Central Park, Sep 14–20: three perfect midweek days, then an 18-mile training run owns the loop Sunday

Friday’s email ran through the 18th, so the front half here will be familiar — the new news is next weekend.

The thing you could not have known on Friday: NYRR’s marathon training series puts an 18-mile run on the Ted Corbitt Loop next Sunday, 7 AM to noon. Five hours of runners on the road is the longest single occupation since spring. Before that, Tuesday through Thursday deliver the best weather of the month with nothing permitted anywhere.

Weather this week

Monday shakes off a damp start to reach 74°, then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday run sunny at 72°, 78° and 83° with no rain in them at all. Shower chances return Friday at 20% and build across the weekend to 37% Sunday. Put your long effort midweek — that is a clearer road and better air than next Sunday will offer.

Mon Sep 14 – Wed Sep 16 — the week, if you only get three days

Nothing on any drive, nothing on a path you use. A dance program at the Bandshell Monday evening, a concert at Rumsey Tuesday night, a mobile health unit up at Central Park North Wednesday. Bowling Green closed all day Tuesday, East 106th Street lawn out Monday through Thursday — neither on your line.

Tuesday and Wednesday are the pick. 72° and 78°, sunny, dry, empty. This is the combination the summer never gave you.

Thu Sep 17 – Fri Sep 18 — warmer, then damp

Thursday hits 83° and stays mostly sunny; Friday holds 80° with a 20% shower chance. Friday morning brings Birding Basics to Belvedere Castle at 10 — fall migration is at its peak now — and the Seneca Village Tour at 2 from Mariners’ Gate.

Sat Sep 19 — clear road, ordinary Saturday crowds

76°, slight shower chance, and nothing on the drives. The Osborn Cup takes Bowling Green 7 AM–6 PM both weekend days — lawn bowls, a genuinely odd and lovely thing to walk past. The Iconic Views tour goes at 2 from Doris C. Freedman Plaza.

East Meadow is closed, and the usual weekend load fills Heckscher and North Meadow. Your morning is free.

Sun Sep 20, 7 AM–noon — the loop belongs to the 18-milers

The TCS New York City Marathon Training Series 18M holds the Ted Corbitt Loop from 7 AM until noon. This is the second and longer leg of NYRR’s marathon build-up: a large field going around repeatedly for five hours.

Cyclists: do not plan a Sunday morning ride. Go before 7, after noon, or take the day. Runners — you can join the flow or work around it, but the drives will be dense the entire morning and there is a 37% shower chance over it.

Afternoon is yours again: the International Folkdancers hold King Jagiello 11–6, and jazz plays the Bandshell 1–4 PM if you want somewhere to end a walk.

Steady all week

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is still under an all-day “Closed” permit — and we can finally see how long. The permits run unbroken from today through October 13, 31 more days, with no reason given anywhere. Route your walks around the Terrace for another month.

Bird Watching with Birding Bob runs five mornings from Strawberry Fields at 7:30 and 8:30, $10 at the end of the walk.

Quick recap

• Sunday 7 AM–noon: 18-mile training run owns the loop. Ride before 7 or after 12.
• Tuesday and Wednesday are the week: 72–78°, sunny, dry, nothing booked.
• Bethesda Terrace closed through October 13 — now with an end date, still no reason.
• Birding Basics Friday 10 AM at Belvedere, peak fall migration.
• Saturday is clear on the drives; Osborn Cup on Bowling Green both days.

Take the midweek, Central Park Guide