by Sarah Stafford, Examiner.com, link to original article
On such a densely populated metropolitan island, Central Park is an urban wonder that has been synonymous with NYC for more than 150 years.
For runners, the Park is a paradise that offers phenomenal training options. Twelve months out of the year, rain or shine, runners are ubiquitous with the many miles of trails that traverse the 843 acres which stretch from 59th Street at the south end to 110th Street at the north end.
Course Options
Depending on the distance of your workout and the surface on which you prefer to run, below are some of the most common routes in the park. Note that the main road, which runs just inside the perimeter of the park is pavement, while the reservoir and the surrounding bridle path are softer dirt surfaces.
Full Loop: The full loop of Central Park runs just inside the perimeter, from about 60th Street at the southern-most point to 110th Street. This 6.1 mile loop is excellent training for a 10k race and includes several challenging hills (Full loop is highlighted in red on map below).
4 Mile Loop: The 4 mile loop runs along the same road as the full loop, but starts at the 72nd Street Transverse on the southern end and cuts off at the 102nd Street Transverse on the northern end (4 mile loop is highlighted in blue on map below).
Upper 5 Mile Loop: The Upper 5 mile loop runs along the main road from the 72nd Street Transverse at the southern end to north end of the park. This option includes Great Hill at the northern end of the park.
Lower 5 Mile Loop: The Lower 5 mile loop runs along the main road from the south end of the park to the 102nd Street Transverse at the northern end. This option excludes Great Hill at the northern end of the park.
Lower Loop: This short loop runs along the main road from the southern end of the park to the 72nd Street Transverse. This is a 1.7 mile loop (highlighted in green on the map).
Reservoir: The path directly surrounding the reservoir is a 1.57 mile loop and is a very popular option with runners for its scenic views of the Midtown skyline and cinder surface (highlighted in orange on the map). Runners must move in a counterclockwise direction around the reservoir.
Bridle Path: The Bridle Path runs just below the reservoir and makes a slightly larger loop at about 1.66 miles. This is another popular route for its soft dirt surface.
Re your August 4, 2009 blog on the running trails in Central Park, we have a resource that your followers might find very useful. It is a free runners map of Central Park produced by my husband and me with support from the members of our respective Central Park running clubs. It is designed to print B&W on a single letter page. We include mileages, restrooms, water fountains, runner-named features (Cat Hill, etc.). It goes with our guide book “Fun on Foot in New York” but the map is available for free download (for personal non-commercial use) from http://www.funonfoot.com/newyork.html
[…] Run in Central Park: Fight the morning fatigue and go for a run in Central Park (or anywhere outdoors). The park is beautiful, inspiring and fun to traverse with the plethora of trails through 843 acres stretching from 59th Street to 110th Street. Here’s a great runner’s guide to Central Park. […]