This article in the Brooklyn Paper over the weekend focuses on the changes to artificial turf (from grass) and school playing rights, though buried in the third paragraph:
"Xavier will also replace the field’s surrounding track — paving the way for the school’s runners to work out there, too."
The lights and bleachers may be upgraded as well. No idea on timing, or whether this is a done deal, though something to keep an eye on. While it's a far cry from Icahn Stadium, it'd be great if there were some widespread community meets that attracted the best in Brooklyn.
Showing posts with label Running Tracks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Running Tracks. Show all posts
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Places to Run
Pulling up this question from one of the comments, since there's likely interest from others
Q: "I live near Prospect Park but am not a huge fan of running there - too many people, not a great route. Do you know of any straight tracks in Brooklyn that allow runners access?"
A: Red Hook Track, in Red Hook about 2 mi away from Prospect Park (roughly, depends where you are starting from), is your best bet for a track (if I'm understanding your question correctly - if I'm not, please respond and I'll try to do a better job).
Head down any of the streets (Union, 9th, etc.) across the Gowanus and make your way over to Henry, Hicks or Columbia, then hang a left. There may be a couple of detours, but you'll eventually get there.
Here's a link to NYC tracks.
One suggestion if you are frustrated by the number of people in the park - do a loop using the upper and lower transverses. There are *a lot* fewer people that run there - a loop is about 1.64 mi. (See this park map, with distances)
Q: "I live near Prospect Park but am not a huge fan of running there - too many people, not a great route. Do you know of any straight tracks in Brooklyn that allow runners access?"
A: Red Hook Track, in Red Hook about 2 mi away from Prospect Park (roughly, depends where you are starting from), is your best bet for a track (if I'm understanding your question correctly - if I'm not, please respond and I'll try to do a better job).
Head down any of the streets (Union, 9th, etc.) across the Gowanus and make your way over to Henry, Hicks or Columbia, then hang a left. There may be a couple of detours, but you'll eventually get there.
Here's a link to NYC tracks.
One suggestion if you are frustrated by the number of people in the park - do a loop using the upper and lower transverses. There are *a lot* fewer people that run there - a loop is about 1.64 mi. (See this park map, with distances)
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Running at Red Hook Track
Was looking at some of the other blogs, and came across this thread, which talks about safety questions at the Red Hook track, and what time of day is best.
I'm not there all that often, and my runs at the track have tended to be solo, either in the morning or middle of the day (depending on my work schedule). I've not experienced any safety issues, though at least one of the routes I take to get to the track can go through some dicey areas that I might not do alone at night. I will say that most of the time I've gone, I've been the only one there.
So, figured I'd post the question. For those of you who run at the Red Hook track - any issues? Any precautions?
Let me stress, it's a beautiful track (albeit wind-exposed), and for those of you this part of Brooklyn, should be a destination for your workouts. Like pretty much anywhere else in the city, I'd urge caution running alone in the late-night or wee hours (a time that's almost blissful to run, but necessitates an increase in the awareness level).
Thoughts? Comments?
I'm not there all that often, and my runs at the track have tended to be solo, either in the morning or middle of the day (depending on my work schedule). I've not experienced any safety issues, though at least one of the routes I take to get to the track can go through some dicey areas that I might not do alone at night. I will say that most of the time I've gone, I've been the only one there.
So, figured I'd post the question. For those of you who run at the Red Hook track - any issues? Any precautions?
Let me stress, it's a beautiful track (albeit wind-exposed), and for those of you this part of Brooklyn, should be a destination for your workouts. Like pretty much anywhere else in the city, I'd urge caution running alone in the late-night or wee hours (a time that's almost blissful to run, but necessitates an increase in the awareness level).
Thoughts? Comments?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Running Repeats
Please ignore the harsh temperatures outside - it's purely a blip in the march to continued good weather and putting those somewhat smelly tights and tops (OK, maybe it's just *my* washing skills leave a little to be desired) into the closet for another year.
