Cool Tool- Map My Run

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I've been MIA for a few days... a nasty stomach bug took me out.

Before I got my Garmin one of the hardest things for me to do was track the distance of my runs accurately. That is until I stumbled upon this fun tool, Map My Run. It was one of the easiest tools to learn to use. Although it can be slow to load and a little finicky at times, I found those drawbacks to be well worth it as it is FREE and works everywhere that Google Maps works (read: even on trails in Upstate NY or CT).

 Image of a saved run in through Van Courtland Park on Map My Run

It also lists favorite routes of people in your neighborhood and in the city (for an example, see the above image). This is also great if you are a cyclist and looking to measure your distance.

So if you don't have a Garmin, Polar, or iPhone try this tool out and I hope it helps you in your workouts.

Walk the High Line

 

Image courtesy of islandwoo.com 

March has begun and the weather is getting warmer... spring seems to be arriving. This weekend's highs are predicted to be in the upper 40's, so take the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Now, I assume most of you have heard about the High Line which runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street between 10th and 11th. There are even entry points to the park if you can't manage the stairs. This is a great flat walk with fantastic views of the City, the River and New Jersey.

Sadly they don't allow dogs. There are also no bikes, skateboards or skates allowed.... however, this also makes for a very calm and relaxing promenade. 

For more information check out The High Line's Website.

Round and Round and Round in the Circle Game

Last year New York Magazine did an excellent write up of ten New York City skating rinks, and I wanted to get this post up while the rinks had a chance of maintaining some ice.

The article lists prices for admission and skate rentals as well as reviews each rink. Check out the Joy of Going in Circles.

Personally, my favorites are: Wollman Rink (Central Park) and Lasker Rink... though I am dying to try the fake ice at the Museum of Natural History.

Which rinks have you tried and enjoyed the most? What other rinks do you know of that the article doesn't mention?

Happy skating!

Fractions of a Second

So like most New Yorkers, my Sunday morning tradition consists of reading The Times. Not being a morning person, I often read the Sunday Times online. This morning they had a particularly cool feature, especially cool if you are a fan of the Olympics. And really what outdoor enthusiast isn't a fan of the Olympics?

So check out this interactive feature Fractions of a Second: An Olympic Musical. Being a former alpine racer I loved listening to the finishing times. The feature really makes one realize how phenomenal these athletes are and how tight each competition really is!

Parks Department Advises New Yorkers to be Careful

Well since the Parks Department has advised New Yorkers to be careful, to stay away from tall trees weighed down by 17 inches of heavy wet snow, after a man died in Central Park yesterday and another tree  paralyzed a bus along 5th Avenue, I thought you might all be looking for indoor activities.

Here is a great site that lists indoor climbing gyms all over New York State. So if you are feeling the need to get out of the snow today and powder up your hands and hit the wall, check out this resource and report back about the quality of the gyms you try.

This site also lists places to climb in New York City, both indoor and outdoor. That's right, not only does the cite list climbing gyms but it lists climbs in the City's parks for when the weather gets nicer.  How cool is that? Check it out here.

For those of you who have already been out there.... Which gyms do you regularly visit in NYC? Which gyms are above and beyond? Which ones need some work?

City Snow Report

"100% chance of fresh snow" over the next two days says the National Weather Service!!! 

You'll have to forgive me if I go a little overboard with the exclamation points. I get very excited when snow is in the forecast!

Given the warmer temperatures, it looks as if this snow will be excellent for all your snowball and snowman making pursuits. It also looks promising for those of you who are more into sliding, skiing and sledding.

So get out there, report back with fun pictures of the day, and enjoy the white stuff!

Grabbing gear online, the way to go!

So one of the questions my friends in the city are constantly asking me is, "Where should I buy my outdoor gear?" It is not too easy in the City to find great places that have the specific outdoor gear items you are looking for, especially at a reasonable price. This becomes even more true if you looking for more technical items such as climbing shoes and rope or say a kayaking skirt. Of course there is Paragon Sports on 18th and Broadway, a plethora of Models locations and a few other specialty shops. But if those stores don't have what you are looking for, you can be somewhat out of luck.

A fantastic solution? Backcountry.com and their outlet store.

They sell everything from tents, to cycling clothes, to snow boots, to skis and snowboards, to car racks. Their customer service is great, shipping is inexpensive, they have a lot of different brands and options to choose from and they have a lenient return policy, which is always helpful when ordering by mail.

So checkout Backcountry.com out and let me know what you think.