July 3rd and 5th Runs: Coffee Tree

Next week being a holiday weekend many of us (myself included) will be running in other venues. We did not choose a place this morning after the run so I am going with the old faithful Coffee Tree meeting place and let whoever shows up choose the run. 7 AM as always.

I am guessing Tom may still be out there at 5:45 AM on Friday but for others who have the day off, how about meeting at 7:30 AM (a little sleep in) on July 3rd at the Coffee Tree?

Even though Joanne is taking a break from running to rest some nagging injuries, the rest of us finally managed to find our way to her run, enjoying the colorful gardens and houses of Highland Park along the way. The Park itself is a different place with all the summer overgrowth crowding the trails. The group split up at the end some going back to Squirrel Hill and Pam and I staying at Tazza D'Oro. We were joined by Joanne for one of their tasty Cinnamon rolls and some very good coffee.

June 28 Run: Highland Park, Tazza D'Oro Coffee Shop

Meet at Tazza D'Oro Coffee Shop near the corner of Highland Ave and Bryant St. for a Highland Park run. Either we will run Joanne's Highland Park run or Pam Murray will help us find an Urban farm near-by.

Meet at Shady and Wilkins at 6:35 AM for a run to the run (it is about 2.5 miles).

I was still recovering from a hard day of rowing so did not go on the run this morning. I did however join the group for coffee and heard that they had a great tour of the grand houses in Friendship. Among other things they saw a very large marble front yard Buddha, new wave gardens and some of intriguing art shops that are popping up on Penn Ave.

June 21 Run: Rite Aid at the corner of Roup/Negley and Baum Blvd

Cheryl will take us on a run through the picturesque homes of Friendship next Sunday. Meet at the Rite Aid on the corner of Roup, Negley and Baum Blvd.

There will be a run to the run starting at the Coffee Tree in Squirrel Hill at 6:35 AM (according to Google maps it is 1.7 miles).

Is it my imagination, but has this been a particularly lovely spring in Pittsburgh? Sure we have had some gray and rainy days during the week but it seems every Sunday morning has been cool, clear, and sunny - perfect running weather. Today Teri led us through the ups and downs of our own Frick Park, which was looking particularly nice in all its summer greenery. As an extra bonus we stopped to browse through a yard/house sale on our way back to her house (we missed you Wendy!).

As often is the case it was the after run activity that was the highlight of the run (for me at least). Today Teri hosted a book exchange/ breakfast at her house. As you might expect, our group members are eclectic readers with fine taste in books. We all left with big stacks of interesting books and agreed that we will have to do this regular intervals so we can reshuffle the books among ourselves. After book browsing we sat on Teri's pleasant back deck, sipping coffee, eating treats and sharing vacation plans - some of which are very ambitious.

June 14 Run: Teri's house for a book exchange

Teri Malmstrom is hosting a combined run and book exchange (we exchange books after the run :-) this coming Sunday which also happens to be Flag day. Bring books you are ready to retire and find others to read. Teri kindly offered her porch, if people want to drop books off the night before and not carry them while running to the run.

Teri lives on the Severn Street in the 1400 block of Severn St - the end closer to Wilkins on the right hand side as you face away from Wilkins. The house is trimmed in pink and has a lot of flowers on the porch. I confess she gave me her house number earlier today but I am uncertain I am remembering the final two digits correctly - I am sure she will send out the correct address sometime this week.

Many people ran from the Coffee Tree to the Hot Metal bridge this morning for I admit, one of my favorite runs along the Monongahela River past UPMC Sports Medicine toward Sand Castle. It is a flat out and back course and right now a screen of trees obscures the river, but the sound of the birds, the glimpses of the River and the forested hills on the other side give it a little bit of a rural feel - a pleasant break from our city streets.

We saw a tow boat and its barges on the river and there was some discussion about if it was a big tow or not: it was 3 barges wide and two long. My husband, former barge hand, says that this is the maximum size for the Mon where the lock chambers are 600ft. On the Ohio, where lock chambers are 1200 fit, the tow can be 5 barges long. On the Mississippi, were there are no locks the tow can be 10 - 12 barges long - but never more than 3 across.

Practically everyone came back to the Coffee Tree and consequently took over the front part. The new windows were open making for a very pleasant indoor/outdoor experience.