Jan 3 Run: PPG Place < NOW AT COFFEE TREE

Hoping for better weather, we will try again to do the downtown holiday run, starting at PPG Place - home of the big tree and ice skating rink. Tom can't be there but it appeared there would be enough cars to ferry people back who run to the run. Still bus money might be a good idea :-)

A run to the run will start from Phipp's at 6:15 AM.

In deference to late night revelries, the New Year's Day run will start at 7:30 AM - meet at the Coffee Tree, although we might have to go to Starbucks for coffee....

A good number appeared for a pleasant run through Chatham and Shadyside this past Sunday. Thanks to the clearing skies and bare trees we were treated to a far reaching view from the top of Chatham. Despite its bad reputation, winter can be a beautiful time of year with it's subdued color palate and ability to see all the hidden places. Pam Murray joined the run and Paula the Brit and Iain came for coffee - all of them having gone missing due to schedules and some injuries.

Dec 27 & Christmas Runs: Coffee Tree, Squirrel Hill

Since quite a few people are traveling coming week we decided to save the downtown run until the weekend after New Years. For simplicities' sake, next Sunday's run will start from the Coffee Tree in Squirrel Hill. There will also be a run from the same place on Christmas Day beginning at 7AM. If you don't celebrate this particular holiday or can sneak out of the house, come join us on, what is always a pleasant start to the day.

I hope everyone got the change of venue mail and no one was waiting at Phipps or at PPG place for everyone to appear. In the future, if the weather looks dicey please check your email for any last minute changes.

After making the decision to move the run, it took us a while to figure out exactly where we wanted to go from the Coffee Tree. Homewood Cemetery turned out to be a perfect choice. They had plowed, there were no cars, the winter scenes were classic and we saw 5 deer - what a better way to spend a snowy winter morning.

Safe and happy travels to everyone heading out to interesting and warm places!

Dec 20 Run PPG place for a Pittsburgh Holiday Run

The next holiday run will be a tour of the downtown holiday decorations and there are lots to see! Meet at PPG Place (glass buildings, big Christmas Tree, skating rink) at 7:00. There is free metered parking around there on Sunday. I will have to miss this run, one of my favorites :-(, so I would ask that someone take notes.

For those wanting to run to the run, meet at Phipps Conservatory ready to take off at 6:15 AM - as I recall it takes all of the 45 min to get downtown.

What began as a well attended Sunday run turned into, hopefully, a one of a kind run/walk/hike. Unfortunately we also had what I think may be our first accident on the run - Amy fell and injured her wrist. We have to wait to hear if it was broken or not.

What started out as rain quickly turned into ice just as the run was about to begin. This was vividly demonstrated by Teri and Jonathan who slid down Tom's driveway like it was a sledding hill! Tom, our leader, left us at Forbes Ave for the predictability of his elliptical following several others who headed home before even beginning (which now looks to have been a good idea). Those of us remaining ran on (literally) the golf course, then slithered down to the Steve Falloon Trail which even had icy patches on it. That was enough to convince us to head back so we continued up the hill above Schenley drive - which did provide us with a small diversion in the form of a spectacular view. When we reached Forbes, a bus had pulled over and cars were lined up behind an accident - the road was unpredictable, free of ice at some spots and very slick at others. We got split up as we made our way to the Coffee Tree - besides Amy, I heard others also fell. A few of us did manage to gather for coffee and comfort at the Coffee Tree.

Dec 13 Run: Tom's House for the Panther Hat Run

I hope I am getting this right but I believe that next week we meet at Tom's house ( 5434 Ayesboro - about a 1/2 block from Forbes) for one of the traditional holiday runs and maybe if we are lucky it will include few inflatables on the way.

Yesterday's run was eventful - it was the first really cold morning for running and I think several of us (myself included) could have used a few more layers as we waited for the large group of run to the runners to arrive. When we all assembled we began a classic EE Runners neighborhood tour - that is we went up (yes, it also included a big hill!) streets and saw sites most of us would never see otherwise - what a delight. It even included a stop for a photo!

At a point in the run closest to Squirrel Hill first two then suddenly many run to the runners decided to run back. Those of us who stuck with Roye got to see the house that Teri and Rick lived in for quite a few years along with many other sweet as well as elegant row houses. Roye led us down to the river passing run-stopping sites all along the way - the River Moon Cafe, a Frame Shop/Art gallery that looked like it was made from an old barn/warehouse, the River itself where we ran a long the Three Rivers Heritage Trail (who knew it was there!). We passed a big Robot at the Robotics center as well as a little park - it definitely is a trail to be re-visited. I had to miss coffee but I am sure it was stimulating as always!