HotelChatter

Even if you know some of the local history the guide shares with you as you jog (and we didn't know it all), it's a wonderful distraction from worrying if you're keeping up a respectable pace. The park was full of other joggers and cyclists, but by the time we reached the Ramble, we had most of the paths to ourselves. The dusk sky over the boat pond was another good distraction, and our companions didn't mind when we asked to walk for awhile after tackling some of those uphill paths in the park.

By the time we were back on Central Park West, we were impressed to realize that we'd run the equivalent of 20 city blocks. We got a look at the Dakota, and the Museum of Natural History, and being back on flat ground let us catch our breath so we could actually chat with our guide (as opposed to just nod politely while secretly huffing and puffing as we did earlier).

Our verdict? It's definitely a great way to see the city and running with others really does make you push yourself further than you might otherwise. Getting out of your hotel is also a plus—no matter how nice its gym is, the proximity of the bar or a pool always ends up tempting us more than the need to sweat.

The Empire Hotel City Running Tour is $60 per person, and $6 for each additional mile if you want to show off and go further than 6 miles. Discounts apply for groups of four or more. ( 5% of proceeds go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.) When you get back to the hotel you receive a City Running Tours T-Shirt, water, and photos taken on the run are emailed to you later. You also get the smug feeling of having done something healthy, and justification for raiding the mini-bar or splurging at the spa afterwards.

City Running Tours offers guided runs in other cities including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Charleston, and Austin.