There's something special about the start of spring. The whole rebirth/reawakening metaphor is not lost on me and I fully ascribe to it. While I may not be one for New Year's resolutions, by the time spring rolls around I am all for setting goals and a healthy dose of self-discipline.
I mentioned last week that I signed up for this doozy and as a result I have been attempting to stick to the running bandwagon. I have even been (somewhat) following this handy dandy marathon training plan. The thing is I still have absolutely no desire to run down city streets. So I have spent the past few weeks scoping out the best places to get one’s feet off of pavement and I am sharing them here just in case someone else is in a similar predicament.
Dirt Trails In and Around NYC:
Bridle Path in Prospect Park, Brooklyn - Here you can find 3.5 miles of pretty level trail in Brooklyn. It runs mostly parallel to the main loop so just go through any entrance and look for the dirt path. I prefer to enter at Grand Army Plaza especially when the farmer's market is going so I can grab a snack on my way out.
Bridle Path in Central Park, Manhattan - If you opt for all of the various loops, you can have a 4 mile trail run right in the heart of Manhattan. Not too shabby. Apparently you can also link this with the Ramble for an 8 mile run but I've never tried it.
Greenbelt Trails, Staten Island - These four woodland trails (their moniker not mine) offer a range of terrain from an easy 1 mile nature walk to a pretty hilly 8 mile path, one way mind you. To access the greenbelt, take the Staten Island Ferry and then the S57 bus to Brielle and Rockland Ave.
Old Croton Aqueduct, Yonkers to Tarrytown - This 9 mile dirt path is atop the old aqueduct that supplied water to NYC back in the day. I've only been on a small section of this trail but I’m excited to try it out after I work my way up to longer runs. It's a short ride on Metro North in order to access the trail but the views of the river will make up for the extra schlep.
Putnam Trail in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx - While only 1.5 miles long, you could in theory connect to the previous trail on this list, the OCA, in Yonkers. To access the trail take the 1 train to 242nd St, head south on Broadway, and the entrance will be on your left about a ¼ miles from the subway station
Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville - A wide variety of trails and carriage paths add up to over 20 miles of routes and lets you mix it up each time you go which is why this place is one of my favorites. It also conveniently sites next to Stone Barns so I can hang out with some friendly locals and eat some good grub at the end of my run. To access the trails, hop on the Metro North to Tarrytown and then (unfortunately) take a quick cab ride to the park's visitor center.
Harriman-Bear Mountain State Parks - Situated up in the Rockland/Orange County area of NY, this trail system is definitely more of a hike (pun is always intended) to get to. If taking public transit, you will need to take a bus out of Port Authority. I know. The worst. Do it though - it's only a 45 min ride and you will not be disappointed. Pack up your bag with all sorts of goodies and make a day of it. There are 200+ miles of trails to be explored and I would check out what these guys have to say before deciding on a trail. The paths are usually well marked with trail blazes but it can get very confusing at times when multiple trails meet up. I would really recommend downloading their map to your phone as it will link up to your GPS should you find yourself all turned around.
There you have it - all the places I will be scurrying about this spring in an effort to get some miles on my legs without the monotony of macadam. Happy feet are dirty feet.
notes:
- these pictures are from a trail run i took last week at this park. while you are allowed to run there, it's really intended for mountain bikers. once the trail is no longer mostly mud and snow, i’ll be moving my feet elsewhere in order to stay out of the way of the biker folk.
- on the bridle paths and in rockefeller state park, keep an eye out for horses as they still grace these paths from time to time and they have the right of way (no matter where you are, horses will always have the right of way). be kind - slow down and let the rider know you are approaching; this is especially important if coming from behind.
- if you are new to trail running and looking for some sturdy kicks, i love my brooks pure grit (i have both the second and third generation of them). i have also heard good things about these, these, and these.