McCarren Park Track

Behind the Painting

There's nothing better than the McCarren Park track in the summer, especially when the sun is going down and the air has been cooled by afternoon rain. The other night I stood at the starting line to paint.

I get nostalgic when I'm at the track. A breath of crushed rubber unearths the memory of countless high school races. The cool anticipation before the 400m dash. Lacing up spikes. Bending down to adjust blocks. Crack of starting gun. Strain of muscle. Kick down the home stretch. Crossing the finish line weightless, then breathless.

Everybody at McCarren was in motion. Some were trying catch that weightless feeling, sprinting into the straightaway. Boxers sparred. Joggers stretched. Plankers planked. Everyone dodged the occasional errant soccer ball.

I met Kiki. He's been coming to this corner of the track for years. An athletic looking group assembled around him, and he led them through movements of increasing difficulty. "Everybody lay down. Now untie your shoe!" The group groaned in unison. I painted the ab workout, the mats and barbells.

The lights came on. A guy set up a speaker and started jumping rope to dance music. Kiki packed up his workout gear. "Gavin! We'll see you again soon!"