New York City Running

When running in Central Park during no-traffic hours (see Bicycling, above), stay in the right-hand runners’ lane to avoid being mowed down by reckless pedal-pushers. Stay in populated areas and stay out of the park after dark. Recommended courses include the 1½ mi. soft-surface track around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (between 84th and 96th St.) and a picturesque 1¾ mi. route along West Dr., starting at Tavern on the Green, heading south to East Dr., and circling back west on 72nd St. Another beautiful place to run is Riverside Park, which stretches along the Hudson River bank from 72nd to 116th St.; don’t stray too far north. A six-mile jog along the East River from 63rd St. to 125th St. will take you past Gracie Mansion, fishermen, and river-view highrises. For information on running clubs, clinics, and racing events around the city, call the New York Roadrunner’s Club, 9 E 89th St. (☎212-860-4455; www.nyrr.org), between Madison and Fifth Ave. They host races in Central Park on summer weekends. If you’re serious about running, don’t miss the New York City Marathon. On the first Sunday in November, spectators line rooftops, sidewalks, and promenades to cheer 22,000 runners (16,000 racers actually finish). The November 3 race begins on the Verrazano Bridge and ends at Central Park’s Tavern on the Green. Call the NY Roadrunner’s Club (contact info above) for info on signing up. Finally, see for a more extensive running tour of the Park.