Q: Who are the New York Harriers?
Formed in 1988 in New York City, the New York Harriers is a running club
of over 120 members. Most of us run a bit, although some merely bask in
the glory of past running accomplishments. We have long been known
for being as serious about our merry-making as we are about our running,
and we are equally well known for being a welcoming, friendly bunch of people.
Q: Are the Harriers the best running club in NYC?
Depends on what flavor ice cream you like. Vanilla, strawberry,
tutti-frutti … every club has its own personality. Being a Harrier
is primarily a state of mind. Harriers tend to be individuals who
combine a love of running with a low-key, accepting attitude toward others.
This is one club where you will never find one member pestering or
pressuring another to show up at some race or run some prescribed pace.
There’s a collegiality and respect for each other’s schedules and
goals. People tend to join the club because they want to run
AND they share a similar philosophy.
Q: How many members do you have?
There are about 120 dues-paying members and then there are the so-called
hangers on. We might be the only club around who welcomes the latter.
Some Harriers run a lot, some run not at all, everybody knows how
to savor life.
Q: Why all the parties?
We’re still working on the answer to this one. Some possibilities
include: (1) Why not? (2) We are working on one for each day of the year,
stay tuned (3) life is short, make it fun and filled with laughter (4) It’s
a great way to demonstrate new stretching techniques (5) Ah, young grasshopper,
does not the sun rise each day? To truly understand, you must un-ask the
question.
Q: What’s your affiliation with the Hash House Harriers, Hoboken Harriers,
or the fill-in-the-blank-Harriers.
No relation. You can check the DNA. This dog don’t On-On,
though it does On-In. We believe, of course, that the world has room
enough for all kinds of dogs.
Q: Why “Harriers”?
The origin of modern competitive distance running dates back to a game
played in schools in old England called Hounds and Hares. This was
a running game, with the Hares getting a head start off into the woods.
They would leave behind a trail, typically splashes of flour or shreaded
newspaper, that the Hounds would then pick up and follow. The idea
was for the Hounds to try to find and catch the Hares, while the Hares would
try to run away. Of course, in a real hunt, dogs were used to chase
and trap hares (rabbits), and those dogs bred for this task were called
harriers. As the game of Hounds and Hares evolved into cross country
foot races, the nickname stuck. Just like basketball players are still
referred to as “cagers” (yes, they used to play inside of a fenced area
before the idea of out-of-bounds was created), runners to this day, particularly
those who run cross country races, are still called Harriers.
Q: When was the club formed?
Q: How do I join?
First, meet some of us. Come to a run, a social event, or
send an
Do something to get to know the club. If you
want to get to know other clubs, please do that too, we encourage it. When
you decide you want to join, then let us know!
Q: Pace?
The club is open to folks of all paces, but we will admit that we’ve
got some speedsters (it happens that most of our members run 5:30-8:00 10k
race pace). Yet there are faster and slower Harriers than that, and
always will be. Some of our group runs are designed to make sure that
no one ever gets left behind, others are more like every-runner-for-him/herself.
What matters most in the end is that everyone goes the same pace whilst
seated, sharing tales from life, of the running and non-running kind.
Q: How do I obtain one of your cool shirts/singlets/bras?
Dues-paying members may contact Valerie, our Membership Director and Women’s Team Captain, at
Q: Do I have to race?
If you don’t want to race, then by all means don’t. Some years
just about everybody on the team is into racing, and the Harriers boast
a high ranking in local races or grand prix series; and some years there
may be a bit of apathy towards racing. Like the phases of the moon,
this waxes and wanes. If you are fired up about racing hard, you’ll
find Harriers who are right there with you. If you’d rather just race
when you feel like it, you’ll find plenty of Harriers right there with you
too.
Q: To whom do I direct an infrequently asked question?
First of all, good luck. Every Harrier will probably offer a different
answer (and in fact we don’t really see that as a big issue). If you
want to e-mail our President, send e-mail to
and you can get an official kind of response.
Q: How can I find out more about the team?
Come to an event, send e-mail, introduce yourself at a race, pay dues
and you can join our on-line forum.
Q: Can I join Gibber Jabber, the Harrier’s online forum?
Currently, our online forum is open only to members of the New York Harriers
and to members of our unofficial ‘sister club’, the Reservoir Dogs.
Q: Who are the Reservoir Dogs?
Another running club with whom we work out and have fun. Most of
us have friends on various clubs. To check out the Reservoir Dogs,
go to http://thereservoirdogs.com/.
Q: I am a member of another club. Can I hang out with you?
Many folks on other clubs like to come to our parties and to our runs.
We’ve raced in big out-of-town relays with folks from other New York
clubs. If you like to run and are somewhat friendly, then yes, please,
we hope to see you around. It is a love of running that brings us
together, and an easy-going attitude, not some uniform color or membership
status.
Q: Who’s in charge?
The Harriers are fairly laissez-faire, but there is some structure:
- President: Douglas Hegley
- Vice-President/Women's Team Captain: Valerie Raffle
- Treasurer: Mary Schafer
- Board Officers At-Large: Katie Heineken, Diane Kenna, Peter Shankman, Ken Weingold
- NY Harriers Discussion Board: Ken Weingold
- Webmaster/Site Designer: Jud Santos of The Reservoir Dogs
Q: How much are dues?
Q: What do you do with the dues?
Insurance, awards, end-of-the-year banquet, uniforms, etc. There
is a full financial report at the annual meeting, so members get a complete
breakdown and budget.
Q: What do I get for my dues?
Discounts at various local and national running stores (the list varies
over time, and plans are to grow it). The right to wear the uniform.
Invitations to myriad parties. The occasional bragging right. Cool
friends. Much laughter. Running partners. Hilarious and
sometimes informative online forum. Peace of mind (well, that might
be a bit much).
Q: I’d like to meet you!
We’d like to meet you, too!
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