BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | The NYC Run Crew’s Shakeout run rumbled through the Lower East Side last Thursday evening, in the process uniting the city’s divided run crews, while taking in some local spots of interest.
The event was organized by local rapper and trainer Powermalu and Jessica Zapotechne a.k.a. Jessie Zapo, two prominent figures in the urban running community. The two met through BridgeRunners, the running crew that began more than 10 years ago and is recognized as the foundation of this style of running, which has spread far and wide.
The events, which are very diverse, today draw participants from around the world.
However, it was only recently that Powermalu and Zapo reconnected and began discussing the idea of uniting the top crews in the divided New York urban running community.
“This is never easy when you have run crew egos involved,” Powermalu said. “Kind of reminiscent of the era of the gangs of the ’70s and ’80s, like the movie ‘The Warriors’ re-enacted.”
But what seemed to be a difficult task proved to be so worth it.
“For the first time ever,” he said, “we had 10-plus run crews, 150-plus runners merge together in solidarity through their passion of running for a 3-mile Shakeout run.
“We reached out to the leaders of these run crews and pitched them the idea of doing a Shakeout run on the Lower East Side. Our objective is to unite these run crews and create a platform where we can share resources and support each other’s projects as one family.”
The run started at Overthrow NY, at 9 Bleecker St., the former home of the Yippies, now home of the Overthrow New York underground boxing club.
Dana Beal, a Yippie leader, drug-legalization activist and longtime former resident of No. 9, made a surprise appearance and spoke to the runners before they headed out.
“He gave a history of 9 Bleecker and he also mentioned once being a runner himself and later using that endurance he gained from running to help him in his activism projects,” Powermalu noted.
“We then made a stop over at legendary photographer/documentarian/artist Clayton Patterson’s place and got some more history about the ‘Pre-gentrified Lower East Side.’
“We then headed down Third St. and passed by the Hells Angels bike club, where a couple days before, Jessie and I had stopped by and were granted permission from a Hells Angels member to run by with our crew.
“We made it back to Overthrow, where we enjoyed some fresh juices from Summers Juice and pizza from Rizzo’s Fine Pizza L.E.S. The Lower East Side was filled with positive vibes as the run crews took over the streets as one big family.”
Zapo was right in stride with Powermalu in terms of run club unity.
“The (un)common thread that holds us all together is running,” she said. “We are diverse. We are the same. We share an (un)common love of this sport, this lifestyle, this culture.”
Added Powermalu, “Let us overthrow the misconceptions, overthrow the lies, overthrow the myths, overthrow what divides. This community is unstoppable when we join forces together.”
Patterson spoke to the runners for about 10 minutes, before they were off to their next stop. He told them a bit about the new book that he recently published with Jose “Cochise” Quiles, “The Street Gangs of the Lower East Side.”
“I would say that I find Power to be a very inspirational person,” Patterson offered. “He is one of the people who has advanced way beyond the Lower East Side — he is on MTV, is an actor, a screenwriter — but has still remained connected to the neighborhood.
“He is a local person. He has empathy, understanding, appreciates people who grew up in the neighborhood.
“He is also a trainer at Overthrow and is into health. His father was a boxer.”
