Join us as we follow Regina Sav, Administrative Assistant in the HSS Research Department and first time marathoner, through her training for the ING New York City Marathon. This is the second installment of a series documenting her journey. Click here to read the first part of the series.
New York City is truly a concrete jungle. It is filled with numerous obstacles, such as infrastructures, cars, and pedestrians. It can be a challenge trying to find a place where I can run in peace and be as close to nature as I possibly can. Although I have always considered myself a city girl, nothing beats being surrounded by trees, grassy fields, and the occasional body of water. Luckily, Central Park fits this description well.
I have been living and working in New York City for more than eight years now and I’ll embarrassingly admit that I could count with only one hand the amount of times I had been to Central Park. I had this mentality that since I live in NYC, Central Park will always be there and I have all the time in the world to see it. All of that changed once I started training for the ING NYC Marathon. It is now my go-to park where I accomplish more than half of my weekly mileage, due to its proximity to my workplace and school.
Central Park is far from serene, especially in the summer months. It can be crowded with runners, cyclists, locals, tourists, concert fanatics, and lovers. It is the perfect place for people-watching, as you can encounter people from all walks of life, and this is exactly what I do on my runs. The energy in Central Park is so incredible that I feel I run better and stronger here than anywhere else. There is also a sense of camaraderie in the air with fellow runners, and sometimes I like to imagine we are all there for the same reason.
Also, if you haven’t run in Central Park after a downpour or in the middle of one, you are missing out! The first time this happened to me, I was surprised how deserted it was with the exception of a few dedicated runners. I had the park all to myself (However, I only recommend this before sunset for safety reasons)! Being alone with my thoughts, even for just an hour, is one of the reasons I fell in love with running.
Regina Sav is an administrative assistant in Hospital for Special Surgery’s Research Department and a student in Hunter College majoring in Psychology. With a passion for running, Regina is training for her first marathon in November. If she’s not training, she pursues her love of yoga and traveling the world.
