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Photo: Stephanie Gussin
RECOMMENDED: Fitness guide to NYC
RUNNING
Fast lanes
The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers
You’ll get an eyeful of buff bods and a river view from this quarter-mile track—you be the judge of which is better. Chelsea Piers, West Side Hwy at 23rd St (212-336-6000, chelseapiers.com)
East 54th Street Recreation Center
Though the scenery isn’t spectacular and the track is tiny (it takes 25 dizzying laps to log just one mile), the architecture is lovely, the crowds are nonexistent and the location is superconvenient. 348 E 54th St between First and Second Aves (212-754-5411, nycgovparks.org)
The Track & Field Center at the Armory
The 200-meter, banked Mondo track is the kind you saw at the Olympics (and on Project Runway). And with bleachers all around and an Olympic flag hanging above, you may feel like you’re going for the gold yourself. Unfortunately, school use limits available time slots for grown-up runners, so call for the public schedule. 216 Fort Washington Ave at 168th St (212-923-1803)
RUNNING | SWIMMING | TENNIS | GYMNASTICS
IN THIS PACKAGE:
Where did you get that body? | Getting the shaft | Playa fields
Inside track | Get hot
Flushing Meadows–Corona Park Aquatic Center
Photo: Stephanie Gussin
SWIMMING
Which indoor pools are scuzzy and which are squeaky-clean?
Riverbank State Park
This spectacular sports complex perched on the Hudson boasts one of the few Olympic-sized pools in Manhattan. Not only is it ultraclear and sparkling, but the locker rooms are spacious and the views are panoramic. 679 Riverside Dr at 145th St (212-694-3600, nysparks.state.ny.us). $2, children under 15 and seniors over 62 $1, children under 4 free. (6 drops)
East 54th Street Recreation Center
Opened in 1911 as showers for New York’s “great unwashed,” this architectural gem and combo neighborhoody/midtown-corporate hangout has a wheelchair-accessible 60-foot pool that’s practically empty at lunchtime. Despite its age, the pool still shines. 348 E 54th St between First and Second Aves (212-754-5411, nycgovparks.org). $75/year, seniors over 55 $10, children under 18 free. (4 drops)
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
This oldie ain’t much of a goody despite a delightful staff. The very narrow lap pool is stuffed into a cramped, cracked, dusty old room that’s seen better decades. 3 Clarkson St at Seventh Ave South (212-242-5228, nycgovparks.org). $75/year for adults; seniors 55 and over $10; children under 18 free.(2 drops)
Flushing Meadows–Corona Park Aquatic Center
Snuggled alongside Shea and Billie Jean stadiums, this brand-new center houses an Olympic-sized pool that offers a stunning, full-wall park vista and looks as clean and fresh as the view. The only downer? Small, sorta soggy locker rooms. Avery Ave at 131st St, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens (718-271-7572, nycgovparks.org). $75/year, seniors over 55 $10, children under 18 free. (5 drops)
RUNNING | SWIMMING | TENNIS | GYMNASTICS
IN THIS PACKAGE:
Where did you get that body? | Getting the shaft | Playa fields
Inside track | Get hot
Sportime at Randalls Island
TENNIS
Four ace spots where there’s nothing but net
1 Sportime at Randalls Island
Coming in the new year: 16 fresh courts, to make a total of 20 indoors, plus a clubhouse. There’s group play for women beginning this month, and men get their chance in January. The center is starting a shuttle next year. 1 Randalls Island (212-427-6150, sportimetfm.com)
2 Prospect Park Tennis Center
Starting Nov 3, Prospect Park’s 11 courts will be covered, and the membership-free facility offers league, round-robin and lesson options. Prospect Park, Parkside Ave at the Parade Ground, Prospect Park South, Brooklyn (718-436-2500, prospectpark.org/tennis). Rates TBD.
3 Cunningham Tennis Center
These five nets in Fresh Meadows get bubbled over from October to April and go private, offering regular court time and leagues, all without a membership fee. 196-00 Union Tpke at 196th Pl, Fresh Meadows, Queens (718-740-6800). $28–$58/hour, league play $500 for 14-week session.
4 Tennisnyc.com
Looking for a league? This seven-year-old group evaluates and teams up every member for play, then bats balls around at various private clubs. It even hosts sunny winter trips out of town. For info, go to tennisnyc.com. Membership $120/month, plus onetime player-evaluation-session fee $95.
RUNNING | SWIMMING | TENNIS | GYMNASTICS
IN THIS PACKAGE:
Where did you get that body? | Getting the shaft | Playa fields
Inside track | Get hot
Nastia Liukin
Photo: Vincent Yu
GYMNASTICS
For those channeling gold medalist Nastia Liukin…
The Field House at Chelsea Piers
They’ve got the pedal to the medal right here: The gymnastics director is an Olympics bronzer, and two of the instructors are former Olympians. There are beginner, advanced and elite classes, so you can start on the mat and end up on the pommel horse. Chelsea Piers, West Side Hwy at 23rd St (212-336-6500, chelseapiers.com)
Aviator Sports and Recreation
All levels of instruction are available at this enormous Brooklyn sports facility (including classes just for adults). Olympians have been known to train here—why not you? 5 Floyd Bennett Field, Marine Park, Brooklyn (718-758-7575, aviatorsports.com)
Crystle Stewart
Photo: Vincent Yu
For those channeling Miss USA Crystle Stewart...
NYC Elite
If you want to try basic gymnastics—tumbling, trampoline, foam pit and the like—this may be the place to start. Don’t let the name intimidate you; you’ll find both beginner and advanced adult classes here. 100 Sixth Ave at Watts St, enter on Thompson St between Grand and Watts Sts (212-334-3628, )
West Side YMCA
If you’re already a member of any Y in New York City, you can head here to learn basic tumbling skills. If you’re not, don’t flip (get it—flip?). Just go to ymcanyc.org to print out a free week’s pass. 5 W 63rd St between Central Park West and Broadway(212-875-4100)
RUNNING | SWIMMING | TENNIS | GYMNASTICS
IN THIS PACKAGE:
Where did you get that body? | Getting the shaft | Playa fields
Inside track | Get hot