I’m returning lately to the project of running the bridges of New York City. They’ll be much more on this project in the months to come. Today, I wanted to note one of the bridges I tagged recently — Bridge Number 1 on the McCarthy list, the Verrazano Narrows bridge.

Spanning New York Harbor from Staten Island to Brooklyn, the Verrazano Bridge is only runnable one day a year – Marathon Sunday* — and what a day it is. The Bridge makes up Mile 1 and some of mile 2 of the Marathon and represents the greatest elevation gain and loss you’ll have on the course. If you’re not feeling good and excited at this point of the race, you should just stop. There’s a long, long way to go.

I’ve run over the Verrazano twice, during the 2005 and 2015 marathons. I hope to run over the iconic bridge many more times.

*It is also ridable on your bike only one day a year during the 5 borough bike tour