Last Gasps of Summer

Wednesday 10/4, Run #60: Bensonhurst

Distance: 9.77 miles
Time: 1:15
Pace: 7:41
Temp: 64
Dewpoint: 60
Weather: mostly sunny

click on image for interactive map

Unique Miles Today: 7.90
Total Unique Miles: 479.97
Percent of Brooklyn Run: 27.55

Route: I began today at 85th Street and 19th Avenue, went east to 20th Ave, south to 86th then doubled back and continued north to Bay Ridge Parkway, then east to 21st Ave and doubling back to 20th Ave, north to 74th, west to 16th Ave, north to 72nd, east to Bay Parkway, south to 73rd, west to 18th Ave, south to 74th again, east back to Bay Parkway then doubling back to 21st Ave, south to 85th, west a block to 20th Ave and doubling back to 21st, south to 86th and doubling back to 85th, east to 23rd Ave, south to 86th and then doubling back and continuing up to 80th, east to Stillwell Ave, southeast to 24th Ave, south to 85th, west a block to 23rd Ave and doubling back to 24th, south to 86th and doubling back to 85th, then east to 25th Ave, north to 84th, west to 18th Ave, north to 83rd, east to Stillwell Ave, northwest to 82nd, west to 18th Ave, north to 81st, west to New Utrecht Ave, and on to 17th Ave.

Notes: On a morning that felt a lot more like late August than early October, I took the D train down to Bensonhurst with the hopes of having a run as good as yesterday's while also filling in a nice rectangular section of the "big map." While there wasn't quite the visual overload I experienced 24 hours earlier in Coney Island, there was still plenty to see. Most unusual this time out was a house on 85th Street with over a dozen life-size figures arranged around the driveway, front yard, and over the garage -- mostly iconographic cultural figures like Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Elvis, and the Blues Brothers (!), though -- presumably for Halloween -- Frankenstein and Dracula were there, too, along with an Indian chief and a pirate and the Statue of Liberty. The driveway was also lined with old street signs, gas pumps, and mailboxes. I'm not sure if this was a seasonal display or if it's always there, but it was certainly a surprise to see all of this on an otherwise quiet residential block. Unfortunately, it was all in the shade this early in the morning, which made it a bit harder to take any good pictures, though I've included one below which gives at least a little sense of the place. Anyway, I'll take tomorrow off, and run again either Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday, so see you then.

Pictures, as always:


73rd Street


The top of a 2-car garage on 85th Street


Mosaic over the entrance to St. Mary's Church, also on 85th