I've lived in New York City for 30 years and I have yet to go to Times Square to see the ball drop on New Years Eve. Every few years I think that maybe I should check it out, if only to say I've done it. But then I start thinking about the logistics and it all seems too complicated. What do you do while standing around Times Square for the 8 hours or so you have to wait in order to get a good spot for the 10 seconds or so when the ball actually drops? And more to the point--where do you pee? Yeah. I know. Deep thoughts.
So this isn't a story about Times Square on New Years Eve. This party takes place a mile or s0 north of Times Square in Central Park and is hosted by the New York Road Runners. The main event is a 4 mile run around Central Park starting at the stroke of midnight--but the festivities begin well before that. There's a DJ for music and dancing at the Bandshell, a costume contest, and a lot of general mingling and making merry. Lots of people stop by on their way to or from other parties. It's always a cheery and generally peaceful crowd, seemingly grateful for a chance to give Times Square a miss.
I had to count it off on my fingers(and toes) but I just figured out that this was my 12th consecutive Midnight Run--a tradition I started at midnight 1996/97. This makes it my oldest and longest running streak--and always accompanied by K. Over the years we've run it in costume, accompanied by a pug, accompanied by many running buddies, and once after copious amounts of pre-midnight champagne. In the early years we often celebrated with a post-run dinner with friends chez-nous. But somehow in the last few years it's been stripped down to a minimalist celebration--the run (sans champagne) followed by champagne and coq au vin for two. A nice start to a new year.
This year K had the coq simmering well before we needed to leave for the run. It was a little tempting to just skip the run and go straight to the champagne and coq part. But tradition prevailed and we set out for the park around 11:20. I was surprised at how uncrowded both the streets and the subways were. I guess everyone who was going somewhere had already gone. We reached 72nd Street by about 11:30 so we had plenty of time to check out the music at the bandshell before lining up for the run. The crowd was large--with lots of costumes, noisemakers, hats and the usual New Years Eve paraphernalia. What surprised me is how many people were there that didn't seem to have any intention of running! I guess the celebration is no longer the best-kept secret of New York's running community (was it ever, really?) and has attracted a mass of non-running revelers. In any event, K and I donned our green foam Emerald Nuts Midnight Run tiaras and wandered through the crowds. The music was fun, the crowd was happy and I was, as always, thanking my good fortune to be spending a New Years Eve at the best party I know.
A few minutes before midnight we wandered over to East Drive to line up for the run. We jumped in at the back of the line with some Santas and a 6 foot banana. I kept checking my watch and at 11:58 the fireworks started. Huh? Slow watch? Or premature fireworks? No matter, K and I shared a few new years smooches and figured it was 2008 somewhere. At that point we should have been off on our run, but being so far back in the pack it was many minutes before we actually moved. So we watched the fireworks and smooched a little more.
Eventually the crowd surged forward, then stopped, then surged a little more. About 10 minutes into the fireworks show we reached the starting line and actually managed to take off at a slow trot. There was a lot of bobbing and weaving for half a mile but then things opened up and we turbocharged around the park. OK, that part didn't happen. In fact we continued around the park in a nice easy pace. My only goals were to run the whole thing and enjoy it all and hope that those weren't mutually exclusive.
I love the park at night. It's a wonderful place at all hours, but it seems almost magical on New Years Eve. The terrain seems gentler and the raucousness of the runners seems a perfect foil to the dignity of the landscape. As I ran I tried to take it all in. There were costumed runners in large groups, single runners, walkers, couples, families with kids. Some people were out for a midnight stroll, others were out to get a hard 4 miles in. There were spectators on the course and in the buildings lining the park. As we turned west on the 102nd Street Transverse I looked south to the Manhattan skyline and for the millionth time thought about how lucky I was that life had brought me to that point.
K and I finished the run together and I'm glad to say my goals were met--I ran it all and managed to banish evil thoughts for the duration. What a happy and healthy way to start to the New Year! (It should be noted, however, that most of those health benefits were probably wiped out in the next hour by a bottle of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle and K's killer coq au vin). As we headed out of the park toward the subway Frank Sinatra was singing "New York New York" and it almost brought tears to my eyes. My love affair with New York City continues into a brand new year.
