Autumn Marathon

Van Cortlandt Park Summer Cross Country

There is something special about running through trails in the woods,which connects a person with his inner spirit.  As great as NYC is, and it is particularly wonderful for adult amateur road runners, those of us who live here don’t get many chances to make this particular spiritual connection.

That is the reason why the summer Cross Country 5ks sponsored by the Van Cortlandt Track Club are such a great opportunity for the urban runner.  I headed up to the Bronx this Thursday after a long, busy and indulgent week (Father’s Day, daughter’s high school graduation, work) to get in a hard workout and to refresh the spirit.

The races are homey (numbers were left over from the recent Riverside Ramble) and inexpensive ($5 entry fee).   Over 100 runners showed up this week which is about average for the series.  The great thing about cross country is that your time is going to vary by course, and by conditions on the same course, so instead of paying attention to pace times, you are forced instead to focus on your breathing, your running form, the course and the runners around you.

Having arrived just a few minutes before the race, still somewhat full from graduation lunch, I wasn’t in the optimal state at the start.  The focus was simply on running hard and steady - especially through the famous VCP back hills - and to finish well.  As the kilometers passed, my attention fixed entirely on my breath, stride and whichever runner was right in front of me.  My time of 26:03 was about a minute off my best for the course, but there were positive signs - I passed more runners than passed me in the last mile of the race and the folks that ran around me were visibly fit and seasoned runners.