Sunday Long Run

As much as I love running in Saddle River Park, I decided that I needed a change of scenery. SRP is pancake flat and with the Prospect Park Track Club 10 mile next week, I decided I needed to work some hills into my run. I met co-worker and fellow running blogger, DailyRunner in Central Park. DR showed me a part of the park I had never seen before, The Bridal Path. It's closest you'll get to trial running in New York City. I have to admit, I felt like I was running the park for the first time. Many of the familiar sights and landmarks looked different from the Bridal Path.

The first 5 or so miles took us north on the west side of the park, across the 102nd St. transverse, south on the east side, around the south end of the park, and back up to Tavern on the Green. I took my first GU pack here with some water. As we approached the 102nd St. Transverse again, DR asked if I wanted to keep going north up Harlem Hill. I said sure, after all wasn't my goal to work hills into the run? At the 10 mile mark, I took another GU pack and focused myself for the last 5 miles. DR didn't bring any water or Gatorade with him so when we hit Columbus Circle, we stopped at a vendor so he could get something to drink. The last few miles took us around the Jackie O reservoir. I have to be honest, in all of the miles I've never run in Central Park, I've never run near the reservoir.

Back to the run....the last few miles were a real grind. My legs were starting to feel heavy and I developed a small side stitch. I fought through it and last we were back at Tavern on the Green. We covered 16.04 miles in 2:17:31 for a 8:35 pace.

Splits and other run details can be found here: 16 in Central Park.

It was a good day. The rest of the week is shaping up like this: tomorrow I usually cross train but I'll be off from work with my daughter so I'm not sure that'll happen. Tuesday I run the Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridge loop, Wednesday is speed night at Paragon, Thursday will be a recovery run.