If you're still reading these replies, and if you're willing to take public transit a medium-long ways, you can do some great runs within NYC via the Staten Island Greenbelt.   A while ago I mapped a run that began at the SI Ferry and ended at a beach, but you can use it to help you figure out a number of routes through the Greenbelt.    https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/694314438   Let me know if you have any questions! ... View more

Hey JSGMOM, Sorry if this is way too late to be useful, but the Greenbelt in Staten Island is probably your best bet at a great day of hiking and a fun day trip in the NYC area. If you've never been to SI, hear me out. Visitors from elsewhere in the city: -Start their day with a half hour boat ride, with the Statue of Liberty on one side and the sun rising over Brooklyn/the Pacific Ocean on the other.  -have access to over 30 miles of trails, which you can access almost as soon as you step off the boat! (it's possible to walk through/alongside parkland for the ~4 or so miles from the boat to the Greenbelt) -can visit forests, meadows, swamps, beaches, and  the tallest natural points on the eastern seaboard - all within a 12 mile hike! -end their day in the borough of NYC with the most small restaurants. Thai, Mexican, Chinese, Sri Lankan, North African, Italian, whatever you want, you can find it on SI nearby a green space or on your way to/from the ferry! I'm more than willing to talk about specifics, let me know if you're still reading these replies and if you are considering a trip to our fine Island. Happy trails! ... View more

@Saetta The straight answer to your question would be to take the s62 down Victory Boulevard. However, I suspect you don't mean to go to Freshkills. That is not a park for another decade at least, it's currently being transformed from the world's largest landfill into a park.    The Greenbelt that I described elsewhere in this thread basically surrounds it, but it's not open to the public except for select events throughout the year (maybe 4 days annually).    It will be awesome when it's open! ... View more

MollyG, the bulk of the trails are in the Greenbelt, which is a collection of parks that all have their own names but probably nobody would know them by those names (Bloodroot Valley? Deere Park? Both are in 'the greenbelt').  The conservancy that cares for the trails has an interactive map: https://sigreenbelt.org/greenbelt-trails-interactive-map/   However, I also have put together a number of routes from the ferry to/through a lot of parkland on SI, including big pieces of the Greenbelt. Here's one from the ferry that is ~15 miles, only ~4 of which are strictly on the street (not even alongside a park).  https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/694314438 You'll see at mile 10 or so in the run mapped is the middle of the greenbelt so you can mix and match trails as you like them. Also, you can leave the run I linked to a bit earlier to meet up with the one train line on SI, so that a 10 miler or so from the ferry can bring you to the train that brings you right back to the ferry.    I also really, really encourage you to ask REI SoHo for more events on SI. They do stuff in the other boroughs, upstate and in Long Island, but (to my knowledge) not yet anything on SI! ... View more

I am a big fan of those racks that just lean against the wall. There's lots of brands and styles and it's a lot easier than pulleys or hooks, to me. ... View more

I find it really messes up my cadence, and takes me out of the experience. But, I know there is a sharp divide on music in the running community, and I don't begrudge anyone enjoying theirs - so long as they can still hear me!   (It is absolutely impossible to pass a trail runner with both headphones in and the volume cranked.) ... View more

Similar idea: buff. I prefer the merino wool for backpacking. ... View more

I am definitely going to sound like a broken record on these message boards, but I guess that's true to my real-life self.   Staten Island has the best trail running around, I am telling you!   There are trails accessible from a train or bus ride away, but it's also possible to run straight from the ferry through to "the woods" with fewer than 3 miles on the streets/not in or alongside a park.   I posted as much elsewhere, but when I'm really in shape there's a 12-15 miler I do starting from the ferry and ending at a beach in Great Kills. The whole time has less than 5 miles on streets, the rest of the time you're on trails. Huge variety in terms of setting, elevation, how "technical" the trails are, etc.  ... View more

Thanks! I've done that, but it's *brutal* in the heat from the Tuxedo Station to the woods. No tree cover, difficult walks alongside/crossing highways. I can do it, but I can't believe that's the easiest!   What about up by Anthony's Nose?   Also - If it's not a state park, what is it? Private? Federal? ... View more

I was on a cross-country road cycling trip and insisted on waiting at a pitstop until 9 AM, when the rotisserie chicken was ready. My co-riders just wanted to just get miles in before the heat of the day beat down on us, as it was already very warm. They eventually left us: myself, and a friend that I adore to this day. We ate the whole thing in less than 10 minutes and caught up to them, insisting the power of the chicken was what gave us strength. We pulled for the group the rest of the morning against 15+ mph headwinds. A great memory.  ... View more