It's also spring track season, though most of us won't go near a track during the year at all. Thankfully, there are plenty of places you can do repeats/interval workouts in Brooklyn (note the tortured transition here - ultimately, this is the point I want to make in this post).
If you're training for distances from the mile to the marathon, getting in some speed work is key. If you train your body to run faster, doing a variety of shorter- and longer-distance intervals, you'll perform better in races. I'm not going to tout the merits of how and why - if you've never done it, then check out some of the articles on Runners' World.
Where? Ahh, let me give you some suggestions:
First off, if you do have access to these tracks scattered throughout the borough and want to get a flat, fast measured workout, note this list. I've only run on the Red Hook track, which is usually scantily populated. (Since I'm not familiar with many of the others, apologies if this list is outdated and the mondo tracks have been replaced with weeds.)
If you don't have access to the tracks, here are some other places, with some measurements, for better or worse, to help you plot your workout. I'm pulling these measurements from various places on the Web, so if they are off by a bit, my apologies (please let me know and I'll fix)
* Prospect Park: It measures 3.35 miles around, and now, courtesy of some gremlins, has a 5K course marked in parts (complete with 1/4 increments) and a 10 mile course as well if you want to do mile repeats. I've been asked before if there's anyone with measurements for workouts on the paths, and need to do some further investigating on that front.
* Cadman Plaza Park: One of the posters reminded me of this today - a tad more than 0.4 miles around, right by the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.
* Running the bridges: The Manhattan Bridge is 6,885 feet long (though it's unclear what the start and end points might be from a running standpoint. What's perhaps more important: The span is 1,470 ft (448 meters).
* The Brooklyn Bridge has these little factoids, according to Brooklyn Bridge Facts and Information:
Brooklyn Bridge East River Span: 1,595.5 feet
Length of Brooklyn approach: 971 feet
Length of New York approach: 1,562.5 feet
Official length: 5,989 feet, or 1.13 miles.
* The Coney Island Boardwalk measures 2.7 miles, according to the New York Parks Department, from W. 37th Street to Corbin Place
* The Brooklyn Heights Promenade - roughly 1/3 of a mile long (1,826 feet, to be exact)
Doubtless there are others - anyone want to offer your favorites?
It's also spring track season, though most of us won't go near a track during the year at all. Thankfully, there are plenty of places you can do repeats/interval workouts in Brooklyn (note the tortured transition here - ultimately, this is the point I want to make in this post).
If you're training for distances from the mile to the marathon, getting in some speed work is key. If you train your body to run faster, doing a variety of shorter- and longer-distance intervals, you'll perform better in races. I'm not going to tout the merits of how and why - if you've never done it, then check out some of the articles on Runners' World.
Where? Ahh, let me give you some suggestions:
First off, if you do have access to these tracks scattered throughout the borough and want to get a flat, fast measured workout, note this list. I've only run on the Red Hook track, which is usually scantily populated. (Since I'm not familiar with many of the others, apologies if this list is outdated and the mondo tracks have been replaced with weeds.)
If you don't have access to the tracks, here are some other places, with some measurements, for better or worse, to help you plot your workout. I'm pulling these measurements from various places on the Web, so if they are off by a bit, my apologies (please let me know and I'll fix)
* Prospect Park: It measures 3.35 miles around, and now, courtesy of some gremlins, has a 5K course marked in parts (complete with 1/4 increments) and a 10 mile course as well if you want to do mile repeats. I've been asked before if there's anyone with measurements for workouts on the paths, and need to do some further investigating on that front.
* Cadman Plaza Park: One of the posters reminded me of this today - a tad more than 0.4 miles around, right by the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.
* Running the bridges: The Manhattan Bridge is 6,885 feet long (though it's unclear what the start and end points might be from a running standpoint. What's perhaps more important: The span is 1,470 ft (448 meters).
* The Brooklyn Bridge has these little factoids, according to Brooklyn Bridge Facts and Information:
Brooklyn Bridge East River Span: 1,595.5 feet
Length of Brooklyn approach: 971 feet
Length of New York approach: 1,562.5 feet
Official length: 5,989 feet, or 1.13 miles.
