START LOCATION: Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street and Park
DISTANCE: 26.23 mile point to point course (plan to take Metro North Harlem Line Train back to Grand Central)
TERRAIN: 33% ascent, 23% descent, 40% flat, 2,352 feet of total
vertical climb, mostly on the five rollers from Dobbs Ferry to Scarsdale. Net loss of 67 feet in total elevation change.
DIFFICULTY: Distance: challenging; Course: moderate
PURPOSE: Endurance
FOCUS: Complete a self-supported marathon that takes you out of Manhattan and into Westchester
PLAN: Long steady distance run
SURFACE: Bike path and sidewalks
SUPPORT: Self-supported - Plan ahead of time, know the course, print out these directions and take them with you in a plastic baggie.

THE ESCAPE ROUTE: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4897192

ELEVATION:


Start/Finish: Grand Central Station

42nd Street to Westside Greenway Bike Path, turn Right to go North along bike path.

125th Street: Follow the greenway signs behind Fairway Market to return to bike path heading north past the Treatment Plant. Consider stopping at Farirway Market to refuel.

Mile 9: Pedestrian Path to get to 181st Street - DO NOT GO UP THIS PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY - CONTINUE NORTH ON BIKE PATH (There is a Subway stop at 181st across from Starbucks - this is not part of the route but included for those wanting to shorten the course)

Exit Bike Path at north terminal end at Dykman Street. Turn Left to walk down stairs and Left again onto Dykman Street.

Mile 10.45: Broadway and Dykman - Left (A-Train access for a 16-mile option)

Cross Broadway Bridge and continue North

230th Street - Left (difficult to see sign under train tracks)

Riverdale Ave. - Right and climb long hill

Henry Hudson Pkwy E - Right at top of hill

Crosses 9A near 253rd, simply follow road to left to return to Riverdale Ave. heading North

Mile 14: Food Emporium at Riverdale and 258th

Mile 16: Shop Rite at Riverdale and Prospect (Yonkers Metro North Hudson Line Train Station is about 2 blocks away for an 11-mile run option)

In Yonkers Riverdale Ave becomes Warburton continue north keeping Hudson River on your left

Continue North on Warburton Ave through Hastings on Hudson

North Broadway (Route 9) - Left

Mile 22: Stop and Shop at Broadway and Cedar St. in Dobbs Ferry (Dobbs Ferry Metro North Hudson Line access about .25 miles away for a 4.5-mile option)

Ashford Ave: Right after Stop and Shop go stright to turn onto Ashford Ave.

Ashford Ave becomes Ardsley Rd. Continue straight

In Scarsdale Ardsley Road becomes Popham Rd.

Scarsdale Ave. - Left along stores

End: Starbucks at Scarsdal Train Station

AID STATIONS:

There are numerous places to purchase water, Gatorade and other supplies along the route. We've lsited a few here to get you started in more residential areas without mini marts or gas stations.

Please note that the first 10 miles are run along the bike path and the main grocery store access is Fairway Market at 125th Street. We suggest you stop there to refuel to avoid having to leave the course by running up the pedestrian path at Mile 9. The next shops are on Broadway after Mile 10.5.

Mile 14 - Food Emporium: Riverdale and 258th in the Bronx.
Mile 16 - Shop Rite: Riverdale and Prospect in Yonkers
Mile 22 - Stop and Shop: Broadway and Cedar St in Dobbs Ferry (Very little access to supplies from there until the finish over rolling hills)
Mike 26.2 - Starbucks:Scarsdale train station on Scarsdale Ave.

MEETING LOCATION: Clock Tower in Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan

SUGGESTED START TIMES: To increase the likelihood of ariving at the finish in Scarsdale together between 12:15 and 1:00pm we recommend the following start times:

6:30am: for those
12:00min/mile+ (5:30)
7:15am: for those between
10:00-11:30 min/mile (4:15-4:40)
8:10am: for those 8:30-9:30 min/mile
(3:40 - 4:00)
8:40am: 8:00 min/mile and faster (3:30)

Please be sure to coordinate with anyone with whom you might be running and be sure to arrive fifteen minutes early for last minute bathroom stops, etc..

RESOURCES:

Volunteers: If we can get volunteers, we will ask them to take your bag from GCT up to the Scarsdale Train Station where it will be waiting there for you when you finish. A shorter run option will be available for volunteers up in Scarsdale. Please only bring one small bag with warm clothes, perhaps a towel, and any specific post run nutrition you require.

Other volunteers are welcome to suppot and cheer you on at any point along the course.

Resources for a self-supported run (e.g., what to carry with you on your run):

1) A cell phone with important phone numbers programmed in.
2) Enough water/Gatorade/fluids to carry you 4 miles at a time inbetween mini marts or grocery stores
3) Proper clothes for the conditions, it tends to be 2-7 degrees colder along the Hudson River than it is at GCT
4) Fuel other than what you are drinking
5) $20-$30 for food, refueling and in case you need to bail at one of the train stations. Note: Scarsdale is on the Harlem Line, and you will be running along the Hudson Line so you might have to take a cab from a Hudson Line town or train station across to Scarsdale.
6) A knowledge of the weather and the prevailing conditions
7) A copy of the directions listed in this note - put them in a plastic baggie so they won't be destroyed by sweat or weather.
8) Your wits - always scan your environment and stay awae throughout your run. We do not recommend wearing iPods or anything else that might distract you.
9) A great attitude

ETIQUETTE AND SAFETY: This is a very enjoyable run that many have done previously without any incidents. That said, we are running in NYC, Yonkers and into Westchester and your safety is your personal responsibility. Neither Race with Purpose, the Robert H. Lorsch Foundation, Coach Adam Krajchir nor any other volunteers, coaches or support staff of any of these organizations accepts any ressponsibility for your activities regarding this course. We provide this as a guide for your convenience only.

Please run no more than two abreast to avoid blocking roadways and
pathways, and sidewalks. Please remind yourself and your running partners to
be respectful of other runners, cyclists and drivers along these roads.

WEATHER: Please check local forecasts for both Manhattan and Scarsdale as the conditions can vary between the two.

PACE GROUPS: Completely up to you. If possible, try working together in pace groups
for
support. As with any run in New York there is strength and safety in numbers.

HYDRATION: As always, bring a water bottle, fuel belt, or some other
system to ensure that you have fluids. We will have some water and Gatorade
Endurance along the course.

POST-RUN FOOD: The run ends at the Starbucks in Scarsdale and the Parkway Diner is directly across the street. (Note: Parkway does not accept credit cards)

RETURNING TO MANHATTAN: The finish is at the Scarsdale Train Station. Tickets to return to Manhattan can be purchased from the kiosk there. Rates and fares are subject to change and tickets purchased at the kiosks are significantly cheaper than purchasing your ticket on the train.

GET EXCITED!
It is an incredibly powerful experience knowing that you can depart from Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and be all the way up in Mid-Westchester in just a few hours under your own power. Enjoy this experience.