Bronx Half This Weekend

Apologize for the lack of posts - work and out-of-state travel (combined with a rare vacation) are interfering a bit.

That said: Bronx Half. Afraid yet? How about: Grand Concourse in the middle of the summer!!!

OK, it's not that bad, and the weather forecast looks promising. I've run/raced Bronx in both the summer and winter (I'm missing it this year for the first time in a while) - it's definitely a lot of fun.

What you need to know or should do:

*Plan for at least an hour subway commute - or more - from Brooklyn. The plus-side: Half the people on the 4 or D train riding that hour will be running the Bronx Half, so there's an opportunity for a lot of new friends. Remember, the race starts at 7!

*The course is a warped figure-8. Take a look at the map if you haven't run it before -it's helps to plan your miles. Around mile 6 you pass the starting area again. The great part: You'll know where the water stops are.

*The Grand Concourse is, well, an experience. It's hilly in places you don't want it to be, and there's an underpass right around the 10 mile mark (you've passed thru it earlier), that always kills me. And there's no real shade, so get the sunblock on. Watch out for people trying to cross the street.

*Staten Island is still my favorite overall course, but Bronx has a taste of the neighborhood that you don't get with some of the other halfs. It's also a great course to add a few miles as you work in your marathon training (I've run Mosholu Parkway before the race, and it's a perfect way to tack on 5 miles)