All Five Boroughs

In case you missed it, yesterday I decided to try to go to all five boroughs in New York City today since I had reason to be in three anyway. Here’s how it went.

And a quick FYI, I’m going to ignore the fact that I’m starting to look like Jim from Taxi* when I take selfies without a hat on and just get to the rest of the day.

* It’s a sitcom, people under 40, google the show and the character played by Christopher Lloyd.

This morning I was up at 5:30AM. As predicted, I didn’t really sleep well. I had that feeling when I heard the alarm that it must be some mistake and I must have a few more hours. No mistake. I had to get up and get going. I slowly got dressed, then grabbed my book for the train ride, and headed out the door. I stopped at 3rd Street and 6th Avenue to snap a pic for the start of the day (that’s the 6:00AM pic). Then I jogged to Bergen Street to catch the 4 train. The 4 train, even at 6:00AM, was already full of runners headed to the Bronx.

The train went local in Manhattan all the way to 125th Street, then we had to switch trains – to another 4 train, what? – to get to the Bronx. I’ve been a staunch supporter of the MTA for years but I’m turning.

But I made it to the Bronx around 7:30AM. For those of your counting along, that is two boroughs before 7:30AM.

I found my running buddy/mentor Fred but then we started the race in separate corrals. I kept obsessing over my hip as we waited, hoping that I wouldn’t injure myself if I pushed too hard during the race. Everyone had train trouble, so, the 8:00AM race was pushed to 8:10.

The race started and I paid attention to something that I usually don’t. There are runners who carry signs for pacing. Ahead of me, I saw the guy holding the 1:15 finish time/7:30 minute mile sign. My goal was to break 1:20, which would be an 8:00 minute mile pace – the pace I had in the Brooklyn half. But I figured, why not try to break 1:15 for a slightly better time. I caught up with the guy holding that sign and passed him and thought, if I can just keep ahead of him, I’ll be good. I ran a good deal ahead of him and thought, “I might get a great time today.”

It was a beautiful fall morning – a little too cold in the shade and a little too hot in the sun – and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx is amazing.

Around mile 7, I heard someone behind me, a fellow runner, not a spectator, blanketly encouraging people. I looked back. It was the pacer! I had to pick it up. Whenever I heard his voice, I knew that I had to pick up my pace.

I finished strong and broke 1:15 with a pretty strong pace. It felt good and I got a medal!

For my borough tour, I knew I had to hit Manhattan somehow, so, on the way back – where we had to switch 4 trains and go local again – I decided to get out at Union Square for a grande from Starbucks. Borough number 3.

Then I took the Q home and went to get a bacon, egg, and cheese from Bagel World. I swear, running justifies such bad eating choices but, well, so it goes.

I stretched (my hip held up, God bless the pigeon pose), showered, then got ready for the last Mets game of the year.

I was so excited for this team in April. They started 11-1! But then it all went to hell. Matt Harvey imploded and, frankly, I didn’t pay attention to the rest. But I wanted to catch at least one game this year.

The MTA, however, true to form, wanted to screw up my plans. The G train stopped at Bedford Nostrand, then had a shuttle bus to the 7 train. Non New Yorkers, this simply means “worst case scenario.” It took me two hours to get to the game but once I was there, I had officially entered borough number 4 for the day.

It was a pitcher’s duel. It ended 1-0, with Syndergaard pitching a complete game shutout. That was awesome to see.

I went to the Mikkeller* brewery and restaurant for dinner after the game, then hopped back on the 7 to make the last leg of my journey. I was off to Staten Island.

* The story of Mikkel Borg Bjergso and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso has always fascinated me. They’re Danish twin beer brewers who have some sort of feud. Jeppe and his Evil Twin brand have a bar in Williamsburg but I always preferred Mikkel’s Mikkeller beers (Evil Twin’s are far too bitter), so, I was excited that he opened a restaurant at Citi Field of all places. I had to check it out. It was great.

When I first moved to New York, I loved taking epic walks. I would start on the Upper East Side, where I lived and then just walk wherever I felt like, sometimes with my friend Jon, other times alone. Often, I would end up downtown in Manhattan and I would take the Staten Island Ferry.

If you timed it right, you could get on when the sun was setting and see the Statue of Liberty in all its glory. Then you’d come back at night and all of downtown Manhattan would rush at you all lit up.

I missed the sunset tonight but everything else was the same. It’s one of the best – if not the best – free things to do in New York City.

In the old days, you could stay on the ferry you came in on. Now you have to leave and catch another one back. This ensured that I set foot on Staten Island for borough number 5.

I took the R train back to Park Slope and snapped a pic exactly where I started.

I did it. I had the most New York day I’ve ever had. It couldn’t have been more New York if I had played stickball with Fiorello Laguardia.