The Ultramarathon Inspired by a Cult 1979 Gang Movie

The Armies of the Night Gather Image Credit: Vasudev Vashisht All runners convene at South Bronx bar Tortoise & Hare to meet, gather their supplies, refresh their costumes, and trade war stories about past runs. For many, 28 miles is a short distance compared to the 50- and 100-milers some of them are used to. One runner returned from finishing the Moab 240, a grueling 240-mile race that he finished in five days. Entering the Conclave Image Credit: Vasudev Vashisht In the movie, nine delegates from nearly every gang in the city (except The Orphans), convene to hear Cyrus, the leader of the Gramercy Riffs, detail his plan to take over all of New York City … one borough at a time. For the race, runners are escorted from the bar to an abandoned stadium nearby to get final instructions before beginning their journey. The Conclave Begins Image Credit: Vasudev Vashisht The most elite runners in the group, naturally, are the Warriors who stand on the bleachers facing the other runners. Brandon Jackson of Black Men Run NYC (standing with hands in air) was the honorary Cyrus this year. Says Jackson: “W.A.R.R.I.O.R.S.: Willpower, Adaptability, Representation, Raw intensity, Oomph, Recovery, Satisfaction.” Ready to Rumble Image Credit: Vasudev Vashisht Runners from the Party Pace Furies get ready to begin the race. “The Warriors run is otherwordly. No other ultra requires me to put grease paint on my gear list,” says Ellen Bentz, war chief of the Furies. “Other ultras I worry about ticks. The Warriors race, I count the number of rats that scamper over my feet. Running through the neighborhoods of a hot and humid NYC summer, the call from delighted cars and onlookers of ‘Warriors, come out to play,” and the shared camaraderie of the city that never sleeps makes this my favorite night of the year.” And They’re Off Image Credit: Guillermo Romani As in the film, the Party Pace Furies, one of about a dozen gangs that also included members of the Moon Runners, the Rogues and the Saracens, are armed with bats, albeit plastic ones. Crossing Broadway Image Credit: Vasudev Vashisht As in the film, the Party Pace Furies, one of about a dozen gangs that also included members of the Moon Runners, the Rogues and the Saracens, are armed with bats, albeit plastic ones. Entering Riverside Park Image Credit: Guillermo Romani The race took a detour at 100th Street and Broadway to enter Riverside Park, the real-life location of the famed gang conclave. “There’s nothing like running through NYC in the middle of the night,” says Jen Curtis, who finished third. “Normally, I would be scared to run at night. But I felt completely safe and adrenaline was high having seen so much of the city before sunrise.” Posing in the Park Image Credit: Guillermo Romani A runner leaps for joy having completed the first seven miles. Only 21 more to go. Bopping Through Times Square Image Credit: Guillermo Romani The Warriors, the most elite racers, bopping their way through Times Square in the middle of the night. With the World Cup final set to take place the next day, the area was mobbed with partiers rooting runners on. Times Square Takeover Image Credit: Vasudev Vashisht A gang joyously making their way through the big city. Armies of the Night Image Credit: Xavier Khan With most of the race run at night, runners had the unique challenge of making sure they stayed up. Adrenaline and gels, though, fueled everyone. The Finish Line Image Credit: Xavier Khan While some of the fastest runners finished while still dark out, most runners ran down Stillwell Avenue and up to Coney Island’s boardwalk after the sun came up. Three runners seen here are seconds away from finishing. And the Winner Is Image Credit: Guillermo Romani Founder and Race Director Todd Aydelotte stands with winner Mulan Xia, who ran the 28 miles in three hours and 34 minutes to win the race. A Well-Deserved Rest Image Credit: Guillermo Romani Xia, men’s winner Haitai Ng (left) and second place winner Richard Scott take a well-deserved rest after crossing the finish line. All Smiles Image Credit: Xavier Khan Aydelotte with a pack of finishers. “I wanted to create a unsanctioned, underground running experience that was completely authentic and unique — and bring the world of ‘The Warriors’ to life on the streets that inspired it,” Aydelotte tells Rolling Stone. “From the beginning, the goal has been to immerse our runners in a neon-soaked New York odyssey, one that explores the same themes that have made the film endure for nearly 50 years: identity, unity, power, and the search for home. And above all that, there are few opportunities in life to dress up like a gangster and run through the streets of New York all night long, and this is one of them.” The Long Run Is Over Image Credit: Xavier Khan “When we see the ocean, we figure we’re home. We’re safe.”