Run for your life... or at least a great bottom line!

So it's that time of year when layers of clothing start to be peeled off like layers of the onion...
The question is then, "do you like what's underneath?". I'm not talking philiosophically [we all should be happy with our insides], but about that extra layer of winter insulation we all tend to pack on during the harsh winter months.

While many folks head to the gym to shed the unwanted layers, there is no time like spring to take advantage of the out-of-doors and see a bit of the city landscape. Here are a few of my favorite routes to run.

The first one is going to seem like a bit of a 'no brainer', but it's worth noting because of the many different ways you can slice and dice your running experience. I'm speaking of course of Central Park. I typically run the whole park drive, making pit stops at the Reservoir for water, but there are about a hundred ways to vary your route through the only sane part of Manhattan. Since there are too many permuatations to list here, I'lll simply link to the convenient Central Park Running Map the Centrak Park Conservancy has so thoughtfully posted online.


Like one of my blogging brethren has written "sometimes you need to get away from Central Park"... and although I don't often share this sentiment, the hoards of people thaat flood Central Park on a partiularly spectacular day can be overwhelming [a bit like running through a pinball machine]. On these days, a nice westside alternative is Riverside Park if you are above the 59th Street waistline, or the Hudson River Park if you are downtown.

Both offer fantastic views of the Hudson River and will give you that much needed dose of nature so uncommon amidst the concrete and steel that adorns most of the city.

Sometimes it's nice to get a completely new perspective on things and so, just to mix it up, I'll jump onto a subway [yes, only in New York would you commute to go on a run] and head down to Battery Park. The uncommon perspective on the city is reason along to make this trip. The southern most tip of the city brings Governors Island, Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty into view and if you take the path all the way up the West Side, you can overlap with the Hudson River Park route and run all the way up the west side.

I know at this point it looks as though I've neglected the East Side a bit... and well, that's because the runs aren't quite as scenic [in my opinion] as the West Side, but it shouldn't be ruled out as a nice alternative to dodging traffic in Midtown. The East Side Promenade run can take you from the Roosevelt Island Tram at 60th Street all the way to the Triborough Bridge [recently renamed the RFK Memorial Bridge]. It's a nice straightline run if you want to do an uniterrupted 10k without many diversions... and the view of the East River, although a bit more industrial in flavor, does offer some interesting distractions as you ramp up to full endorphine rush.

Any of these jaunts about the city are a great way to get some fantastic people-watching in and get some much needed therapy in addition to getting you in shape for the upcoming bathing suit season. Also, if you're one of our single followers it's a great way to meet people...just be sure and take your headphones off, smile and say hello to your fellow runners.

By the way, if you're in need of new running togs or neglected to bring them on your trip there is an outpost of the New York Running Company in The Shops at Columbus Circle at the Time Warner Center that can outfit you in whatever you may need [conveniently located a few steps away from Dream New York].