Running in NYC?

[InBetweenDays]

Next week we'll be in NYC for 3 full days. We're staying in midtown, and will be fairly close to Central Park. Would it be best to run in the park (thinking 4-5 miles)? Are there areas of the park to avoid? Other recommendations?

I won't be doing this at the crack of dawn, but probably around 8am mid week.

[InBetweenDays]

I'd love to run across the Brooklyn Bridge! But according to mapmyrun that would be a 9 mile run from our hotel. Both DH and I need to squeeze in a run in the morning (while the other watches our kids) so unfortunately I don't think I'll have time for that.

[mdd]

www.centralpark.com/usr/maps/CentralParkRunningMap.pdf

Around 8 am, you should be fine running anywhere in the park. Last year, when I was a summer associate and living in NYC full time, I would run in the park at 6 am and never had any issues. Just stick to the main running paths and you'll be fine.

The whole loop around the park is 6 miles, so I would skip the upper loop because it has a wicked steep hill. Otherwise, it is a fun run! Just watch out for the crazy cyclists

[patches31709]

Jul 23, 2012 20:31:46 GMT -5 mdd said:

www.centralpark.com/usr/maps/CentralParkRunningMap.pdf

Around 8 am, you should be fine running anywhere in the park. Last year, when I was a summer associate and living in NYC full time, I would run in the park at 6 am and never had any issues. Just stick to the main running paths and you'll be fine.

The whole loop around the park is 6 miles, so I would skip the upper loop because it has a wicked steep hill. Otherwise, it is a fun run! Just watch out for the crazy cyclists

\

But Harlem Hill is fun!!

[mdd]

Jul 23, 2012 20:33:13 GMT -5 patches31709 said:

Jul 23, 2012 20:31:46 GMT -5 mdd said:

www.centralpark.com/usr/maps/CentralParkRunningMap.pdf

Around 8 am, you should be fine running anywhere in the park. Last year, when I was a summer associate and living in NYC full time, I would run in the park at 6 am and never had any issues. Just stick to the main running paths and you'll be fine.

The whole loop around the park is 6 miles, so I would skip the upper loop because it has a wicked steep hill. Otherwise, it is a fun run! Just watch out for the crazy cyclists

\

But Harlem Hill is fun!!

Ha! If jello legs=fun, then I agree

[keweenawlove]

We stayed in Long Island City and my mom and ran over the Queensboro Bridge to Central Park. That might be closer to you than the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Deleted]

I always run in the park when I'm working in our NYC office. It's one of my favorite parts about NY.

[dmxm]

Central Park is awesome. Check out the West Side Highway, too. There's a running/ biking path that goes the length of Manhattan along the Hudson River.

[al320]

i have nightmares about that freaking harlem hill. nightmares, i tell you.

but running through the park is otherwise lovely.

ive been meaning to run up/down the west side, but since im in jersey it seems like more effort than it's worth, i can run along the hudson on our side too

anwyay, yes, you should be fine in the park at that time. have fun!

[smithsmile]

I agree with PP, youll definitely be fine at 8am in Central Park. Depending on how far you want to run instead of the 6 mile outer loop, you can do the loop around the Jackie O reservoir which is I think 3.1 miles or something. It has super great views of the skyline, and isnt concrete so its a little more challenging.

Other than that, you can also run along the West Side Highway (all the way up to the GW Bridge!), or down to South Street Seaport, then there are running paths along the east side as well.

NYC has a lot of great options. Enjoy!

[InBetweenDays]

Thanks all! These are some great ideas! I have to say I'm intrigued by the Harlem Hill. Living in Seattle you have to run hills, and I have one near me that is .4 miles of 6% grade. Plus I'm training for a hilly relay so I may have to check the Harlem Hill out.

