Today was an 18-mile run, a slight jump in distance from last week's 15, but mentally a way bigger step towards the marathon. We're about 6 weeks out now, and fall is quickly descending upon NYC, reminding us November is around the corner!
We chose the Belt Parkway bike path for this week's run, since you don't have to cross bridges or navigate too many busy sidewalks, which can be a taxing part of city running. Last week's 15-miler through Williamsburg was way too draining! This one is a pleasant run that takes you to the corner of Brooklyn- you see the diversity of this borough coming together to enjoy the views- and the fish.
The Belt Parkway run, like all NYC waterfront runs, has its pros and cons. We run about 5 miles to get to the starting point, Owl's Head Park in the corner of Bay Ridge. A sweet little park with a gorgeous view of Manhattan, Owl's Head also has water fountains and public bathrooms to use before setting out on the meat of the run. The pathway beyond the park takes you along the waterfront, underneath the soaring Verrazano-Narrows Bridge- which I'll cross on foot in November, but someone should make it easier for pedestrians and bikes to get to Staten Island (Change.org is trying!).
The views are great, there are no stoplights, and not too much traffic to contend with- even on weekends! One bothersome aspect is also a virtue: the fishermen lining the waterfront are a pleasant spectacle, but I was running with the constant fear that I'd get hooked or run through a line! They clearly need to look before they cast, but that's not obvious to these fisher-dudes.
We turned around at the Bay Parkway intersection, at the crowded softball fields before Toys-R-Us. The path continues and can take you to Coney Island, but that makes the run far too long for today. One more mile and you hit Calvert-Vaux Park (which I waited impatiently for them to finish, but it's pretty much just soccer fields & benches)- which has water fountains. We got a Mr. Softee at the truck parked at the final pier of the path- a great way to re-energize for the home stretch!
Belt Parkway Pathway under Verrazano-Narrows to Bay Parkway (18m)
Pros:
Views
No Traffic
Not crowded
Water Fountain
Bathroom
Mr. Softee truck ($2.50 cone)
Some off-road options (dirt)
Cons:
Fishermen
No stores (for water or snacks)
Running through the industrial part of Brooklyn under the Expressway sucks.
It's an out-and-back (as opposed to a loop)
Sometimes combination bike-path/running-path
Uneven pavement
Next to Belt Parkway Traffic
We saw:
A guy who needs to throw that fish back
A guy on roller skates
A girl in all fluorescent running gear
The Millennium Skate Park at Owl's Head
The mysterious Candy Factory on 3rd Ave (we smelled, not saw- was it Chocolate? But it smelled like Tootsie Rolls!)
The Draft Barn - could be fun.
We chose the Belt Parkway bike path for this week's run, since you don't have to cross bridges or navigate too many busy sidewalks, which can be a taxing part of city running. Last week's 15-miler through Williamsburg was way too draining! This one is a pleasant run that takes you to the corner of Brooklyn- you see the diversity of this borough coming together to enjoy the views- and the fish.
 |
| Owl's Head Park (Owl's Eye View) |
The Belt Parkway run, like all NYC waterfront runs, has its pros and cons. We run about 5 miles to get to the starting point, Owl's Head Park in the corner of Bay Ridge. A sweet little park with a gorgeous view of Manhattan, Owl's Head also has water fountains and public bathrooms to use before setting out on the meat of the run. The pathway beyond the park takes you along the waterfront, underneath the soaring Verrazano-Narrows Bridge- which I'll cross on foot in November, but someone should make it easier for pedestrians and bikes to get to Staten Island (Change.org is trying!).
The views are great, there are no stoplights, and not too much traffic to contend with- even on weekends! One bothersome aspect is also a virtue: the fishermen lining the waterfront are a pleasant spectacle, but I was running with the constant fear that I'd get hooked or run through a line! They clearly need to look before they cast, but that's not obvious to these fisher-dudes.
 |
| The view from the pathway |
We turned around at the Bay Parkway intersection, at the crowded softball fields before Toys-R-Us. The path continues and can take you to Coney Island, but that makes the run far too long for today. One more mile and you hit Calvert-Vaux Park (which I waited impatiently for them to finish, but it's pretty much just soccer fields & benches)- which has water fountains. We got a Mr. Softee at the truck parked at the final pier of the path- a great way to re-energize for the home stretch!
Belt Parkway Pathway under Verrazano-Narrows to Bay Parkway (18m)
Pros:
Views
No Traffic
Not crowded
Water Fountain
Bathroom
Mr. Softee truck ($2.50 cone)
Some off-road options (dirt)
Cons:
Fishermen
No stores (for water or snacks)
Running through the industrial part of Brooklyn under the Expressway sucks.
It's an out-and-back (as opposed to a loop)
Sometimes combination bike-path/running-path
Uneven pavement
Next to Belt Parkway Traffic
We saw:
A guy who needs to throw that fish back
A guy on roller skates
A girl in all fluorescent running gear
The Millennium Skate Park at Owl's Head
The mysterious Candy Factory on 3rd Ave (we smelled, not saw- was it Chocolate? But it smelled like Tootsie Rolls!)
The Draft Barn - could be fun.
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