Updates
Mon., July 11: OCA Southern: Dry as a bone until you get into the Bronx, where there are some puddles that are easy to get around. After a couple of requests, the City has gotten rid of a big tree. There is a log across the trail in Yonkers (there for a few weeks now), but it is easy to hurdle, so no problem.
It was hot today, and I didn’t quite make it all the way back from the Weir, where I had turned; I got to the Tibbetts tunnel. I was sitting by the car on Yonkers Avenue with a container of water, switching shoes, when a young woman came running up the slight hill. I offered her water, which she declined, saying that ”it was too hot to run,” presumably unfazed by the fact that that was just what she was doing. She said she runs on the roads six days a week, the same course of a bit over 7 miles. I told her of these trails, and she was happy to hear it (although I warned her against running on them alone in the early evening). I mention it, however, because it strikes me as being the essence of running. Someone who just loves going out nearly every day and running. She never stopped jogging-in-place while we spoke, and then she left, continuing up the hill and saying, “Thank you, sir.” That “Sir” a reminder of how old I am getting.
Sat., July 9: OCA Central: south from Hastings.: Despite some recent rains, this stretch is fine. There are a few spots where water makes you go to one side or the other, but not anything serious.
Sun., June 12: Nature Study: I didn’t go very far into the trail after a race, but I did cover the entrance via Chester Heights. That stretch crossed the line into dangerous. This is the part before you hit the trail at Webster Avenue. SLOW DOWN, TREAD LIGHTLY. Even doing this I found my foot landing on soft ground that collapsed; I did not fall, but I could have.
Wed., June 8: Twin Lakes/Nature Study: A bit more rain since last time. There are a number of muddy spots, especially in Nature Study. But nothing impassable. Again, however, a number of traditionally-wet spots, such as the “tunnel” under the Hutch, are dry. Go figure.
Sun., June 5: Saxon Woods: Ran the west side of the Hutch. There are some wet spots here and there, but nothing major.
Wed., June 1: Nature Study: Entered via Chester Heights. The perilous stretch was damp, but readily passable. The trail is in good shape.
Sat., May 28: Leatherstocking: With our recent rains, the trail has some marginally muddy spots. The worst is shortly after starting in New Rochelle, but it is easy to run through it.
Fri., May 27: Twin Lakes/Nature Study: After our recent rains, there are some wet spots, but none that is not readily crossable.
Sun., May 22: OCA South: With a little bit of rain this morning, this trail was in very good shape. No puddles of any sort. That tree in VCP is still there.
Sun., May 15: Leatherstocking: Went out with some folks from Sound Shore Runners. The lack of rain means that there is no spot that is troubling.
Sat., May 14: Twin Lakes/Nature Study: The trails are in better shape than I have ever seen them. There are a number of spots that are always muddy, but today they are clear. A lack of rain is part of it.
Sun., May 8: OCA North/Rockefeller: Overcast morning, but ran the OCA North and parts of the Rockefeller. Trails in good condition.
Fri., May 6: Steve Spungen brought the article Trail Running Picking Up Speed by Michael Hill of the AP to my attention.
Thurs., May 5, Leatherstocking: Same, good condition. Ran the Larchmont Reservoir for the first time, and have added a description of it to the
Sun., May 1, OCA: Central: Good shape, running south from Hastings. We had a fair amount of rain over the last few days, but while there were some wet spots, none proved an obstacle.
Sat., April 30: I have added a page for the Leatherstocking Trail. I ran on it alone for the first time. It is a very nice, varied trail. Narrow. From recent rains, it had a couple of wet spots, but only one major one that required particular care in splashing through; once into Mamaroneck, low-lying stretches are boardwalked. It was a nice 20-minutes up, 20 mintues back, and I only made one wrong turn, from which I quickly recovered. For City-folk, it is readily accessible (from its north end) by train. Special thanks to Lisa Hamm-Greenawalt and Eric Turkewitz, the president and “trail guy,” respectively, of Sound Shore Runners, for their suggestions.
April 27 update: I ran the OCA Central from Hastings almost to Irvington (I’m not in great shape) on Sunday, and it was in good condition, except for a very few, easily-gotten-around flooded spots. This does not take into account the rain we had overnight (Tues./Wed.).
April 16 update: I rode the Twin Lakes portion of Nature Study/Twin Lakes and up the Hutch to Mamaroneck Road. I was pleasantly surprised. Except for a couple of notorious spots, the trail is in very good running condition.
April 14 update: I ran on the OCA South on April 14. It is clear to the Bronx border. There is a tree down accross the path about 100 yards into the Bronx, which you must go around (I’ve called the City about it) and some water for a stretch of about 40 yards a little bit further south.
Last edited on ... May 2, 2005
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