Taking a bite out of the Big Apple

Have you ever wanted to experience everything a city has to offer or at least see as much as you can? I know I have and Im pretty sure most people have as well. All to often I think we settle for seeing one or two things in a place or city because they seem to be the "must see's" or "all we have time for" without the luxury of being able to spend multiple days seeing everything. This was the situation I was in on Saturday. I have been to NYC many times but all within the constraints of the aforementioned situation. Too many things to see and so little time. This time I decided I was going to go about things differently.

The first difference on this trip compared to every other time Ive been to NYC is that I took this trip solo. I hopped onto the train in central Jersey and 40 minutes later I was standing in Penn Station ready to embark on what I assured myself it would be a sight filled day. Dressed in running shoes, shorts and a dri fit shirt, I was ready for a workout. I had my camelback on my back with an extra shirt, my wallet my ipod, and my phone. Nothing more, nothing less. In my hand I gripped my handy dandy camera ready to fire at everything and anything.

I arrived in NYC around 1:30pm and my plan was to spend the afternoon running through NYC and seeing as much of the city as I could. My start point was Central Park and my finish line was completely undetermined. My first order of business....train to central park. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for a train that never came and watching rats run around on the train tracks, I decided it would be just as easy to run to central park.

So off to central park I ran. Dodging cars, running around tourists, and waiting at red lights. LCD screens, times square, and honking taxis heightened my senses as I progressed. 34th street, 35th street, 55th street, 60th street.... Eventually the open spaces of the park and the peace away from the choas was right in front of me.





While Ive been to central park multiple times, this was the first time I truly got to really see a lot of central park. The roads, the paths through the woods, the lakes, the lawns, all of it. Central Park is a fascinating place really. I cant say Ive been to a place like it. An enormous place full of God's natural beauty and peace planted right in the center of one of the worlds busiest cities. What I didnt realize is that central park is a pretty easy place to get lost in. Luckily I had nowhere to be really. After about 2 or 3 miles of running I finally found my way out of the park and into the west side of Manhattan.

From there I proceeded to run in a circle for about ten minutes while I gathered myself and figured out where I was. Once I solved that I headed directly west until I hit the Hudson River. The West Side Highway has a lovely bike/running path that runs along the Hudson River all the way down the island. Without any real knowledge of where the path would lead or what sights I would see, I continued to put one foot in front of the other.


So I ran, one park after another, one pier and then the next. So much of New York that I had never seen before. Chelsea piers, gorgeous parks on the river, basketball and tennis courts in the middle of the city. For the first time I was able to see some of the beauty and sights of NYC outside the busy streets, huge buildings, and overpriced food.

While stopping periodically to take pictures and an occasional drink from a street vendor (yes, overpriced), I continued on my way. Past gardens of flowers, past the SS Intrepid museum, and onto battery park and a beautiful sight of the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island.

Once I reached the Statue of Liberty I really only had one destination left before I would feel satisfied with the days adventure: The Brooklyn Bridge. After some street navigation, some help from a police officer, meeting a fellow lost runner, and another stop for a quick drink, I was on the Brooklyn Bridge. If you havent been on it before, I highly recommend it. Its quite a cool contraption and it provides an awesome view of the city that is different than almost any other. While I do suggest exploring the Brooklyn Bridge, I dont recommend running it. Its such a crowded area that running at any speed is dangerous, especially with the crazy bikers on the loose. Biking on the bridge is similar to driving a car the wrong way on a one-way street. Especially with idiots like me trying to run in the opposite direction. Long story short, take the time to go on the Brooklyn Bridge...walking.

After conquering the Brooklyn Bridge I figured Id stop over in China Town real quick before calling it a day. China Town was a brief stop before my legs chimed in and told me they were ready for the train. So off to the train I headed. I took the train back to 33rd street and then walked back to Penn Station. On my way back to Penn Station I stumbled upon the Empire station. I almost didnt even notice because I was tired and ready to go home but it was a nice little perk to add to the day. At 6:14pm, I boarded my train back to NJ and left the rest of NYC for another day.





Overall Id say the trip was a success. Id suggest that type of adventure to anyone interested. If running through NYC doesnt interest you, thats okay too. In the words of Matt McDermott "Why run when I can take the subway? Nobody truly likes running anyway."

In summary....

Sites:

Penn Station
Times Square
Central Park
Hudson River
Chelsea Piers
Battery Park
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Brooklyn Bridge
China Town
Empire State Building

Total Mileage:

Somewhere between 18-20 miles.

Until next time....

Later Days