One of my favorite ways to get a feel for a destination is through running. I recall a few years back running the streets of Seville, Spain, just days before Christmas as one of my top travel moments of all time. It is pleasing to see hotels recognize this interest, as more and more, I am seeing running maps available within my hotel rooms.

In two weeks, I am excited to run one of the greatest cities in the world — New York City. Though I lived just a few hours outside of New York most of my life and am frequently there for business, I have never felt like I have a real lay of the land. However, the New York Road Runners’ Half Marathon will offer me the chance to do just that. 

On Sunday, March 16, approximately 20,000 runners and I will start in Central Park at 72^nd and East Drive. We will head north to the top of the park at 110^th Street and then start our journey south on West Drive. We will then exit the park on 7^th Avenue and proceed to 42^nd Street, where we will head west to the West Side Highway. Down through Battery Park we at last will find our finish line at the corner of Water and Wall streets. 

Though the map appears a bit daunting to me and there are tales of long and steep hills, I couldn’t be more excited for my adventure. My sister will join me for a day in the city on Saturday, including a visit to the Expo at the Metropolitan Pavilion and a Broadway show. We booked a room at the Gild Hall, which offers an ideal location by the finish line and perfect pre-race dinner at Felice Restorante & Wine Bar. If all goes well, perhaps the next stop on my running tour will be an international destination.  

— Danielle Hudena Pitonyak, vice president