I want to run around Manhattan
One of the fun things for me about Scott’s job is that I get to tag along on business trips from time to time in the summer when I’m on summer break from teaching. Because of the Finger Lakes Runners Club Challenge, I was inspired to challenge myself to circumnavigate the island while I was on one of his trips. I mentioned it casually and Scott had a bit of alarm. My phone battery wouldn’t last. I’d get lost. I may not finish in time for a nice evening together. These were all fair concerns. After all, the phone battery would be a sure problem. I always get lost, even with gps. And, pretty much every trip I’ve attended, I either end the day super hungry, exhausted from walking too much, or both. Both of my children still associate the city with feeling hungry and worn out from their adventures with mom. Still, he knows that when I have an idea, I will make it happen, so he was on board to help!
You can click the above image for a detailed look at the day, or see a Strava flyover for a cool animation.
There is an event for that
It turns out that there is an event called the Great Saunter. It is created by Shorewalkers and it is a walking event that does a circumnavigation of Manhattan. They do this every year on the first Saturday in May. One year it could be fun to do this with the group and really saunter, taking the entire time to truly enjoy the trip. In my case, the map was what would bring Scott comfort. The phone battery problem was easy to solve with a battery pack. That made me feel much more comfortable. This would let me listen to music and keep my phone on. My start time was easy. I’d wait until the hotel breakfast opens and grab something before I start. A 3:30 pm finish time attempt would give me plenty of time to shower and rest before our dinner and show. Deadlines and limits help me! Now, all I needed was for the weather to be decent for my attempt. The trip was short, so there was only one day that it would work. My day was August 27, 2024.
Heat advisory
We can’t control our weather. Summers seem to be getting hotter and more humid in New York, and my planned day was no different! There was a heat advisory for the heat and high humidity. At my start time it was 67 degrees and 89% humidity. Soon the temperature would go above 90 with crushing humidity to go with it. The heat advisory started around 11 am and continued all day. I decided to go for it anyway. I could have dialed back my start time, but my hotel breakfast was my sticking point. I don’t know why I couldn’t have had a granola bar or hit one of the many options on the street for something quick to start my day, but I didn’t!
I took a picture of myself in my hotel room before heading down for my breakfast.
I took the elevator down to the breakfast area and waited for them to open the doors. After a few minutes, I wandered in and grabbed a bagel for my walk over to my start point. It was about ¾ of a mile over to my planned start, and I decided I’d walk this bit instead of running it.
The adventure begins
After my walk over from 7th avenue and 54th street, I arrived at the waterfront ready to head north on my journey. I walked by a little park on my way, and started just south of another nice greenspace. I could imagine myself flopping on the grass after the day’s journey. I decided I’d take a photo of myself every mile along the way and use that time to check my map when it was needed.
The first 6 miles - mostly running
Despite the intense humidity, I mostly ran the first 6 miles and enjoyed the time. It was not too hot yet, and I have covered much of this terrain before. There is not a lot that can go wrong along a river path after all! I didn’t need to navigate, so I was comfortably running and looking at the water.
Miles 7 - 16
When I hit mile 7, I encountered my first of several reroutes. There was a large sign that said the path was closed due to safety concerns. I was reading the sign considering what to do when bikers emerged from the closed portion. I briefly considered walking right in, but then thought, “I’m by myself and the path says it is closed for safety reasons.” I decided to reroute myself, and quickly pulled out my phone. I texted Scott to let him know and then started to try to chart a path that didn’t end up adding too many extra steps to my day. I walked for this entire mile with my phone out for the map. I ended up hitting Fort Tryon Park and it was really fun, until I couldn’t figure out a direct way to leave the park! I ended up going down a very long winding path and having a decent amount of ground to cover to get back over toward the water.
When I arrived in Inwood Hill Park, I was running again and feeling pretty strong. Running near another woman, I thought, “this is great, I’m back to running and back on the route.” The thought was short lived. Soon into the park we came upon closed signs. The park was under construction. I’d have to change my route. I felt very lost and she could tell. She asked what I was trying to do and I explained. She advised me about the best way to get over to the other side of the island while still being as close to a full circumnavigation as feasible. I was very grateful for her help.
By this time, I’d gotten really thirsty. It was incredibly hot and sunny, and I had been out of parts of the city that I’ve explored before for quite some time by now. Nothing felt familiar, and when I added the couple of times I’d been lost to the heat and my general worry that I was walking so much so early in the day, I wasn’t feeling amazing. Around mile 9 I decided to cave and buy Gatorade. I went into a drugstore with a police presence and lots of locked portions of the store and emerged with a large container of cold Gatorade. I was so happy!! I checked in with Scott again. I was nearing the other side of the island and was feeling refreshed. I switched to walk/run/walk/run mode and continued to log 15-16 minute mile times. I had a nice 11:11 split for mile 12 only to hit what felt like a wall of heat at mile 13. I headed right back into my walk/run/walk with the full sun overwhelming me. I was slightly in from the river for a couple of miles, which gave me some shade from buildings. As I encountered mile 15, I got lost again, finding myself near a school. The school had some very inspiring murals, and I stopped to take photos.
Miles 17 - 18
A little before mile 17, I had to do a few rounds of doubling back. The first happened when I missed a turn. The second occurred when I was right near someone who appeared to be unhoused and we were both walking. I didn’t want to be rude and try to slow or speed my pace so I stayed in step with him as we encountered a closed sign on the path. He motioned for me to duck under. I chose to play things safe for myself and doubled back.
I was starting to feel fatigued and very hot. Elizabeth called as I was on a busy highway doubling back and I asked if I could call her back when I hit a quieter street. I called her back and as we were talking, I came upon a pool. Never have I wanted to go into a pool more than at that moment! I stopped and stared longingly at it while we were chatting. I took a picture of that gorgeous blue pool.
Miles 19 - 32
It is odd to lump this many miles together, but with the exception of a few moments, these last miles generally felt hellishly hard. It was hot, intensely humid, and so sunny! There was literally no shade to be had. Thank goodness for my hat. The highlights of these miles include another Gatorade (red this time), talking to Scott a couple of times, getting lost several times, as well as negotiating with myself to run even a bit of some of the miles.
I ultimately cut a bit of the bottom of the island out of my journey because I got disoriented and was halfway across the island a bit above where I should have transited. I told myself I had added enough miles with the closures and my off course moments to hit the total mileage, and I convinced myself I wouldn’t get back in time if I doubled back again. While true, I was frustrated with myself as I made these decisions.
Until we meet again
If I do this again, I would take this counter clockwise. I chose clockwise thinking it was wise to get the part of Manhattan that I don’t know done first. But, I want some variety and I think that it will be nice to do the East River side when I have more energy. It has so many reroutes and portions of the river that are just not open. I also now know there is a Run Go Map for the Great Saunter. I’d pull that up and have audio directions turned on. Stopping to pull out a map and always slightly wondering if you are on the right track is mentally taxing. One reason I got lost later in the day was simply due to stubbornness. I thought I was on the right route and I didn’t take time to confirm. One thing I will definitely do again is to make sure to be ready to buy Gatorade! Those Gatorade drinking moments were the best moments of this challenge. I’m also hoping the day won’t be quite as hot!
