Running the Bridges: Hill Workouts in Brooklyn

Brooklyn has few hills, so I use the bridges. Here is how I use each one.

Manhattan Bridge

My pick for repeats. The pedestrian path on the south side climbs from the Brooklyn side. It is less crowded than the Brooklyn Bridge. Six to eight climbs at a hard effort with an easy jog down is a workout I use.

Brooklyn Bridge

The most beautiful and the most crowded. The promenade is shared with tourists and cyclists all day. Run it before 7am or save it for a relaxed sightseeing run. It's a poor place for a hard workout after sunrise.

Williamsburg Bridge

The ramps on both ends are long, so a single crossing feels like two hill repeats. For a loop, cross the Williamsburg, run through the Lower East Side and come back over the Manhattan.

A simple bridge workout

• Warm up 15 minutes easy to the base of the Manhattan Bridge
• Run 6 climbs at a strong effort, about 3 to 4 minutes each
• Jog easy back down every time
• Cool down 10 minutes along the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront

Etiquette

Stay on the pedestrian side, keep right, and skip the headphones on the Brooklyn Bridge. Cyclists move fast and the lanes are narrow.