Blogrunner: Sands Point Run

Monday, January 30, 2012

Sands Point Run

After having traveled this route a few times by car, it was finally the time to do this on foot.
Sands Point, is a village located at the northernmost tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, New York. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,675. The Incorporated Village of Sands Point is in the Town of North Hempstead.

The village was incorporated in 1910. In 1917, the village absorbed the communities of Barkers Point and Motts Point. It was originally owned by three families, the Sands, Vanderbilts, and Cornwells. In 1910 Daniel Guggenheim bought his 216-acre (0.87 km²) Hempstead House, formerly Castle Gould. His son Harry Guggenheim, founder of Newsday, later erected his estate "Falaise" nearby. Today, the estate is part of the Sands Point Preserve, notable for a medieval fair run by Medieval Scenars and Recreations, Ltd., which is held every September. In the 1960s, under less strict building codes, many homes were built on 1-acre (4,000 m²) parcels. Current zoning allows subdivisions of 2 acres (8,100 m²) or more. The Sands Family Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.^[1]

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Sands Point was referred to as "East Egg". East Egg residents inherited their fortunes and were considered more respected than the nouveau riche in newer "West Egg" (Great Neck/Kings Point) because Sands Point had "old money." The story's fictional Buchanans lived in the western part of Sands Point. Reports suggest^[4] that Fitzgerald – who was often a guest at the mansion of Herbert Bayard Swope on Hoffstot Lane at Prospect Point in Sands Point 40°52′08″N 73°42′51″W / 40.8688876°N 73.7141473°W / 40.8688876; -73.7141473 – used the site as his inspiration for the fictional Buchanan home in East Egg. The 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) waterfront mansion had originally been built for A.C. Sloane, originally named Keewaydin, had been designed by Stanford White and built in 1902.^[4] Demolition of the house "Land's End" began on April 16, 2011. It is to be replaced with a subdivision of five houses tentatively priced at $10 million each.^[5] Its owner David Brodsky said it was costing him $4,500/day to maintain and that it was in need of extensive renovations

People Associated with Sands Point

^{Perry Como}^{(1912-2001) Singer.}
^{William Randolph Hearst}^{(1863-1951) Publisher.}^[8]
^{Kenneth Langone}^{(born September 16, 1935) Co-founder (financial backer) of The Home Depot.}
^{Edgar F. Luckenbach}^{(1868-1943) Shipping magnate.}
^{Condé Montrose Nast}^{(1873-1942) Publisher.}
^{John Philip Sousa}^{(1854-1932) Composer.}
^{Carlos Beltran (Once a player for the now HAPLESS METS)}

So, now that you have a "Wiki" point of view, now, it will be my turn to give you a "Blogrunner's" point of View.

First off, if you like running or cycling, then this area is a garden of eden. So many beautiful roads, sparsely traveled. Well appointed mansions everywhere, along with nicely-behaved foliage (I say 'nicely behaved' because people around here have $$$ to keep the streets clear of debris).

Having run 50 miles thus far, I only needed to do 1 mile to break my all-time record for most miles in a week during the month of January. Instead, I was flirting with doing 10, although I had to be responsible, not only to my body, but Karen needed some much deserved time to go and workout as well. It was already 2:30 in the afternoon, so I didn't want to take too much time, and give her some sunlight as it was radiant outside.

With the temps at around 42 (wind chill feel of 33), I headed out in a long sleeve with my Asics jackets, long pants Dunkin Donut hat (obtained at the 2010 NYC Marathon) and gloves. It wouldn't be too long before the gloves when in my pocket. Not just because it wasn't all that cold, but also since picture-taking on the iPhone is impossible without your fingers actually touching the screen.

Above is a picture of Mill Pond, right along side Shore Road on the other side of Manhasset Bay. I ran past here through Harbor Road to get to Middle Neck Road.

Once I reached Middle Neck road and made a left, I would start to head north. It was nice to see a shoulder lane (below), but I would be a little nervous using my bike due to it's narrowness. I will have to tell Karen that it might be better to cross Middle Neck than to actual ride on it.

Port Washington has many "sub" divisions. I was now running through the Village of Port Washington North. Incidentally, I saw only Avenues A & B. Nothing more.

Not long after came the Village of Sands Point....