* The Coney Island Boardwalk measures 2.7 miles, according to the New York Parks Department, from W. 37th Street to Corbin Place
* The Brooklyn Heights Promenade - roughly 1/3 of a mile long (1,826 feet, to be exact)
Doubtless there are others - anyone want to offer your favorites?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Brooklyn Bridge Rehab/Armory Hearing
Two developments of note, according to the local media:
The Brooklyn Bridge rehab begins this summer, according to Brownstoner. Not entirely clear what that means for pedestrian traffic (i.e. us runners), but suspect there will be some disruptions on top of the usual tourist dodgeball.
There's a hearing next Monday for the YMCA to operate the Park Slope Armory, according to this article in the Brooklyn Eagle. According to an article I saw in the Brooklyn Paper, it's possible it might the indoor track might be open in May, just in time for the first 70 degree day of the year :-). All kidding aside, can't wait for this thing to get finalized.
The Brooklyn Bridge rehab begins this summer, according to Brownstoner. Not entirely clear what that means for pedestrian traffic (i.e. us runners), but suspect there will be some disruptions on top of the usual tourist dodgeball.
There's a hearing next Monday for the YMCA to operate the Park Slope Armory, according to this article in the Brooklyn Eagle. According to an article I saw in the Brooklyn Paper, it's possible it might the indoor track might be open in May, just in time for the first 70 degree day of the year :-). All kidding aside, can't wait for this thing to get finalized.
Monday, March 3, 2008
How Fast Can You Run?
How fast can you run? No, seriously, how fast can you run? Top speed? All out? For how long? What if you could run faster than that?
The New York Times Play magazine from over the weekend has an article about the Bluestreak training program over at Chelsea Piers, which includes a treadmill with maximum speed of 28 mph and an incline of 40 percent (to put in perspective, I think my gym's treadmills top out at 10 mph and an incline of 15 percent).
The writer discusses bursts of speed training, similar to being pulled along by a truck, to enable your body to run faster than it could on its own. And according to the Chelsea Piers Web site, the program can lead to a 0.2 second reduction in your 40-yard sprint. That probably won't help me in marathon training, but for the shorter races, needing a better kick ...
Probably not for everyone, especially at the steep price ($1200 for 20 sessions). But it's fun to think about the possibilities.
The New York Times Play magazine from over the weekend has an article about the Bluestreak training program over at Chelsea Piers, which includes a treadmill with maximum speed of 28 mph and an incline of 40 percent (to put in perspective, I think my gym's treadmills top out at 10 mph and an incline of 15 percent).
The writer discusses bursts of speed training, similar to being pulled along by a truck, to enable your body to run faster than it could on its own. And according to the Chelsea Piers Web site, the program can lead to a 0.2 second reduction in your 40-yard sprint. That probably won't help me in marathon training, but for the shorter races, needing a better kick ...
Probably not for everyone, especially at the steep price ($1200 for 20 sessions). But it's fun to think about the possibilities.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Markings on Cadman Plaza Park Path
Someone has marked off distances on the path in Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn Heights - shocking I tell, you shocking. Someone has no decency, giving runners an opportunity to do a speed workout and accurately measure their pace ... Hah!
Various workouts appear possible, though I've still got to figure out exactly where they end. But a 200, 400, 600, 800, 1200, 1400 and mile are all possible. It's also not clear if they are in yards or meters.
The full loop, by the way, measures 0.41 miles - 2,164 feet, or 721 yards (this from the New York Parks department). If you include just the synthetic path, that's 0.36 miles, or 1,900 feet.
Various workouts appear possible, though I've still got to figure out exactly where they end. But a 200, 400, 600, 800, 1200, 1400 and mile are all possible. It's also not clear if they are in yards or meters.
The full loop, by the way, measures 0.41 miles - 2,164 feet, or 721 yards (this from the New York Parks department). If you include just the synthetic path, that's 0.36 miles, or 1,900 feet.
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