Central Park Running Heads-Up: Fri May 15 – Fri May 22

Hey runners,

Welcome to the new Friday-evening edition. From now on, this email arrives heading into your weekend with the full week ahead. Here’s what to plan around.

Sat May 16 morning — CRCA on East Drive

CRCA Central Park Racing Series, 4 AM–8:30 AM on East Drive. Saturday-morning bike crit racing returns. Early-morning runners on East Drive will share the road with the peloton.

• Run before 4 AM if you must (truly empty park, but watch the dark sections)
• Run after 8:30 AM for the cleanest East Drive
• Or run the Reservoir or bridle path — both untouched

Sat May 16 daytime — south end gets busy

The Columbus Circle Food Market activates at Merchants’ Gate, 9:30 AM–9 PM (Fri/Sat/Sun). Crowds at Columbus Circle and the SW entrance. Enter the park at 72nd or further north to skip the bottleneck.

Other Saturday afternoon noise but no path closures: That Guitar Man at Hernshead (1–5 PM), PS 77 Spring Festival at Levin Playground lawn (2–5 PM). Both are off the loop.

Sun May 17 — Sacred Sites + Folkdancers, no path issues

Sacred Sites Open House Day 2 at Mineral Springs (10 AM–3 PM) and Folkdancers at King Jagiallo (11 AM–7 PM). Neither affects the loop or Reservoir. Sundays are clean for runners this week.

Mon May 18 – Fri May 22 — calm weekday stretch

No races, no rides, no major path events. Julius Caesar continues at The Pool (daily 10 AM–9 PM) but that’s tucked off West Drive at 100th and doesn’t affect the loop. Bowling Green Lawn has a maintenance closure today (Fri 5/15 until 2 PM) — nothing on the running side though.

Quick recap

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

Sat 5/16, all day — Food Market at Columbus Circle Enter at 72nd or above.

Sun 5/17 — clean running day

Mon 5/18 – Fri 5/22 — wide-open week Best stretch of weekday running this month.

Have a strong week, The Central Park Guide