[al320]

Jul 24, 2012 12:46:41 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Thanks all! These are some great ideas! I have to say I'm intrigued by the Harlem Hill. Living in Seattle you have to run hills, and I have one near me that is .4 miles of 6% grade. Plus I'm training for a hilly relay so I may have to check the Harlem Hill out.

there are certainly bigger hills out there, but the thing about it is, at least when youre running around the park counterclockwise, is that it turns, so you run up a hill, you think it's over and you turn, and then there's more hill, then it looks like it's over, and you turn, and there's more hill....there are maybe 4 turns? it's a bigger hill than you realize while youre running it. so you start and youre like, oh this isnt bad, and then it keeps going and going on and going.

going clockwise, it's just one long steady uphill leading uphill.

the run through the park is a nice run, it's not impossible, but challenging enough to not be boring.

[InBetweenDays]

Thanks al320. It will be neat to run in Central Park.

[mdd]

Jul 24, 2012 12:52:05 GMT -5 al320 said:

Jul 24, 2012 12:46:41 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Thanks all! These are some great ideas! I have to say I'm intrigued by the Harlem Hill. Living in Seattle you have to run hills, and I have one near me that is .4 miles of 6% grade. Plus I'm training for a hilly relay so I may have to check the Harlem Hill out.

there are certainly bigger hills out there, but the thing about it is, at least when youre running around the park counterclockwise, is that it turns, so you run up a hill, you think it's over and you turn, and then there's more hill, then it looks like it's over, and you turn, and there's more hill....there are maybe 4 turns? it's a bigger hill than you realize while youre running it. so you start and youre like, oh this isnt bad, and then it keeps going and going on and going.
going clockwise, it's just one long steady uphill leading uphill.

the run through the park is a nice run, it's not impossible, but challenging enough to not be boring.

OMG, that is so true! I had no one warning me about this and, of course, first time running in CP, I had to go counterclockwise! I was livid once I was done with that hill and had to take a walking break. I never swore so much in my life as I did that day But maybe I just suck at running hills.

My H, on the other had, first time running in CP, goes out and does two consecutive loops around the park, counterclockwise. He said the hill was tough, but he didn't have to stop - I wanted to punch him

The Harlem hill has to be done clockwise - gavel/

[agrippa]

Thanks for this post! I'll be there from Thursday-Sunday and was just trying to figure out where to run!

[InBetweenDays]

OK, another dumb question. I just noticed that link you posted, mdd, so thank you! According to mapmyrun it would be about 5 miles to run from our hotel, to the park, and then around Park Drive to whatever the cross over is around E 72nd, then back down the other side of Park Drive and back. Now is Park Drive a roadway or is it that main walking path? And am I going to need to bring a map??? Looking at that map I feel like I'm going to get lost.

[mdd]

Jul 24, 2012 14:09:54 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

OK, another dumb question. I just noticed that link you posted, mdd, so thank you! According to mapmyrun it would be about 5 miles to run from our hotel, to the park, and then around Park Drive to whatever the cross over is around E 72nd, then back down the other side of Park Drive and back. Now is Park Drive a roadway or is it that main walking path? And am I going to need to bring a map??? Looking at that map I feel like I'm going to get lost.

The crossover at 72nd is a roadway used by walkers, runners, cyclists, horse carriages and rickshaws (and sometimes cars, but only service cars). Yeah, a lot of people use it but just follow the rest of the runners. You can run both ways (counter- and clockwise). Be more careful because most tourists will not look both ways before crossing and if you are not watching, they will step right in your path. Also, feel free to yell at smokers; there is no smoking in the park

If you want to attempt a bigger loop, the crossing at 104th street is also a roadway but much less traveled. Have fun!

[patches31709]

You have to do it counterclockwise, it's a good time. Seriously, I felt like just when it was getting really hard, it was over. It was definitely a hill, but if you're used to running hills it isn't the end of the world - just good practice.

[InBetweenDays]

I don't know if it's being used to doing track workouts or what, but I have a hard time running any loop clockwise. 99% of the time I run a loop counterclockwise - even just loop runs from my house.