Uptown Gentlefriends started in the winter of 2012 with a few of us sitting in a booth at Brickwall Tavern in Asbury Park. It was me (John Beck), my brother-in-law Christopher Lucania, and the Murray brothers, Michael and James. We were eating and drinking before heading to a Jersey Shore Roller Girls bout, and somehow landed on the name “Uptown Gentlefriends,” stolen straight from Anchorman. We thought it was funny and figured we’d use it for a running team.
At first, that’s all it was. We’d sign up for road races, trail races, mud runs, and occasionally convince other people to join us. Over time it turned into something a little bigger.
In 2017 I put together the first Dash & Deciduous 5K, a free trail run that mixes fast singletrack, steep hills, and a few surprises. It’s still one of my favorite days of the year.
Not long after that came Track Attack, which eventually evolved into moonflower, a laid-back 12-hour training run where nobody really cares how many miles you do. People show up, run a few loops, hang out, eat, disappear for a while, and come back again. It’s exactly what I hoped it would become.
Then, in 2019, I started the Delaware River Loop Series. The idea was simple: get people outside during the winter, explore some history, cross a bunch of old bridges, and keep everyone moving until spring. Six group runs, 66 total miles, two states, canal paths, river towns, and a lot of coffee afterward. It quickly became the biggest thing we’ve ever done and has helped a lot of people finish their first marathon or ultramarathon.
That’s really what Uptown Gentlefriends has always been about. It’s not a club with membership cards or weekly meetings. It’s just a group of people who like to run, explore new places, and spend time together. Some people are fast, some walk half the course, some show up just to volunteer or eat snacks at the finish. Everyone fits in.
If any of that sounds like fun, come join us. You’ll probably leave with muddy shoes and a few new friends.
Visit www.uptowngentlefriends.com for event details, results, photo galleries, and more.