Running in Central Park

Despite what some of you may think (Jarrod) we haven't just come to the northern hemisphere to run through great cities past majestic monuments and through historic arches, we are doing heaps of other things, however Matt and I share the addiction of running and it has been liberating to run through such grand places. Matt is going to complete this post, and I guess it only seems appropriate as he may have had the edge over me.....only very slightly, on one of my off-days in New York's Central Park.

After two near freezing, overcast and windy days in NYC, the weather gods turned on a beautiful clear and windless evening for round two of Kev and Matt’s great world running adventures…
This time the action turned to New York’s world famous Central Park!

We had spent the day walking around NYC checking out the sights and to saying we were down on energy would be an understatement, and as we made our way west along 94th St to the entrance of the park we where SHOCKED at the undulating terrain of the park and any remaining energy we had was immediately zapped! However in true “ossies” (as the yanks call us) fashion once inside those famous gates and a little time spent stretching and soaking up the atmosphere we were ready!

The ran started heading in a southerly direction at a steady pace, but soon the pace was increased, this may have something to do with two attractive ladies ahead of us that also seemed to be increasing their pace as well! The scenery was breathtaking (read that how you will) and the parks running course which is moderately hilly set between huge old trees and lash grass was just fantastic!
The ran was reasonably uneventful as we set a nice pace and rhythm towards 72nd St turning west for approximately 1 km and the turning left again and heading north back to the north western most point of the park, turning to the east we where greeted with a slightly soul destroying sight of the GREAT HILL! The track worked its way around the hill and seemed as though it would never end!, as we round the last of the corners and the end now within sight I heard the words I NEVER thought I would ever hear come out of McMurtrie ‘s mouth “ Matty I am almost done” these words where music to my ears! Even though I was almost done and now breathing like an old Clydesdale horse in a trot, I wasn’t going to let McMurtrie know!
I increased the pace ever so slightly, but the old Port Macquarie Harrier dug deep to find something extra, we both made it back to 94th St with Kevie just half a step behind and our run was done! 8+ Km in 43 minutes! What an unreal and surreal experience!