This was initially the date for the NYCRuns Big Apple half marathon which is a multiple loop half marathon in Central Park. However given the multiple loop nature of the … MORE
This was initially the date for the NYCRuns Big Apple half marathon which is a multiple loop half marathon in Central Park. However given the multiple loop nature of the course and need for runners to pass each other multiple times that went virtual and NYCRuns had this 4 mile option instead with covid protocols. While I’d prefer a half marathon that was a smart idea and allowed a larger number of participants and less passing. This had very similar protocols to the NYRR race yesterday. And I did receive my bib in the mail for this race! For this race you signed up for waves of 50 people from 7 to 11am. I choose 11am because as I’ve said before I like sleep. I did think pre-race communication could have been a little better. The covid protocols were very well outlined but some of the logistics were not as clear. The race started on the east side of central park and finished on the west side. The separate start and finish was good for avoiding congregation but it was about a 10ish minute walk from start to finish. I had a hotel on the UWS and walked to central park so passed the finish area first where the bag check was. I didn’t plan to check bag so it didn’t really matter. Then I walked to the east side to the start corral. Could have been some better signage but I made it no problem. I noticed there were porta potties by the east side entrance to central park about 1/4 mile from the corrals but didn’t use them as they were slightly out of the way and I assumed there would be some closer to the start line but there weren’t. If I knew this I would have used the porta potties when I was closer to them. The start corral was well organized. There was temp check and medical screening before you entered. Then you lined up in rows of two 6 feet apart. However multiple people brought their bags to the corral area and were told they had to go back to the west side to bag check. That would have been really stressful if that happened to me. I do wish the maps, emails and/or race page had more instructions about the lay-out of the start such as where bag check and porta-potties were. It would have led to less confusion. The race was otherwise very well organized. Luckily for this race while you had to wear a mask at the start and finish line and the first and last 500 feet of the race you could pull in down the rest of the race as long as you could maintain social distancing. The course itself was a nice, again moderately challenging 4 miles through central park. Central park is hilly but this course did avoid Harlem Hill. I was surprised this race actually had less elevation gain than yesterday since it seemed hillier but the hills in Central Park were steeper and shorter than the more gradual longer inclines in Prospect Park. The last mile was mostly downhill which was really nice and allowed for a fast last mile although the finish line was on a small uphill. I used to live in NYC so have been to central park plenty of times but this was my first race there. If you’ve never run in Central Park it is pretty cool and along with the pretty park views can also see some great NYC architecture but I’m sure it gets old once you’ve run a bunch of races there. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. 60 degrees and sunny. It has been so cold, cloudy, rainy and occasionally snowy the past few weeks in Rochester I forgot about warm weather and only packed leggings and long sleeved running shirts so was a little hot. Will remember to also bring a shorts and short sleeve shirt option for future winter NYC races just in case. The beautiful weather also meant just about all of NYC was in Central Park today which made the race a little chaotic as it was open. There were kids on scooters, families walking in rows of four, fast cyclists, the occasional tourist stopping in the middle of the road to take a selfie and even a horse-drawn carriage that crossed the course causing me to have to stop. This meant fun people watching but you also had to keep your eye on the road which meant slower time and it was hard to get in my running zone. Had a decent pace and finishing time. At the finish line you got your post-race goodies. The swag item was a winter hat. It is solid blue with the Big Apple logo. It is fine but kind of basic. Still better than a generic mask for the swag item. The food was disappointing though just a squeezable applesauce and a fruit cup with no utensils to eat the fruit cup along with water and gatorade. Would have preferred something more substantial. Overall this was again a nice, very safe race. Compared to yesterday I thought the logistics were a little better ironed out in the NYRR race, but preferred to not always wear the mask and there was a better (but still not super exciting) swag item for this race (but worse post-race food). I’d recommend a race with either race company if you are looking for a safe race in NYC right now
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Beautiful Day to Run in Central Park
This was initially the date for the NYCRuns Big Apple half marathon which is a multiple loop half marathon in Central Park. However given the multiple loop nature of the … MORE
This was initially the date for the NYCRuns Big Apple half marathon which is a multiple loop half marathon in Central Park. However given the multiple loop nature of the course and need for runners to pass each other multiple times that went virtual and NYCRuns had this 4 mile option instead with covid protocols. While I’d prefer a half marathon that was a smart idea and allowed a larger number of participants and less passing. This had very similar protocols to the NYRR race yesterday. And I did receive my bib in the mail for this race! For this race you signed up for waves of 50 people from 7 to 11am. I choose 11am because as I’ve said before I like sleep. I did think pre-race communication could have been a little better. The covid protocols were very well outlined but some of the logistics were not as clear. The race started on the east side of central park and finished on the west side. The separate start and finish was good for avoiding congregation but it was about a 10ish minute walk from start to finish. I had a hotel on the UWS and walked to central park so passed the finish area first where the bag check was. I didn’t plan to check bag so it didn’t really matter. Then I walked to the east side to the start corral. Could have been some better signage but I made it no problem. I noticed there were porta potties by the east side entrance to central park about 1/4 mile from the corrals but didn’t use them as they were slightly out of the way and I assumed there would be some closer to the start line but there weren’t. If I knew this I would have used the porta potties when I was closer to them. The start corral was well organized. There was temp check and medical screening before you entered. Then you lined up in rows of two 6 feet apart. However multiple people brought their bags to the corral area and were told they had to go back to the west side to bag check. That would have been really stressful if that happened to me. I do wish the maps, emails and/or race page had more instructions about the lay-out of the start such as where bag check and porta-potties were. It would have led to less confusion. The race was otherwise very well organized. Luckily for this race while you had to wear a mask at the start and finish line and the first and last 500 feet of the race you could pull in down the rest of the race as long as you could maintain social distancing. The course itself was a nice, again moderately challenging 4 miles through central park. Central park is hilly but this course did avoid Harlem Hill. I was surprised this race actually had less elevation gain than yesterday since it seemed hillier but the hills in Central Park were steeper and shorter than the more gradual longer inclines in Prospect Park. The last mile was mostly downhill which was really nice and allowed for a fast last mile although the finish line was on a small uphill. I used to live in NYC so have been to central park plenty of times but this was my first race there. If you’ve never run in Central Park it is pretty cool and along with the pretty park views can also see some great NYC architecture but I’m sure it gets old once you’ve run a bunch of races there. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. 60 degrees and sunny. It has been so cold, cloudy, rainy and occasionally snowy the past few weeks in Rochester I forgot about warm weather and only packed leggings and long sleeved running shirts so was a little hot. Will remember to also bring a shorts and short sleeve shirt option for future winter NYC races just in case. The beautiful weather also meant just about all of NYC was in Central Park today which made the race a little chaotic as it was open. There were kids on scooters, families walking in rows of four, fast cyclists, the occasional tourist stopping in the middle of the road to take a selfie and even a horse-drawn carriage that crossed the course causing me to have to stop. This meant fun people watching but you also had to keep your eye on the road which meant slower time and it was hard to get in my running zone. Had a decent pace and finishing time. At the finish line you got your post-race goodies. The swag item was a winter hat. It is solid blue with the Big Apple logo. It is fine but kind of basic. Still better than a generic mask for the swag item. The food was disappointing though just a squeezable applesauce and a fruit cup with no utensils to eat the fruit cup along with water and gatorade. Would have preferred something more substantial. Overall this was again a nice, very safe race. Compared to yesterday I thought the logistics were a little better ironed out in the NYRR race, but preferred to not always wear the mask and there was a better (but still not super exciting) swag item for this race (but worse post-race food). I’d recommend a race with either race company if you are looking for a safe race in NYC right now