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Stranded!

New York sucks if you have no money.

I went running yesterday morning from Newkirk Avenue to the Prospect Park station on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. It’s a little over two miles. If I run this route, I usually take the train back, but not yesterday.

I got to the station, ready for a nice air-conditioned ride back, and swiped my metro card. “Insufficient Fare” Great, my card expired during the night. Of course I didn’t have my wallet with me, so I had no money to buy a new one.

I didn’t want to be one of those card-swipe beggars, so I had to walk/jog back the way I had come. I was prepared for a two-mile run, but not a four-mile.

Fortunately I had a few hours before I had to go to work. It took me almost twice as long to hobble back, even with a shortcut through the park.

I certainly felt well-exercised afterwards, but now I know that if you find yourself out and about, and you suddenly have no money and no cell phone, New York can be a real pain.