May 2008 bring us peace and hope.
So this isn't a story about Times Square on New Years Eve. This party takes place a mile or s0 north of Times Square in Central Park and is hosted by the New York Road Runners. The main event is a 4 mile run around Central Park starting at the stroke of midnight--but the festivities begin well before that. There's a DJ for music and dancing at the Bandshell, a costume contest, and a lot of general mingling and making merry. Lots of people stop by on their way to or from other parties. It's always a cheery and generally peaceful crowd, seemingly grateful for a chance to give Times Square a miss.
I had to count it off on my fingers(and toes) but I just figured out that this was my 12th consecutive Midnight Run--a tradition I started at midnight 1996/97. This makes it my oldest and longest running streak--and always accompanied by K. Over the years we've run it in costume, accompanied by a pug, accompanied by many running buddies, and once after copious amounts of pre-midnight champagne. In the early years we often celebrated with a post-run dinner with friends chez-nous. But somehow in the last few years it's been stripped down to a minimalist celebration--the run (sans champagne) followed by champagne and coq au vin for two. A nice start to a new year.
This year K had the coq simmering well before we needed to leave for the run. It was a little tempting to just skip the run and go straight to the champagne and coq part. But tradition prevailed and we set out for the park around 11:20. I was surprised at how uncrowded both the streets and the subways were. I guess everyone who was going somewhere had already gone. We reached 72nd Street by about 11:30 so we had plenty of time to check out the music at the bandshell before lining up for the run. The crowd was large--with lots of costumes, noisemakers, hats and the usual New Years Eve paraphernalia. What surprised me is how many people were there that didn't seem to have any intention of running! I guess the celebration is no longer the best-kept secret of New York's running community (was it ever, really?) and has attracted a mass of non-running revelers. In any event, K and I donned our green foam Emerald Nuts Midnight Run tiaras and wandered through the crowds. The music was fun, the crowd was happy and I was, as always, thanking my good fortune to be spending a New Years Eve at the best party I know.
A few minutes before midnight we wandered over to East Drive to line up for the run. We jumped in at the back of the line with some Santas and a 6 foot banana. I kept checking my watch and at 11:58 the fireworks started. Huh? Slow watch? Or premature fireworks? No matter, K and I shared a few new years smooches and figured it was 2008 somewhere. At that point we should have been off on our run, but being so far back in the pack it was many minutes before we actually moved. So we watched the fireworks and smooched a little more.
Eventually the crowd surged forward, then stopped, then surged a little more. About 10 minutes into the fireworks show we reached the starting line and actually managed to take off at a slow trot. There was a lot of bobbing and weaving for half a mile but then things opened up and we turbocharged around the park. OK, that part didn't happen. In fact we continued around the park in a nice easy pace. My only goals were to run the whole thing and enjoy it all and hope that those weren't mutually exclusive.
I love the park at night. It's a wonderful place at all hours, but it seems almost magical on New Years Eve. The terrain seems gentler and the raucousness of the runners seems a perfect foil to the dignity of the landscape. As I ran I tried to take it all in. There were costumed runners in large groups, single runners, walkers, couples, families with kids. Some people were out for a midnight stroll, others were out to get a hard 4 miles in. There were spectators on the course and in the buildings lining the park. As we turned west on the 102nd Street Transverse I looked south to the Manhattan skyline and for the millionth time thought about how lucky I was that life had brought me to that point.
K and I finished the run together and I'm glad to say my goals were met--I ran it all and managed to banish evil thoughts for the duration. What a happy and healthy way to start to the New Year! (It should be noted, however, that most of those health benefits were probably wiped out in the next hour by a bottle of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle and K's killer coq au vin). As we headed out of the park toward the subway Frank Sinatra was singing "New York New York" and it almost brought tears to my eyes. My love affair with New York City continues into a brand new year.
May 2008 bring us peace and hope.
