I am as stubborn as a mule. A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to run from the top of Manhattan to the bottom, but I was busy and then the weather was cold. I couldn't get the goal out of my mind though, so this morning I woke up and said: "today's the day".
I was mad at myself for not letting this unnecessary objective go. I set out on the D train, transfered to the A and transfered again to the 1 - putting myself down the whole way. I haven't done any training, what if I get an injury... I need to be on the 4 by 10 a.m. to get back in time for church at 11, what if I run too slow and am late... why not wait until spring? I got off the 1 train at 215th and was even more bitter as I realized that train goes all the way up to 242 - is that where the river cuts through? Was I going to have to run 30 blocks up just to get to my starting place?
All of a sudden I saw a bridge (the 1 train track into the Bronx)! I walked a little further and saw Spuyten Duyvil Creek and immediately a wave of inspiration came over me. I felt great, the sun was out (thank you fall back time change) and my 2011 Tip to Tip starting line was in sight.
Starting line smile:
The 1 train track above the Creek:
I began running and immediately saw Broadway. I was
On Broadway for almost the entire run. Broadway is the oldest north-south (i.e. Uptown-Downtown) thoroughfare in the city. It was originally a Native American trail.
Doesn't this train station look Soviet?
American Geographic Society:
I had so much energy - I think it was the perfect weather...
Sunday mornings are quiet in Manhattan, but people were friendly. I had two girls shout "You Go!" from their car window and one man tell me "Good morning beautiful" as I passed by. I liked pretending they were marathon fans cheering me on.
There are so many fun sculptures throughout the city:
How many people do you think live in this apartment building? What is their income?
The middle of this picture shows how close I ran to Fort Tryon Park. The water was just a few blocks away:
I started missing the banana I forgot on the kitchen counter on my way out:
A little street art underfoot:
What can I say? It's who I am:
Our trees are starting to change:
I just kept jogging along, feeling great and thinking well La Di Da, this is a beautiful morning!
Every once in awhile I would see something that reminded me of those I love.
Although they might be ostrich statues, they looked like flamingos to me. Hi Mom!
There I was, about 6 miles in and enjoying the beauty of the Upper West side:
I do love NYC:
Around 80th Street I realized I was making great time - I was confident I would make it back in time for church:
How many people do you think live here? What is their income?
There it was! 72nd Street and my beloved Trader Joe's!
There's so many fun sculptures around these parts:
An NYPD officer getting his morning paper and coffee:
So much to see:
I couldn't help but think he was inviting me to sit (which sounded nice), but I had places to be:
I was livin' the dream:
In a word, I felt divine as I entered Times Square!
Remembering Aunt Carol:
Feeling fine in front of the New Year's Eve ball:
Here it is:
With an empire state of mind I headed to Herald Square:
The Macy's holiday decorations are going up now:
I head down into Chelsea and the city gets funky again:
The buildings are a more reasonable height.
By the way, 16 Handles is the best frozen yogurt out there. I would have made a stop if it weren't so early...
This is it! The playground of the Americas:
I made a note to come back to
David Burke Kitchen sometime. SOHO has some of the tastiest restaurants:
A quiet morning on Canal Street:
And on to Tribeca. I have to admit I got turned around a bit in this part of town (adding miles, and time to the overall Tip to Tip trip). I was missing the Uptown grid organization of streets:
I knew when I saw the new World Trade Center building I was on the right track (and close!):
So many people - so little space:
I had to get going. We had a church service to get to!
It's hard to get around the financial district these days - what with construction and...
Occupiers...
The sign I read on my jog by said: "Don't be That Guy":
And then all of a sudden I looked up and saw the address of the building on my right: 61 Broadway! I started somewhere in the 5000s!
When I saw this familiar WTC wreckage memorial I knew I was only steps away:
And then there I was. The Statue of Liberty ferry building...
And that beautiful blue water!
14.04 miles. | 116 photos | 2 hours 24 Minutes
I told Freddy Harrington, a talented ukulele player originally from Trinidad and Tobago, about my island run after he asked me if I was on my way to the marathon and he serenaded me with a song about health, beautiful weather and the city.
Here's a clip of his work from YouTube:
Then he took a picture of Dominic and I:
Dominic (the best husband in the world) and I boarded the subway for home:
And we even made it in time for church!