Memorial Day, and June 6 runs

First the meeting places:
Tomorrow's Memorial Day Run at 7:30(!) at the Coffee Tree - a replay of an old favorite to Greenfield, up hills, over bridges (what else is new?)

Next Sunday's run on June 6 is being planned by Elaine and will leave from the Tomb of the Unknown Bowler downtown (i.e. PPG Place fountain area) and will visit many fountains!

At Jonathan's excellent suggestion we are calling our adventure today a real Nine-Mile Run, since not only did it trace that watery trail but it may have covered 9 whole miles (at least it felt that way.) Now, if you don't want a long and involved (but worth it!) story, you can stop reading here.

So it all started with a mysterious and suggestive map that appeared on Elaine's kitchen table this morning indicating that a path could be taken deep into Frick Park leading to an unknown new footbridge. And so we followed it (mainly) and lo and behold, beyond Commercial Street and the Irish Center, heading toward the river - an adorable spanking new footbridge (sort of Japanese looking) and new path beyond. Which we followed quite to its end, and further into Duck Hollow - a tiny hamlet tucked away with a handful of picturesque little houses and gardens, one of which was chock full of fascinating objects, reminiscent of the Shrine of the Blessed Mother, but without the Mother. At one point one could look up into the woods and see the "city peeking over its brow" (Jonathan's fine phrasing again.) There a kind denizen stopped in her car and tried to help us find a new trail back, but to no avail, so we wandered up the endless hills through exquisite wildflower fields, rubble-strewn construction sites, a fortunately placed port-a-potty, and finally the Truman Show-like Summerset neighborhood, where we longed desperately to jump into their giant sparkling swimming pool. So - 9 miles? We're saying so.

Coffee tree items:
The term "rurban"
New stretch fanny pack at REI that is not dorky
The annual 500-person bike ride with beer - the Pedal Pale Ale Ride - which sadly was 2 weeks ago, but we will try to remember next year
There is an amazing ceremony at the nightly closing of the India-Pakistan border: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0ue-XGl9c
WE WERE IN THE PAPER last month -
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10125/1055541-51.stm

May 30 and Memorial Day runs: Coffee Tree. Memorial Day -> 7:30AM

This Sunday and Monday (Memorial Day) will be Coffee Tree Runs. In honor of the holiday, Monday's run will begin at 7:30AM

Thanks to Wendy this account of last Sunday's Run (which I am sorry I had to miss!):

Virginia, Elaine and I were running late from the Squirrel Hill CT and so were happy to see a large group of familiar runners coming toward us on Liberty.

I was so engrossed in conversation that I can't tell you exactly where we went but the weather was fine and we ended up passing by the new Flea Market in the Strip and finally to our destination, La Prima Espresso. 

Terry, Karen and I convinced the not-yet-open Enrico's to sell us a bag of fragrant pastries which tasted wonderful with our freshly roasted coffee. We learned that Cheryl will soon stay at an Italian villa near Florence, that Karen and her family will make an extended trip to Barcelona, where they'll be joined by Carrie, and that Pam just won a free two week trip to Europe! 

Next Sunday's run will commence at the Coffee Tree. I will be away then too, so don't have any details about Memorial Day run.

I will still be MIA this weekend (my new rowing team actually gets out on the water on Memorial Day!) but hope to see everyone again the following week!!

May 23 Run: Parking Lot at 21rst and Liberty in the Strip

Having gotten to bed around 3AM (!) after a night of fast Bulgarian dancing, I slept right through the run. Thanks to Elaine for providing a wonderful review. Sad to say I have to miss yet another great run as I will be out of town next Sunday so if someone can do the honors, I will be most appreciative.

We had a stunning run through the sylvan depths of Frick Park. We headed down the recently refurbished Riverview Trail, crossed the valley, and climbed the Braddock Trail back to Forbes Avenue and on to Coffee. It was another delightful run as the temperature was ideal, trails were perfectly groomed, and the dappled sun through the trees gave us comfortable morning light.

To view 05/16/2010 Route, follow the link below:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/view_route?r=550127401568027458

Next week’s run will leave from the parking lot at 21^st and Liberty Avenue in the Strip. We will run across the Allegheny to the North Side. 

Run to the Run meets at 6:20 AM at the Coffee Tree on Forbes.

May 16 Run: Colfax

Paula Leslie kindly sent this along about today's run:

A small gathering (Roye, Wendy, Jonathon, Sharon, Roye's daughter who's name I can't remember sorry!) and me. I'm sure the others will update better. Cold but pleasant. Through Chatham, Shadyside and then on the "secret lane" to Devon Road. Through the gathering throngs of Komenites. Didnt' stay for coffee so there is more to tell. Next week meet at Colfax.

To view EER 05/09/2010 Route, follow the link below:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/view_route?r=502127342097299460

Race for the Cure was good for running but cold for walking home. I saw Teri and Kate as well as Tom but I am sure there were other EE runners there. It has been several years since I have run and was pleasantly surprised to see it is now a DIY run - you can just start any old time. You miss that big burst of energy and noise at the start but you also miss the crush of runners (this was for the un-timed 5K). 

May 9 (Mother's Day) Run: Coffee Tree

Race for the Cure is next Sunday. If you are not running in the race, meet at the Coffee Tree for an improvised run. For those running the race, Tom offered his house/driveway as a meeting place. The race starts at 8:35 so I guess meet any time after 8AM (we did not clarify those details). I will be at the RftC - could those on the regular run please choose a run for the following Sunday?

Hope everyone who ran in the 1/2 marathon enjoyed their race, despite the rain. We thought of you!

A small group of us had fun running through the back streets of Shadyside and then returning on the race course, which had been closed off by that time. We were cheered on by volunteers and serenaded by a band that was warming up - it was a small sample of what awaited the runners although we were in less pain (I think). Today was also what might have been a running group first: no-one stayed for coffee! Instead many of us grabbed coffee and went off to cheer the marathoners who I have to say were more appreciative than I might have been at the 16 mile mark.