New York

Going for a run in New York can feel like a deadly game of Frogger. If you run in Central Park, and you're anything like me, you stop trying when yet another senior citizen speeds past you pushing his quadruplet grandkids uphill in a massive stroller. Prospect Park has its own confidence-killing athletes, particularly bikers who zoom past you ascending that final hill without breaking a sweat. The rest of us might want to try the McCarren Park track (serious runners need not apply). For anyone who merely runs for fun, feels intimidated when running alongside an Olympian geriatric, or is gearing up to run after a long hiatus, look no further. This track is small and manageable, and it's filled with people who move at their own pace. The track eliminates any need to look out for cars and, for people like myself, it helps me to focus. The catch? There are women with strollers who stand in the middle, there is little concept of letting the fastest people stick to the inside, and sometimes all eight lanes are occupied by an impenetrable chain of walkers. And there are sometimes flying soccer balls. But for the peace of mind that you’re not being judged, it’s worth it.

Photo:  Sarah Enelow