Advice from NYC runners

Yes, Central Park is the best place to run. The entire loop is 6 miles w/ some pretty good hills. I wouldn't reccommend it before sunrise though just cuz you never know. Midtown is well lit and safe and I reccommend runnig on the streets if it's dark. I wouldn't go futher west than 8th ave in the dark otherwise you'll be fine. I usually run in tha park at 7 am and enter at Columbus Circle (59th S. an Broadway). PM me if that time works for you. i'd be happy to show you around the park.
Mark

Edited by rollinbones 2005-12-02 10:11 AM

Before sunrise, I would run around central park (on the outside). Not as much fun but much safer and well lit. As stated before, the city is well lit and if you go that early, neither pedestrians nor cages will get much in your way.

Check out the nyrr.org web site - they have a ton of races in Central Park. Or, nyflyers.org might have some group runs.

I say go for it! Unless you're a woman, you have no worries, even before sunrise. If you are a woman, I would leave the iPod at home, and maybe run North only as far as the 102nd Street transverse and then take that to cross over to the other side of the Park, making the loop 5.1 miles and avoid the most northern, and most heavily forested area of the Park, and in doing so, also avoid the biggest and steepest hill. :-) Either that or run after sunrise, or in the evening when there are more people around.

Statistically, you are more likely to have trouble on the streets of Manhattan than in the Park, which, as a precinct, has the lowest crime rate in the City.

Horror stories are possible anywhere, but I've been living in Manhattan and running in Central Park 3-7 times a week, for going on fourteen years and I have never once even witnessed a crime, much less been a victim of one.

I love running in the Park. It's a great place to run and beautiful all year around. Enjoy your time there!

I run central park all the time, usually getting there by 5:30 AM. May not be the smartest decision, but there usually are other people out there too (it's getting less so as the weather gets colder). If you prefer, running in the evening is safer, there are more people in the park. What's your pace? I'm sure you can find someone on here that will be happy to meet you for at least your first venture in the park!