course.
08:06:31 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 135mm iso12800
I struggle to get any shots of the fast paced action up on the bridge but manage to catch Steve Green in full stride heading west across the bridge towards Manhattan.
08:11:59 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 135mm iso12800
It’s damn near pitch black in spots on the Williamsburg bridge and I find myself dodging rubber necking tourists and locals alike as I bike on the pedestrian side amongst the runners. The chaos feeds the energy as most people on the bridge have no idea that they are on a “race course”. Unsanctioned racing at it’s finest.
08:17:10 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 135mm iso12800
A gauntlet of cheering friends, family, and crew members greet the guys at the finish line…most with phones out trying to capture the excitement.
08:19:43 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso12800
This is what 2.6 miles up to, over, and back across the Willy B will do to you.
08:20:51 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso12800
It’s nothing but love and smiles after the race up in the finishing area on the Williamsburg side of the bridge.
08:21:10 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso12800
But bodies are still scattered everywhere. Great run Felix!
08:23:29 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso12800
Cheer game on point.
08:30:04 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso6400
Instructions? I don’t need no instructions…I’ve got some Instagram stories to check up on. Jeanie has about zero nerves showing right before the ladies heat.
08:31:52 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso6400
Sooooooo…I’m going to blow this horn, and then you are going to run fast. Got it?
08:35:53 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso6400
Repping those clubs and crews with a smile on their faces. These ladies are out here for fun, but make no mistake, when the horn goes off, it’s all business. I’ve seen some of these ladies race…hi Victoria (Bellmore Striders on the right)!
08:38:24 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso10000
This woman! I adore, respect, and am inspired by her so much. More than she’ll ever know. From the moment we met, it was obvious we were going to be New York besties, and I was right. I’m here tonight because of Sierra, and I can’t thank her enough for what she does for me, and everyone looking to add fitness to their lives in Brooklyn as co-leader of November Project Brooklyn. Clearly, she takes life way too seriously.
08:38:37 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso10000
Ready…set…
08:38:54 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso10000
After the climb up onto the Williamsburg Bridge, Victoria Kornieva running for Bellmore Striders leads the ladies and wouldn’t let go. She wins the race by a solid 16 seconds averaging 5:46/mile.
08:42:10 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso10000
Giuliana Coli from Mile High Run Club ripping her way to Manhattan across the graffiti adorned Willy B.
08:46:48 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso10000
Getting to the Manhattan side is one thing, going back up and over the Williamsburg Bridge is another. Mary Gibbons repping NP Brooklyn leads a small pack back up to the bridge after turning around at the Manhattan side of the bridge.
08:53:12 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso10000
Not unlike the guys, the ladies laid it down on the Willy B. Signs of pure exhaustion are everywhere in the finish area as Sierra uses the rail to stay upright trying to get oxygen in her lungs, and keep dinner in her stomach.
08:57:56 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.2 @ 24mm iso8000
It’s all smiles once the brutal 2.6 mile course is conquered.
08:58:40 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.2 @ 24mm iso8000
The Willy B is busy at the best of times on a Friday night, but tonight, it is next level crammed up here.
09:01:39 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.2 @ 24mm iso8000
And with that, the race is over…it’s time to party.
09:08:47 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.2 @ 24mm iso10000
But first…more water!
09:10:38 pm on 08.09.2017 — f1.4 @ 24mm iso10000
Sorry Drea…I had to. Vicious.
10:49:24 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso5000
Ain’t no party like a crossfit gym party.
10:54:03 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2.8 @ 14mm iso3200
Selfie on selfie action. Selfie cannibalism?
11:11:47 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso5000
That’s a wrap from TTB 3.4 Williamsburg. Thanks for creeping.
11:16:47 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 135mm iso5000
One last photo of my two favourites. Thank-you so much for everything ladies. You’ve made Brooklyn feel like a second home, and have been amazing ambassadors for the New York running culture to this kid from a small town in northern Saskatchewan. Mad love, and I’ll see you two soon enough!
08:29:39 pm on 08.09.2017 — f2 @ 24mm iso6400
