The US Open usually means two things:

first, a heat wave surely will be upon New York City, and second, summer is over.

This year, the US Open came and went with almost entirely pleasant weather, a shocker for August and early September.

That the Mets in nearby Citi Field have been playing so poorly is less of a surprise. Regardless,

I am

reminded about some recent trips from Manhattan into Queens that I wanted to share.

The jewels of Jackson Heights beckon you South and East

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6441975
The map then shows how you can run easily from the Long Island City side all the way Citi Field!

I wanted to write “All the Way to Shea,” but alas, licensing deals are in place with Citibank.

Either way, it’s a great place to watch baseball, whereas Shea was meant for much smaller people than seem to go to ball games in 2014.
What’s interesting about this run?

Let me count the ways:

• First, on a quiet morning – which always is when I’d recommend that you do these street run – you have the city to yourself.
• Second, the run offers a number of detours along the way to add mileage and see some lovely neighborhoods and different architecture (which is why I write this, right?)
• Third, running underneath the 7 train offers some shade on a hot day.
• Last,

  you pass through what is considered

  perhaps the most diverse neighborhood in all of New York City, so it’s an opportunity to be inspired by cuisines and shops of Southeast Asia, Greece, and China, without adding to your waistline.

I think those are enough reasons, don’t you?
First, for those who want to enjoy a good bridge run and even a sunrise, running over the 59th Street bridge delivers both.

If you’re training for the New York Marathon, which I’ll write about next month in preparation for the BIG NOVEMBER RACE I’m doing this year, you get to enjoy the bridge in practice, although you’re going the wrong way (see this link for what I see when I write that).
Hitting the other side in Long Island City, you’re essentially running under Queensboro Plaza and heading out

Southeast.

Keeping any railyards you see on your left, you’ll go over a street-level bridge, then be on the bike route along Skillman Avenue.

Skillman runs along the railyards there, and when you cross 39th Street, you’re already, technically, in Sunnyside, Queens.

Common gardens found in Sunnyside

You can get an occasional

peek between buildings of the lovely gardens behind them!

So different, and so cool.
Soon enough, you’ll pass into Woodside, which gets grittier.
While the route provided doesn’t show it, once

we

get to Jackson Heights, after passing under the BQE,

we begin wandering along the North-South streets to look at the buildings and retail.

Between Roosevelt and Northern Avenues are so many exquisite little houses and gems of apartment buildings.

Prewar quality abounds, and

Tudor-style low-rises.

Much of it has been landmarked, in fact!

Typical street in Jackson Heights

is punctuated by stops for Gatorade, of course.

Depending on your wanderlust, you may choose to keep going underneath the 7 train, or venture off a bit more.

However, if you cross under the Grand Central Parkway, you’re nearing the end of the 7 train!
We usually turn back before too long, due to mileage constraints.

Also, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going to Flushing for Dim Sum without showering first after a run!
However, if you do get to Flushing Meadows/Corona Park, you can add lots of mileage around the Southern End, where there are two lakes, and enjoy lots of green.

And feel free to stop at any 7 train and head back to Manhattan, as you see fit!
Enjoy taking in the variety in Queens and enjoy your run!
Please email me anytime to talk running or real estate! sharris@bhsusa.com