We finally return to the heat of late spring and early summer, and search for leafy and shaded runs to hide from the sun!
Hell Gate Bridge in full Idealized view
In its glow
from the recent Governor’s Ball, which I hear was a lot of fun, I’ll share one of our many trips through Randall’s Island by way of
the 102nd Street footbridge, over the Triborough Bridge, into Astoria, wandering around the waterfront until we finished at the end of the R train!
Here’s the link.
The trip is very easy, and the run very quiet!
First, from the East Side head either under the FDR at 96th Street or over the footbridge
across the FDR at 102nd Street.
We’ve discovered that the former is a little prettier for the 6 blocks you’re in Manhattan.
This is called the Wards Island Bridge, actually,
given that Randall’s and Wards Islands are interconnected.
A water fountain greets you as soon as you land on the island.
It will shoot straight at
your nose, so be careful!
Strong water stream.
Often we find ourselves ranking the city’s
water fountains on a few characteristics – these are the things one does during long runs!
NYC Parks also ranks
its
sites
on other criteria.
Check that out here.
We like to head South around the edge of the Island.
We
ran this exact course the Saturday after Superstorm Sandy hit, and it was amazing to see how high the water went on the Island.
This little barrier island took a beating.
For years, the Island mostly is
filled with soccer fields and ball fields, a Tennis Center, and running paths;
you get water views all around.
When the path isn’t blocked, Ward’s Island usually is a fun part of the tour, with a neat little wooden footbridge and a little more nature to observe- not to mention the mental institution/jail lurking there as well.
Let us not forget the ICAHN Stadium, too, which fades into the scenery most of the time, but looms large if you’re driving past on the Triborough Bridge nearby.
Really, on any early morning, it’s a peaceful tour, with few people to be seen.
You get to run
underneath the Hell Gate Bridge, which is unbelievably cool.
The bridge is apparently built so well that it could last another 400 years. Talk about built to last!
Read more about the bastardization of the
Hell Gate Bridge‘s real meaning.
Heading towards the McEnroe Tennis Center, we usually bemoan that there aren’t more water fountains, but there is one nearly at the East River.
And it’s a really neat vista towards Queens – where we are about to head!
There’s a nice sweep North along the water and through soccer fields, and a footbridge at the Northernmost point of the Island to the Bronx. We have taken it to 138th Street, where you can run along the very cool South Bronx warehouses, and then West towards the NYC Marathon route, just to note.
For today, we stayed on the Island.
Once around the soccer fields, we took the footbridge toward Astoria, onto the Triborough Bridge (RFK bridge).
On our first excusion, we were doubly excited by the ease of the
trip to Astoria and that we had never gone on foot.
A steep and scenic bridge it is, though pretty noisy (for the Ward’s Island inmates, too, don’t forget – enough to drive anyone crazy…), even at 6-7am.
A doubleback, after crossing traffic – not a great exit, unfortunately, on foot –
gets you heading toward Astoria Park.
Keep straight, and within 1/2 a mile you are back to the water and in the Park!
With plenty of trees, and lots of people walking and jogging, this little gem is worth the trip, too.
We headed North along the water.
Lots of small, two-level houses with East River views.
Delis abound. And
a neighborhood so long
established
clearly has enjoyed these paths and sidewalks and takes great care of them.
View West once in Astoria Park
We were forced to take a right at the power plant, unfortunately, which pushed us toward the subway (Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard).
On a hot, sunny day this route could be treacherous, but we were out pretty early.
I marvel at how easy it is to get back to Manhattan from all over New York City – and Rose & Joe’s was the perfect treat at the end of the run before hopping the subway home.
I
opted not
for their heralded slice of pizza, but rather for just a delicious sesame roll with butter.
Rose & Joe’s – of course we stop at the place with the oldest sign. Seems pretty safe.
That’s all for this month!
Go and reward yourself with a treat at the end of the run!