I really love the Staten Island Greenbelt, and I really really love the Staten Island Greenbelt in fall and winter. As someone who was born and raised in a place with no trees, running in the summer when the vegetation is lush can actually be claustrophobic and nerve-wracking. (Not to mention the bugs.) In fall and winter, you can see where you are and what’s around you, plus there are really amazing colors:
I headed back over today to try a trail run with the (improving) neuroma and it was great. Perfect weather, I only got lost once, and my foot didn’t bother me at all. I could feel the neuroma from time to time if I stepped on a root or rock, but it was more of a nuisance/weird feeling than anything. I really concentrated on my hill form and managed to run up most of them, once I really buckled down and paid attention to what I was doing. I’m determined to figure hills out sooner than later after the PD Canyon debacle.
Overall, I felt great and this was my third run in a week–not terribly far off my normal schedule. I think I’ll be back in the swing of things soon.