Central Park Running Heads-Up: Week of May 10–16

Hey runners,

After last week’s Bike Tour craziness, this one’s much calmer. Two cycling events take over the 102nd Street area on different days — plan around those and you’re fine. Here’s the week.

Today (Sun May 10) — Race of Hope + Skate Circle

Race of Hope NYC runs on the 102nd Street Cross Drive and Transverse, 8:30 AM to noon. This is a small race compared to last week, but it’ll close the 102nd Street connector — runners using the full outer loop will need to take the 96th Street Transverse south or detour through the bridle path.

Skate Circle returns at Dead Road North, 2–7 PM. West Drive near 72nd gets congested with skaters and crowds in the afternoon. Run mid-morning or stick to the upper park after lunch.

Also: it’s Mother’s Day, so expect the south end (Bethesda, Bow Bridge, Cop Cot, the Mall) to be packed with families and ceremonies from late morning on. Early-AM runs win today.

Wed May 13 — two things to know

• Pedals of Honor 2026 on the 102nd Street Cross Drive, 9 AM–3 PM. A cycling event closing the same connector again. Same workaround as Sunday: use the 96th Street Transverse.
• An event setup at North Reservoir Landscape A, 2–5 PM. Same as last week — won’t close anything, but expect foot traffic on the Reservoir’s north end.

Sat May 16 morning — CRCA racing on East Drive

CRCA Central Park Racing Series, 4 AM–8:30 AM, East Drive. This is the Saturday-morning cycling race series. Early morning runners on the east side will share the road with race traffic. Options:

• Run before 4 AM (good luck)
• Run after 8:30 AM
• Use the Reservoir loop or bridle path — both unaffected

Quick recap

Sun 5/10, 8:30 AM–noon — Race of Hope on 102nd Use 96th St Transverse to cross instead.

Sun 5/10, 2–7 PM — Skate Circle at 72nd Stick to upper park or run mornings.

Wed 5/13, 9 AM–3 PM — Pedals of Honor on 102nd Same workaround as Sunday.

Wed 5/13, 2–5 PM — Reservoir north side Brief foot traffic, no closures.

Sat 5/16, 4–8:30 AM — CRCA race on East Drive Run the Reservoir or bridle path, or wait til 8:30.

Best windows this week: weekday mornings (esp. Tue and Thu), and late mornings Sun/Sat after the events clear. The Reservoir loop stays clean almost all week.

See you on the loop, The Central Park Guide