Track workouts in NYC

I just moved to the UES as well (a few days ago) and am in the same boat. If you find something, let me know.

Here's an old thread: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=1378094

def Central Park....Try the reservoir loop for workouts, there are also many paths...6 mile path is the longest, all up and down...it's a great and scenic route. doesn't even feel like you're in the city and it's very safe during the day on weekends.

also, i think there's still a track in Greenpoint Brooklyn. take the G to Greenpoint Ave and run down Metropolitan Ave. nice little track near Brooklyn Brewery

Also, there's always WS Highway and ER Drive

Try riverbank track, around 150th and riverside. you can run to it on the path next to riverside park

e.6th st track on the river is your best bet.

you can take the F train to 2nd ave, about a 1.2M run from there. or take the 4-5 to 14th and 6 to astor place, then about the same run due east.

Riverbank Track in Riverside Park, East River Park, and Astoria Park(via the East River Promenade to the Triborough to Astoria Park) all have tracks. Try http://www.RunYourCity.com - it has some good running maps of New York. Good luck.

New to NYC wrote:

Riverbank Track in Riverside Park, East River Park, and Astoria Park(via the East River Promenade to the Triborough to Astoria Park) all have tracks. Try

http://www.RunYourCity.com

- it has some good running maps of New York. Good luck.

Thanks for the link looking forward to the updates.

Has anyone ever run at Icahn Stadium??? Seems such a waste to have a world class quality track that goes unused.

Riverbank State Park track is ridiculously crowded at all times- even in the early mornings with walkers, however, that is the best time to get any kind of decent workout- right at 6 AM when the park opens, and maybe up until 8 AM it is doable. At night it is a joke with all the soccer games going on on the field, and little kids/families wandering around the track. The reservoir is the best measured course for night- the later the better.

while we're on the subject of running in nyc, anyone know where I can find a running partner(s) or running group to meet up with?

I'm just finishing up an internship at IMG in NYC and am a D1 college runner trying to get a good summer in. I'm living in Queens for the 8 weeks I'm here and there is actually a really nice track there in Astoria Park. All weather, nice cushion, tree shade on one end and stays lit till 10:00 pm. If you get on an NW and get off at 30th Ave you are about 3/4 mile jog away... this is about a half hour subway ride from midtown manhattan. Might be worth checking out. Some lane one walkers occaisonally that get in the way.

I dont think it is open to the public at all. I think they rent or let some high school practice on it but that is about the only people I have seen on the track.

I think Fam was able to get on occasionally to do workouts when he lived in NYC but I am sure he had to pull some strings. Like you said it is a huge waste to not allow the public to use the track. I am suprised some of the local clubs have not lobbied to get on to use it for team practices.

Right after Downing Stadium was converted to tartan/ allweather in the early 1970s they opened it for a LatinMusic Concert and the track and infield grass wound up with dozens of burn holes where concert goers set up their Cuchifritos grills. Then there was some pretty bad vandialism and copper pipe stealing, they even stole bronze plaques set in concrete. That closed the gates on the track forever.

If you have a car, try Van Cortlandt Park, Astoria Park, or even the one in Forest Park (just resurfaced). Ciao!

there's also Thomas Jefferson Park by 113rd street & 1st ave.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/facilities/af_running_tracks.htm#sites

mcjimbosandwich wrote:

there's also Thomas Jefferson Park by 113rd street & 1st ave.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/facilities/af_running_tracks.htm#sites

The ovoid 5 laps to the mile blue rubberized track was officially opened in fall 2003, the park stays open till 1 AM and as far as the nice lady at the Jefferson Recreation Center knows there is no spike restrictions in place. The old cinder track was either 340 or 360 yds with 90 degree corners.

She is not aware of the brand name of the surface other than it is a blue rubberlike stuff.

I have never been given a hard time by anyone in that area. I rarely walk outsized the general 114& Pleasent Ave. to 118 and Second Ave area so I can not comment on the safety in the park or other areas. As an old fart with a cane I would make an ideal target and never have had trouble .

In Brooklyn there's a track in Red Hook Park, across from the swimming pool, and at Midwood Field, East 17th Street and Avenue K. The astroturf field at Midwood is currently being torn up and replaced, but the track was still usable as of last weekend.

I don't know if I ran at the Forest Hills, QNS track after or before the re-surfacing, but that track is particularly good because there are many nice soft, woodchip paths in the forest very nearby, as well as a restroom a hundred yards from the track, the track itself hasn't been crowded when I've been there, but does get a lot of wind towards winter. E-F train to Kew Gardens, 1/2M run uphill to the park, and then a ways in you get to the woodchip paths, which are quiet, untrafficked, and pretty with the forest around you (some riders on horseback occasionally).

New to NYC wrote:

Riverbank Track in Riverside Park, East River Park, and Astoria Park(via the East River Promenade to the Triborough to Astoria Park) all have tracks. Try

http://www.RunYourCity.com

- it has some good running maps of New York. Good luck.

There's a lot of maps there. Haven't done most of them. Thanks for the link.

Pelham Park has the best track in the Bronx.