Make Your Own Virtual Marathon Course: Staten Island
As New York's hometown airline and the official airline of NYRR and the TCS New York City Marathon, United encourages runners to support local businesses in their communities, and we do so as well. United encourages you to shop locally and add photos of your favorite restaurants or local shops along your training route.
We've got 10 days to go until the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon, and runners have this week to get in one last tune-up with the Virtual NYRR Staten Island Half! And what perfect timing—this week on our (virtual) tour of the five boroughs, we've reached Staten Island.
Local folklore claims that Staten Island became part of New York, appropriately enough, through a race. While reports vary on whether the tale is true (see one side "for" the idea and one side arguing against its authenticity), the story goes that in the 1670s, the Duke of York aimed to settle a border dispute between New York and New Jersey, allotting any "small island" to New York; small island being defined as one that could be navigated around in less than one day.
The Duke then hired a ringer—a more advanced sailor—who reportedly sped around the island in 23 hours, and so went the land to New York. Today, boats are still a major part of Staten Island, as any rider of the Staten Island Ferry can attest (as can any New York City Marathon runner who has taken that route to Fort Wadsworth).
This week, we're looking for recommendations on places in Staten Island that you would include on your 26.2-mile route—whether it's your favorite segment from your daily training run, your favorite post-run coffee shop (or bar, if you're a PM runner), or just a place that you think would make an interesting addition to a virtual marathon course.
We've included some initial tips from NYRR staffers on the map below, and if you have any ideas for places to add to the map, send them in using the form below the map! We'll be adding more as we receive them throughout the week, so check back soon for more places to see in Staten Island.
Next week, we'll be recapping all of your recommendations from across New York City, and after that, we'll be moving beyond the five boroughs. Stay tuned!
