New York
NYC Triathalon
Jul 20th
On Sunday, I woke up at 6 a.m. and headed to Riverside Park and 79th Street. Why? To watch a good friend take on her second triathalon. I was supporting her and 3,000 other participants. I hate getting up early for anything, but once the sun hit my face and I saw people of all shapes and sizes exit the Hudson River after their mile swim, I was wide awake. Our support group actually saw our friend speed by on her bike for the 40K ride. We then headed to Central Park to watch the last leg of the race and cheer on the runners.
Somehow we missed our friend during the 10k race portion, but we cheered for the rest of the participants. What I enjoy about these types of events is the ability to see ordinary people do extraordinary things. We saw elite athletes go by, who were impeccable, but we saw regular people, too, complete a challenge for which they trained for months. We saw people running for charity, for personal goals and in memory of others. The disabled athletes inspired me the most, those missing a leg or arm. One gentleman was running on two prosthetic legs and with an amputated arm. It is my guess that some of the amputees in the triathalon were former military. To see them speed by made me shed a tear as I realized anything one puts their mind to, they can accomplish. In one word, awesome.
It was great to feel part of someone else’s accomplishment, cheering them on to reach their goal. I have been on sports teams, and I know that having a cheering section makes the day for myself and the team. I hope our cheering helped others cross the finish line.
One tip to anyone traveling — check out what sporting events are going on in the city. It’s a great way to know the terrain and get temporarily involved in a community. It will give you more than just a tourist’s point of view!
– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher
Go for a Bike Ride
Jun 17th
Recently, my boyfriend’s younger sister traveled to New York City for a visit. Since she is a young, spritely college athlete, we wanted to think of something besides shopping and dining out that would allow her to tour some of this great city. We found a great opportunity to bike up the Hudson River, from the West Village all the way to the George Washington Bridge and back.
Biking is a great way to tour a new place. Depending on your pace, biking can be relaxing or energizing. Traffic in the city can be intimidating, but bikers should not fear because Google Maps maps out the safest bike routes, from point A to point B, in the city. A path, safe for bikers, walkers and joggers, runs along the Hudson. There are various parks along the way, perfect for resting and snacking.
For bike rental, I highly recommend Hub Station Bike rental. The service was excellent and the bike options ranged from mountain bikes and cruisers to tandem bikes.
Hub Station Bike
73 Morton St. (betwen Hudson and Greenwich streets.)
212 965 9334, hubstation@gmail.com
Open 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Prices: $35/24 hours or $7/hour
Happy biking!
– Courtney Centeno, account executive
World Cup Fever
Jun 15th
The World Cup is underway, and I couldn’t be happier! Ever since summer 2002, when I first got caught up in World Cup fever, I have looked forward to this tournament with awe and passion. It’s a little hard to get in the true spirit when in the U.S. we as a nation do not follow professional soccer as closely as we do our other sports — hockey, baseball, basketball and football.
I was living in Brussels in 2002 when the World Cup took place in South Korea. This was the first time I found a sporting event that creates such strong comraderie, passion and fun. Even the Olympics don’t ignite people in this way. Luckily, many people in New York City do follow soccer and the World Cup, so once inside any bar, I always find a fun crowd to join and cheer on the teams.
As much as I enjoy watching the games, I really enjoy the way the tournament brings people of all nations and cultures together on one field. While watching the games, I always receive messages from friends all over the world who are also watching, everywhere from the United Kingdom and Dubai to Korea.
Here’s a tip for those of you traveling on business during the World Cup but not following the event: Check when the matches are being shown in the country you are visiting and make sure you do not need to see a key client when his/her country is playing. This may sound ridiculous to some, but most likely you will not be able to schedule that meeting, or you will find yourself competing with a TV or a radio play-by-play. Save the meeting time for a different hour and try to enjoy the match yourself. It may score you some business of your own!
– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher
Governor’s Island
Jun 3rd
Summer is the time of music and free shows, and Governor’s Island is the place to be. Located in the New York Harbor about a half-mile from Battery Park, Governor’s Island is a free public space where visitors can enjoy biking, art exhibits, performances, art-designed miniature golf, picnics and free concerts. The island was once a military facility for more than 200 years. It was used for recruitment, storage and even, at one point, as a prison for captured Confederates. In 2003, it was sold to the people of New York for public benefit. Deed restrictions were created to prohibit permanent housing or casinos.
This summer, the public can enjoy concerts on the beach. It’s just a free ferry ride from the Battery Maritime Building. Governor’s Island is the place to be this summer to see your favorite band or artist.
– Courtney Centeno, account executive
