New York City Week of October 30 2017
On Halloween morning I left my apartment and ran west to enter the bike path by Chelsea Piers. If I run with my dogs, or is short on time, I usually make a right and run up to the Intrepid and then turn back. If I have more time I make a left and run downtown. This time I made a left, and as many other runners I ran down to Pier 40 where I veered off the bike path to the cement promenade along the river by the tennis courts. The cement is harder on your legs, but it’s pretty there and you get a nice view of New Jersey, the Statue of Liberty as well as the Freedom Tower. Tuesday was rather windy so I decided to head back earlier than usual and took one of the exits out to the bike path, turned around and ran back uptown. The week prior to this day, I’d taken the black and white photo challenge on Facebook where you take one photo per day of something from your daily life without people or explanation. I usually never say yes to Facebook challenges, but this week I did and Halloween was my last day and I took a photo of asphalt on the path that I would turn into black and white when i got home. That afternoon a terrorist rented a truck and used it as a weapon. They kept saying that runners and bikers were hit on Chambers and West street. I thought it was a bike lane on the street and I couldn't figure out who would be running on it. People do for very short stretches sometimes, but it’s still unusual. It’s narrow and bikes need all the space they can get. It wasn’t until late that night that I understood that it happened along my own running route and that I had run there myself that morning. It hit very close to home. The fact that I had posted my black and white challenge photo of the bike path felt very eerie. On Thursday, I went for another run, heading left on the path. The closer to Pier 40 I came the more emotional I felt. I met the eyes of runners and bikers heading uptown and everyone had a determined and somber look. The thought, “OUR PATH” kept playing in my head. At the Pier 40 entrance, was a sign that read, “Oct 31 Always and Forever in our Hearts,” bouquets of flowers were placed beneath it. The press was there, but they just stood there and didn’t bother me when I stopped to pay my respects. I set off again, running downtown and staying on the bike path this time instead of going down to the water. A single red rose lay in the middle of the running path, just below the crossroads to Pier 40. Then another. Signs on the trees from the FBI asked runners and bikers who might have seen something to contact them. More bouquets, more press, all respectful. I ran down to the bridge at Chambers Street and stopped for a moment before I turned around. One of the trees had its bark scraped off where I can only assume the truck struck it, killing another person. A single bouquet with white tulips lay next to it.
Heading downtown on the Hudson River Bike Path
Uptown view of the Chamber Street Bridge
Bouquet with tulips
Black and White Challenge Photo
