Running - Central Park New York
 

Hello,<BR><BR>My wife and I will be in New York for a couple days next week. I would like to get a run or 2 in, around Central Park. I have found a few maps on-line showing the different routes and distances. <BR><BR>I am nursing an Achilles Tendon injury and probably should avoid significant hills (if I listen to my doctor). I see that there is one section called the "Great Hill". How much of a hill is this and are there others I should know about? <BR><BR>I will be starting off at the southern end from Central Park So. I have read that going counter clockwise is less confusing. If I take the 102 cutoff and only do the 5 mile loop, will this avoid the hill or hills?<BR><BR>Any information would be appreciated.<BR><BR>Paul

I'm just wondering why anyone nursing a significant injury would feel the need for a 5-mile run through CP??? You'll be walking all over, during your visit, I would presume, or you could stroll through CP and actually enjoy the scenery. What's with runners who injur themselves yet contintue to run, anyway? If your wife is smart, she'll be shopping and strollin and dining...

Gee Tom-that was helpful...

I can't tell you what route to take to avoid hills, but I can tell you that the "Great Hill" is quite large. There is a cut-off before it and I suggest you avoid it if you aren't looking for a difficult route.<BR><BR>For a much shorter, yet enjoyable, run, take the "loop" (that large, 6-mile, outer circle you see) up to about 86th street and get off at the Reservoir. The Reservoir is a 1.6 mi runners track around, you guessed it, the Reservoir. It is a beautiful site and an easy jog and then you can head back south, avoiding the Great Hill.<BR><BR>Good luck and enjoy your visit.

Hi Paul - If you start at the southern end of the park and run counterclockwise (north along the west side first) you'll avoid the biggest hills. There's a long incline on the east side from about 72nd to 86th, not steep, but long, so if you're heading south on the east side, you should be fine. I also used to take a few laps around the reservoir, which is completely flat, when I wanted to add 3/4 or a mile and a half to my run. Hope this helps.

Hi Paul,<BR><BR>I think Lizzie means clockwise, that is, to start at the south end and head up the west (left) side of the park will indeed mean that you're running downhill on the east side. To be sure, it's a long, gradual incline (and not the Great Hill, which you will avoid by not going so far north), so if you're an experienced runner, I doubt it will provide a big impediment either way.

Tom - Your post implies that people who run can't enjoy the scenery around them, while walkers can. That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard in a long time. Why so much hostility toward Tom/runners?

i meant towards Paul

Paul:<BR>I'm a competitive runner and a physician, who has dealt with Acilles tendinitis both personally and professionally. I must assume you're a casual runner. If you're more than just a casual runner, and if you're still having pain, then long runs are to be avoided for now. Due to the poor blood flow to the Achilles tendon, it heals VERY slowly, and the worst mistake made by most runners suffering from Achilles tendinitis is to jump back into running prematurely.<BR>That said, the best advice I can give you about Central Park is to stick to the Jackie Onassis reservoir "track". It's a dirt/gravel track which is mostly flat, circling the reservois. The running surface will be MUCH less traumatic to your Achilles than the cement course that traverses the park, and it's still very scenic.<BR>If you want more specific info, let me know.

I really do appreciate all of the information.<BR><BR>Yes, I admit maybe no running would be the best medicine, but...I'm stubborn. The injury has been with me for awhile and I finally wised up and went to a doctor for orthotics (high arches). He cleared me to start running again and said to take it easy, but....I'm stubborn.<BR><BR>Enough about me... Just making sure, if I go clockwise, I'll be going "down" the "Great Hill" and everything else should be gradual inclines? <BR><BR>Thanks again to everyone for all the information. Keep Running (and enjoying the scenery)!<BR><BR>Paul

Paul:<BR><BR>U will love Cp for running! It has to be one of the greatest running locales, unmatched by any big city! I believe it was lisa who said head up to the reservoir. It is about 1.5 miles from 59th street to the reservior. Watch for my favorite NYC personality "ALBERTO" who you might see stretching or sunning himself at the reservoir water fountain. Alberto just made the "cover" of a brand new coffee table book "NYC Characters". He is a wonderful man!<BR>JOHN

To clarify, yes, I meant CLOCKwise... it was early in the morning! And, Paul, the Great Hill, as far as I know, is above 102nd so the runs discussed here will avoid it. The long gradual incline on the east side is nothing compared to the hill at the north end of the loop!

