Swim Around Manhattan

If you thrive on open-water swims in novel settings, head for New York City. No, I’m not kidding. Stretch out one arm then the other, kicking all the way. Only a few more miles to go before finishing the 28.5 mile (46 km) Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, which circles the entire island of Manhattan. During this ultra-marathon swim, which organizers carefully time so participants can take advantage of the tides, swimmers begin by Battery Park and follow the tide on the East River. They continue via the Harlem River to the Hudson River, before coming back to Manhattan’s southern tip.

Each swimmer is escorted by a power boat and a kayaker who works with the swimmer’s crew to supply food and drink to the swimmer. They also guide the swimmer around hazards, watch for signs of hypothermia, and make sure everyone plays fair.

If you want to dip your toe into an open-swim adventure but aren’t ready for the big-time, try another one of the events organized by NYC Swim such as the Governors Island Swim or the Aquathlon, a combination swim and run event. Newcomers to open water swims might try the Park to Park swim, which is about two miles.

“Is the water safe to swim in?” is a question often asked by prospective swimmers and anyone hearing about these events. The answer is yes, under supervised conditions. The exception is after significant rain when contaminants may enter the water. (At that point, swimmers are advised of the conditions and make their own decision about entering the event.) Swimmers, however, do relate tales of dodging some debris and the occasional dead fish. Water temperatures range from about 60°F (16°C) to the low 70s, depending upon the time or year.

Certain qualifications are required, including proof of a pool swim or previous open-water competition of a specific length, before one is accepted to enter an event. Landlubbers can watch marathon swimmers pass by all along the Manhattan shore, including Battery Park, the East River between 18th and 34th streets, along the Harlem River, and the 70th Street Pier in Riverside Park.

NYC Swim’s mission is to support and expand Learn to Swim programs, particularly those that serve at-risk youth; and to raise public awareness of the waters that surround New York City by supporting efforts to clean and protect them. Since 1993, NYC Swim has organized more than 110 open-water swimming events in the waters around Manhattan that have attracted more than 10,000 participants.

NYC Swim ( 888/692-7946; www.nycswim.org).

JFK International (15 miles/24km), LaGuardia (8 miles/13km), or Newark Liberty International (16 miles/26km).

$$ Excelsior Hotel, 45 W. 81st St. ( 800/368-4575 or 212/362-9200; www.excelsiorhotelny.com). $$$ Le Parker Meridien, 118 W. 57th St. ( 800/543-4300 or 212-245-5000; www.parkermeridien.com).