We kickstarted the new year with a trip to New York, something I had been looking forward to for months. It was our second trip to this magical city and I’m certainly hoping not our last! Here we’ve put together a whistle stop tour of the highlights we enjoyed in New York: from running the Brooklyn Bridge to eating pizza four days in a row (no regrets).
Where to run
Central Park: this place is a real runners haven and a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The park itself is huge and even has its own website dedicated to all things running. Whilst we visited I did an improvised snowy loop of ‘The Lake’ totalling about 3km. You can do a whole loop of the park which is about 6 miles.
Along the Hudson: We stayed on Canal Street where SoHo meets Tribeca. My morning run consisted of following the cycle path along the Hudson, down towards Battery Park. Here you can enjoy views of downtown (including One World Trade), Jersey City, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The riverside location also helps avoid a lot of the congestion of mid-town and means you aren’t constantly stopping every block to cross a road. This route certainly seemed popular with local runners and dog walkers alike.
The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges: starting in downtown close to the financial district head towards the Manhattan Bridge. Here you can enjoy your first glimpse of Manhattan and Brooklyn (as well as Brooklyn Bridge) as you cross the East River. Once off the bridge head down into DUMBO and through Brooklyn Bridge park, taking in some breath taking views of Manhattan. Then start the gentle crawl up onto Brooklyn Bridge, enjoying the views as you go: on a clear day you’ll be able to see the Statue of Liberty. In total this is about 4.5 – 5 miles depending on where you start/ end.
The Highline: this recommendation came from my lovely ASICS FrontRunner team mate Victoria Stears. The highline is a 1.45 mile elevated park on a converted railroad on the west of New York City. If you were wanting to run this, I would recommend heading up early in the morning as it tends to get VERY busy.
Book a running tour: I thoroughly enjoyed my time with City Running Tours. Running in a new location on your own can sometimes be daunting so I booked onto a tour to help ease myself into running in this fantastic city. Beth my guide was incredible, really knowledgeable and prepared a route taking in the best sites of the Southern tip of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The weather deterred many, but Beth came out in -16 to give me a tour. As it was just the two of us she really pushed the pace on and I got both a great tour and a great workout.
Where to eat:
Note that none of this is healthy- we enjoyed a truly indulgent holiday!
NY Pizza Suprema: If you’re visiting Madison Square Garden or just simply love pizza then NY Pizza Suprema is a must. You can buy by the slice and try loads of different New York style pizzas. This place gets packed after the ice hockey and basketball games and you’ll find it packed with locals. Try the Marinara pizza or the Ricotta and spicy honey- you won’t be disappointed! Don’t be put off that it looks like a tourist trap- it is a genuinely authentic and very cheap eatery!
Katz’s Deli: Down on East Houston Street Katz’s is open 24 hours for the late night snackers amongst you. Offering a range of sandwiches, soups and home cooking this is the place for a big feed. Two things to note, don’t lose your ticket, even if there is nothing written on it and take cash as it is easier to pay that way!
Joe’s Shanghai Restaurant: There are a few of these dotted around Manhattan- we visited the one down on Pell Street hidden away in Chinatown. The restaurant itself is a chaotic scene and a bit like dining in someone’s extensive front room, but the food is incredible, particularly the buns (dumplings) and the chicken and sweetcorn soup which is huge. Again take cash and order sparingly- the portions are huge.
Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company: we can’t get enough of the Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company we visited every morning for breakfast! The bagels are the best we had during our stay.
Where we stayed:
We stayed at the Arlo Soho in Downtown Manhattan. The hotel offered small but beautifully designed guestrooms, with gorgeous communal spaces and a roof top bar. Situated right by the Hudson River Park Bikeway I enjoyed some beautiful morning runs down to see the Statue of Liberty. In summer you can rent complementary bikes from the hotel, and all year round you can join in classes at Dogpound gym across the road. We would really recommend for the adventurous traveler who enjoys modern living.
This Bunny Runs 