Central Park, Sep 19–25: Saturday is the last dry day, Sunday is 18 miles in the rain, and Monday the park is empty

Fall lands this weekend and does not leave. Saturday is partly sunny and 71°; after that the park does not reach 70° again all week, and every remaining day carries a shower chance. Sunday is the sharp one — an 89% chance of rain from dawn to dark, sitting directly on top of a five-hour marathon training run.

Weather this week

Saturday: 71°, partly sunny, dry. Sunday: 71° and rain, 89%, all day. Then 67°, 63°, 65°, 64°, 66° with showers possible every single day. Get your good miles in Saturday morning, and expect to be wet for the rest of the week — this is the turn, not a passing system.

Sat Sep 19 — the dry day, with two things on the west side

The 28th Annual SCTPN Walk for Education and Awareness stages at Dead Road North, 9 AM–1 PM — four hours of a charity walk on the west side. It is not a drive closure, but the Dead Road approaches and the paths around Sheep Meadow will be dense through midday. Worth knowing before you commit to a counterclockwise lap.

The Osborn Cup holds Bowling Green 7 AM–6 PM both weekend days, and the 25th Annual Chess-in-the-Park Rapid Open fills Bandshell Plaza 11 AM–5 PM — neither on your line, both worth slowing down for.

The Iconic Views tour leaves Doris C. Freedman Plaza at 2 PM. East Meadow is closed, and 40 private bookings — a season record — have the scenic south end thoroughly spoken for.

Ride or run early. This is the last dry morning in this email.

Sun Sep 20, 7 AM–1:30 PM — the loop belongs to the 18-milers, in the rain

The TCS New York City Marathon Training Series 18M goes off at 7 AM on East Drive and the 102nd Street Cross Drive, permit held to 1:30 PM. Eighteen miles is the long one in the marathon build, and the field will be out there for five hours under an 89% chance of rain.

Cyclists: take Sunday off, or ride after 1:30. There is no early window — the run starts at seven. Runners working around it: bridle path or the Reservoir. Runners in it: dress for a soaking, and know the roads will be slick on the descents.

If you are out for a walk instead, the International Folkdancers hold King Jagiello 11–6 and jazz plays the Bandshell 1–4 — but the honest recommendation Sunday is the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre or somewhere with a roof.

Mon Sep 21 — not one event in the park

Zero one-off permits. 67°, mostly cloudy, 36% chance of a shower. The drives are completely clear and nobody is on them.

If you can move a workout to Monday, move it. An empty park on a cool grey Monday is the best riding and running the week offers, rain risk and all.

Tue Sep 23 – Fri Sep 25 — cool, damp, and quiet on the road

Nothing touches a drive for the rest of the week. Two concerts at Rumsey — Young the Giant Tuesday, Of Monsters and Men Wednesday — draw evening crowds to the 72nd Street approaches, and Kate Farms Yoga takes East Meadow Wednesday 5–6 PM.

Temperatures sit in the low-to-mid 60s with 22–37% shower chances. Cool running weather, genuinely — the first of the year.

Bird Watching with Birding Bob runs five mornings from Loeb Boathouse at 7:30 and 8:30. Fall migration is peaking right now, and a damp cool week is exactly when the Ramble fills up.

Steady all week

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain remains closed all day, every day — the permits run to October 13. Another three weeks of routing around it.

East Meadow is closed both weekend days; East 106th Street lawn is out Monday through Thursday. Neither changes a route.

Quick recap

• Saturday morning is the last dry ride or run in this email.
• Sunday 7 AM–1:30 PM: 18-mile training run on East Drive, in 89% rain. No early window.
• Monday has zero events and clear drives — the pick of the week if you can take it.
• Cool running weather arrives: low 60s Tuesday onward, showers every day.
• Fall migration is peaking — Birding Bob five mornings from the Boathouse.
• Bethesda Terrace closed through October 13.

Dress for weather, Central Park Guide