Here is a map:<BR><BR>http://www.nyrrc.org/divisions/training/cpdistances.htm

Tom - there's no need to bash something you don't understand. To Paul - enjoy your run(s) and take it nice and easy - CP truly is a wonderful place to run!

My wife has a safety question (all this great info has her wanting to run also) is there a time that's too "early" or "late" to run?<BR><BR>Paul

I would say that the times that are too early or too late are when it is dark. On any given weekday, you will see runners in the park as early as 6 or 6:30 (when it's still pretty dark) and as late as 6 or so (when it's definitely past dusk). As a tourist who is unfamiliar with the park, I would suggest you run during daylight hours and stick to the road or the Reservoir. You should be fine.

Hi Paul:<BR><BR>Common sense always! The park is remarkably crowded at 6 am! Early city risers! It tails off until Noon when the Lunch crowd (commuters like moi!) get into the park. Again there is a lull until the post 5 Pm crowd heads to the reservoir. The reservoir is pretty safe, the area above the reservoir (86 st to 110 st I would never do after dark...and I am a 230 pound male! So I guess daylight...no worries! Nightlife...go take in a play or better yet a great NYC resturant!!<BR><BR>JOHN

Hi Lisa!<BR>Looks like we posted our answers together! I will be running today! Want to join me??<BR><BR>John

John -- true confessions time: I am a sedentary soul posing as a runner! Actually, I am just a beginning runner, so I can usually only make my 1 lap around the Reservoir. Trying to work up to more. But, hey, I'm out there doing it, right???

Hey Lisa:<BR><BR>Good for you! Your answers to Paul looked like it was from someone who was running the park...and that is not a criticism, just an observation. My confession is that my current level is about 5 miles! And this is from somone that has run 4 Marathons!! <BR>JOHN

Oh boy. I'm in serious trouble if John is confessing to "only" running 5 miles a day.

Anne:<BR><BR>I wish it was every day! When I run, which lately is very infrequently, I stumble to a distance of approx. 5 miles!! But back to the original question, Central Park is a magical place to run! Did anyone catch the PBS special " A walk in the city, Central Park" It probably was a local NYC showing but I thought it was very well done! The whole "walk series" is very interesting!!<BR>JOHN

I watched the PBS series on the history of New York City. It noted that in the 1950s the "transportation czar" built one of his first highways out of the city that made Jones Beach and other newly made parks accessible to city dwellers for the first time.<BR><BR>Just curious--do New Yorkers still go to Jones Beach? Is it possible to jog out there?

Yes, New Yorkers still go to Jones Beach. It has a great boardwalk that's perfect for walking or jogging.It's also "unspoiled". It's a state park, so there are no hotels, motels, cheesy amusements etc. Just a beautiful beach.<BR>Maybe someone else could help with the best way to get there from the city, ie subway, bus..(I'm on Long Island, so I drive there)

Any runners out there refer to running as "jogging," or is it just a term that non-runners use?

Serious runners consider the term 'jogging' insulting.<BR>Casual runners (very casual) don't much seem to care, in my experience.

I doubt there's any way to clearly define what characterizes serious from casual runners.<BR>A few obvious signs: serious runners would incluse those who compete, who train with specific competitive goals, who are running addicts (become psychologically bothered when they can't run for a few days), etc<BR>I'd guess people in the casual group would be those who run very infrequently, who can take it or leave it without a second thought, who pay little or no attention to how far or how fast they run, who have no interest in ever being timed.<BR><BR>But yes, there's most definitely lingo, etiquette and a variety of -isms unique within the running community.<BR>An ad which has appeared in Runner's World many times in recent years may sum this up best (many variations on the same theme): one has a runner breezing along a busy urban street blowing his nose by closing one nostril and turning his head, without ever breaking his stride. The ad simply says "Runners. Yeah, we're different".