City Desk: Man of Iron

IRONMAN competitions bring fitness freaks to the world’s pleasure spots to swim, run, and cycle. In summer everyone leaves the city for the country or the beach by Friday at the latest, so cocktail parties jam up in mid-week. This summer I competed in a Manhattan cocktail-party ironman, completing three in one evening.

As with physical ironman competitions, preparation is important. First, study a street map. Manhattan is a simple grid, except where it isn’t, and two of my parties were below 14th Street. You barely remember which direction the one-way streets down there run yourself; Mohammed from Karachi will have no idea. Refresh your memory, and prepare to walk. Second, dress accordingly. Fortunately the skies were clear; rain gear would have added another degree of difficulty. Keep it cool; no one has less charm than a red-faced blowfish, puffing from a hot stroll. This is no time for special shoes; if you catch an Italian toe on a Belgian block, you may be out of commission. Remember to go easy on the alcohol and the snacks: it’s all free, and the catering will be nice, but you’re eating and drinking for three.

About the Author

Richard Brookhiser

Historian Richard Brookhiser is a senior editor of National Review and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute.

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IRONMAN competitions bring fitness freaks to the world’s pleasure spots to swim, run, and cycle. In summer everyone leaves the city for the country or the beach by Friday at the latest, so cocktail parties jam up in mid-week. This summer I competed in a Manhattan cocktail-party ironman, completing three in one evening.

As with physical ironman competitions, preparation is important. First, study a street map. Manhattan is a simple grid, except where it isn’t, and two of my parties were below 14th Street. You barely remember which direction the one-way streets down there run yourself; Mohammed from Karachi will have no idea. Refresh your memory, and prepare to walk. Second, dress accordingly. Fortunately the skies were clear; rain gear would have added another degree of difficulty. Keep it cool; no one has less charm than a red-faced blowfish, puffing from a hot stroll. This is no time for special shoes; if you catch an Italian toe on a Belgian block, you may be out of commission. Remember to go easy on the alcohol and the snacks: it’s all free, and the catering will be nice, but you’re eating and drinking for three.