Marnie Kunz, founder of Runstreet, leads street art runs, provides customized coaching plans, and blogs about fitness and running in NYC.

A running and fitness blog was not the first online venture for Marnie Kunz. It was a beauty blog. Two weeks in, however, she realized she was running out of things to write about.

Quickly pivoting to lean into the topics she felt most passionate about — running, fitness, and mental wellness — Kunz launched Runstreet in 2010. Since then, she’s stayed true to her mission to promote “the mental and physical benefits of running and fitness for people of all backgrounds.”

As editorial director of the site with a journalism background, Kunz has published a well-rounded collection of articles over the years on topics such as strength and speed training, walking and hiking, nutrition and weight loss — even pets and travel! Perhaps best of all for destination runners, she’s written a variety of resources for running in New York City, where she’s based. Here are a few of her blog posts to bookmark:

NYC Half Marathon Complete Guide + Tips
25 Best Places to Run in NYC
Central Park Running Map and Routes

After launching the site, Kunz gained certifications as a running coach and personal trainer, which helped her grow Runstreet to be far more than a blog. She develops customized training plans to help runners reach their race and fitness goals, in addition to pre-built 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon training plans. Kunz also leads running and fitness training events around New York City, including popular fun runs along routes that showcase the city’s street art.

Below, Marnie Kunz shares what she loves about running in New York City plus her tips on a NYC route to run and post-run places to eat.

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How did you get into running, what do you enjoy most about it, and what are you most proud of?

I started running in junior high school because I wasn’t coordinated enough for other sports and got rejected from cheerleading tryouts! I love that I’ve met so many interesting, disciplined people through running, and I also love the mental stress relief of running. I am most proud of running the NYC Marathon and starting my running business, Runstreet.

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How did the NYC street art runs start?

I became a running coach over 10 years ago and also started a running group in Brooklyn. I started finding so much beautiful street art on my runs in NYC, and people kept asking me when I posted on Instagram where the murals were. I created Art Runs as a fun way to show other runners the street art in our communities.

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What do you love most about running in New York City, and what’s a route you recommend?

I love the energy of the city and discovering new art and places. The people and art are always changing, making it interesting. I love running in Dumbo along the Brooklyn Waterfront. If you run in Dumbo and over the Brooklyn Bridge, go at off-peak tourist times like early in the morning for beautiful views.

Learn more about this running route in the Runstreet blog post Tips for Running Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo from a Local.

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Where do you recommend for a post-run meal?

Sahadi’s for great Middle Eastern food. For pizza, there are so many good places. If running in Dumbo, I recommend Grimaldi’s Pizza. It’s very good and very popular, so go at off-peak times to avoid crowds. If you’re in the Park Slope area or running at Prospect Park, you can stop at Peppino’s for delicious brick-oven pizza. (It’s about a .6-mile run/walk from the west side of Prospect Park).

Interested in learning more about Runstreet? Sign up for the Wellness Wednesday email newsletter and follow Runstreet on Instagram!

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