Tuesday, October 23, 2012

On October 27, 2012 the Prospect Park Track Club will run the last ten miles of the New York City Marathon Course.

This information should be useful to anyone who is joining us.

As a group we are leaving at 8am, on October 27th, on 1st Ave and 60th Street.  There is a Starbucks on the right (East) side of road. It will be you last chance to use plumbing.

Before I continue I need to point out that neither the Prospect Park Track Club nor any of it's members are providing any traffic control during this event.  You will be running on open roads.  Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians do not always follow the law or act in predictable ways.  So be careful and pay attention to your surroundings, nobody is doing that for you.  This is also the time to unplug you earphones so you can be that much more aware of your environment.

That said you should run up the left (west) side of First Ave.  At 125th St, under the Triborough Bridge we will have our fist aid station on the left, there is also a bike lane on the left.  The pedrestrian path on the Willis Ave Bridge is also on the left.

However the path comes to an abrupt end as you enter The Bronx.

YES, TURN LEFT
GO DOWN THE STAIRS
DOWN
Actually on October 27th the ramp was open and we were able to avoid the stairs. One less street to cross.
THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS, MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND GO UNDER THE BRIDGE
THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT.  CROSS THE STREET AND MAKE A LEFT.

This is what you see when you cross under the bridge, (it is now to your left).  Follow the crosswalks and the streetlights and get to the sidewalk.
Use this sidewalk to cross over the Major Deegan Expressway.
After crossing over The Deegan, follow the traffic signal and crosswalk to get to the Mobil Station.

Turn left and you are again on the Marathon Course.

You are almost at Mile 20, Make a mental note of how good you feel.











Remember, to use that note on Nov 4.

Follow the Marathon signs back to the Madison Ave Bridge and Manhattan.  The pedestrian entrance to the Madison Ave Bridge is on the Right.

The follow 5th Ave back to Central Park.  We will have aid at Engineers Gate and more goodies in the Tavern on the Green Parking lot.

Again, this is a course inspection, not a race.  Take it easy and bring a MetroCard, some cash and your phone.

This is a link to the official route.  I don't see the point of making the dimple on course and laving 138th Street in the Bronx.  Also, The sidewalk on Central Park South is often dense with tourists.  You can have some surprises on Nov. 4