Van Cortlandt Park

photo essay by John Nepolitan

NOTE: These photos were taken on the 2.5 mile course at the Manhattan Invitational. The start and finish are different for the 5k course used in the Foot Locker regional. The course in the woods is the same, except that distances to the finish are longer for the 5k course. The distance to the cow path at the start is also different, being more than a mile in the 5k course as the runners run the perimeter of the big plain along Broadway instead of heading straight for the cow path.
John Nepolitan's notes on Vanny


a-the start.jpg

b-cow path enter.jpg

c-cow path.jpg

D-cow path .jpg

e-frosh hill.jpg

f-top of frosh hill .jpg

g-the bridge going out.jpg

H- into the back hills.JPG

i - start of the climbs.jpg

j- top of the 1st climb over the bridge.jpg

k- rolling thru the back hills.jpg

l- a short down before...jpg

m- going back up again.jpg

N- one more climb before 1 and half miles.JPG

o- top of the hill.jpg

p- 1 mile to go - past the bad hills.jpg

q- starting down.jpg

r- downhills that must be attacked.jpg

s- along the fence.jpg

t- going down back to the bridge.jpg

u-last down before bridge.jpg

V- slight up heading back to the bridge.JPG

w- some blacktop leading up to bridge.jpg

x- back at the bridge.jpg

Y down to the flats.JPG

z- turn for home but still a long way to go.jpg

ZZ-you can see the tents but there is still a long way to go.jpg

Notes on Vanny

by John Nepolitan

Over the years thousands of runners have made their way over the trails of Van Cortlandt Park(Bronx, NY) and just about as many have read about the many different events that have taken place there. The question is how many of those who have read about VCP really have ever seen the course? Well here is your tour of what may be the most traveled cross-country course in the world.

THE START - Across the Flats - The course at Vanny with the most history is the famed 2.5 mile HS trail. At the start the runners look across a very large open field at the wooded area that contains some of the most challenging trails they will ever race on. And just like the thousands of runners who had stood at this same spot prior to a race they are running the course through their mind trying to figure out how they can run it a little different than last time to run an all time personal best. It will take varsity boys around 60 - 70 seconds to make it across this field.

PHOTO A

THE COW PATH - A trail that was used for just as its name suggests a path that moved cows from one part of this old estate to another is only beginning. If you did not get out right you will pay for it here and it is not a flat straight run. The trail is a mix of short bumps, rocks, railroad ties and at times large puddles.

PHOTOS B - C- D

FRESHMAN HILL - About 1000m into the race finds the varsity runners at the base of freshman hill. The hill is named for the fact that on the freshman 1-1/2 mile course it is the only real hill they will face and for them it will be fast up then down to the flats again to the finish. As for the varsity runners, this hill is the first true hill on the course that will ruin your day if you went out too fast. At the top of the hill varsity runners will find THE BRIDGE.

PHOTO E - F

THE BRIDGE - A bridge that crosses a highway will be crossed by the runners twice on the course. The first time over it brings the runners to the back hills.

PHOTO G

BACK HILLS - Once over the bridge it is approximately 1200m of constant short steep ups, with a few fast sharp downs thrown in. There is no name signature hill in this back section, just a series of hills that are like body punches to a boxer. No one will knock you out, but the series of them will do damage. At about 1-1/2 miles the runners cross a small road and start the 800m series of drops back down to the bridge. These downs are steep which does not help much with recovery. Many are followed by a sharp turn, but all are very runnable and need to be attacked and run down if you are to get that best time.

PHOTOS H THRU W

BACK TO THE BRIDGE - One more time over the bridge with about 800m to go. From here is yet another short drop down (the freshman course heads down this same hill after the climb up freshman hill) to the flats and the finish straight.

PHOTO X & Y

THE FLATS - Back down to the large main area of the park known as the flats and about 600m to go. It will look so close but it is so far away yet.

PHOTO Z & ZZ

THE FINISH STRAIGHT- You can now see the finish area, but do not get fooled there is still about 400m to go. Many a runner over the years has started their final drive to the finish only to find out that you still have a very long way to go and the finish does not seem like it is getting any closer.

PHOTO ZZZ

FINISH CHUTE - Once you enter the ropes the finish is just ahead and you are fighting to hold off any late charges and maybe even grab 1 more place, but all that matters is that you are just about finished.

 

Northeast Region Foot Locker