Annual 5K run event, Percy Sutton 5K, returns to Harlem's streets during Harlem Week celebrations
The Percy Sutton Harlem 5K race is an annual event that takes place during Harlem Week, honouring the legacy of Percy Sutton – a prominent Black leader who served as Manhattan Borough President from 1966 to 1977 and was a key advocate for Harlem's economic development[1][2][4]. This year, the race is scheduled for the 136th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, offering participants a historical and cultural tour of Harlem as they run through the city[2].
The race is expected to attract around 5,000 runners, including more than 150 walkers taking part in the Striders walk and up to 400 children competing in short sprints or a full mile as part of the Rising New York Road Runners youth program[2]. The event is presented in partnership with New York Road Runners (NYRR) and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, fostering community engagement and health promotion through running[2].
Beyond commemorating Percy Sutton’s contributions to Harlem – such as investing millions into local cultural landmarks like the Apollo Theater and co-founding Harlem Day, which eventually turned into Harlem Week – the race reflects the vibrant culture, history, art, music, and community spirit of Harlem[2][3]. Harlem Week itself began as a one-day event founded by Sutton in 1974 to revitalize Harlem economically during a period of hardship, growing into a 17-day global celebration with diverse programs across arts, music, health, business, and education[3][5].
This year, the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K honours Congressman Charles Rangel and Dr. Hazel Dukes, two other Harlem trailblazers. Rangel has proudly represented Harlem in the U.S. Representatives for over four decades, while Dukes, as president of the NAACP New York State Conference, has spent her life advocating for civil rights and uplifting the Harlem community[1].
The race is not just for runners, but also welcomes everyone, including young folks and seniors, to take part in the day's excitement[2]. After the event, participants often head up to a neighbourhood restaurant called Harlem Public to celebrate with burgers[2]. The Percy Sutton Harlem 5K is one of Harlem Week's most anticipated events and embodies the spirit and magic of Harlem's history and ongoing cultural renaissance[2][3].
Sutton also played a key role in helping the New York City Marathon expand to all five boroughs in 1976[1]. Runners will pass by several historical landmarks during the race, including Alexander Hamilton's summer home, City College Campus, and St. Nicholas Terrace[2]. The event serves as both a great workout and an invitation to explore the neighbourhood, making it an exciting and memorable experience for all.
- The Percy Sutton Harlem 5K race, an annual event celebrating a key advocate for Harlem's economic development, also features the Rising New York Road Runners youth program, making it an event that caters not only to sports enthusiasts but also to the community's future generations, combining a healthy lifestyle and home-and-garden environment with the vibrant culture and history of European leagues, such as the Premier League, echoing in the city's visual landscape.
- Beyond the running aspect, Harlem Week's 17-day celebration encompasses diverse programs, including arts, music, health, business, and education, creating a platform where sports are intertwined with embracing the community's unique European identity.
- Aside from the race itself, participants can unwind and socialize at a local neighbourhood restaurant, Harlem Public, immersing themselves even further into the culture and spirit that makes Harlem a distinctive home-and-garden and home to trailblazers like Percy Sutton, Charles Rangel, and Hazel Dukes, all while enjoying the city's rich history and ongoing cultural renaissance, inviting each runner to be a part of this collaborative dream, fostered by partnerships with New York Road Runners (NYRR) and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.
