Jan 2 Run: Common Place Coffee, Jan 1 Run: same place at 7:30 AM

Continuing the holiday run theme, all runs will start from Common Place Coffee. The New Year's Day run will start at 7:30 AM so everyone can sleep in ;-)

A very few of us had a lovely snowy Christmas run through Homewood Cemetery on Saturday, complete with deer - it was a beautiful morning. Today a different few people showed up for the hilly "bird" run - a good calorie burner after the holiday excesses. But, despite the indulgences (or perhaps because of them) we continued the food theme in our coffee chat. A day trip to Cleveland's West Side Market (http://www.westsidemarket.org/) was considered after Elaine's enthusiastic description. The virtues of butter; bacon Brussels sprouts and figs; as well as Indian spiced okra were discussed.

But here is the secret to our ability to consume and a good reason to keep getting up early to run!

HEALTH   | December 15, 2010 
Well: Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast 
By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS 
A new study suggests that exercising on an empty stomach can combat a high-fat, high-calorie diet. 

Dec 26 and other holiday runs: Squirrel Hill

Hard to believe that we have just a few more runs left in 2010! Here is the schedule:

Fri, 24 Dec: The usual 5:45 AM run (Tom will be there)

Sat, 25 Dec: 7:30 AM at Starbucks, Forbes and Shady (it is the only place open)

Sun, 26 Dec: 7:00 AM at Common Place Coffee

Routes will be improvised based on the group will (except of course for Friday) but may involve Homewood Cemetery, Frick Park or Shady Side.

Although it was cold there was no snow or ice curtailing the run this morning. We were able to see the panthers with their hats as well as Dippy the dinosaur keeping warm with a red scarf. A red-tailed hawk surveyed nonchalantly us from its perch over the Panther Hollow Bridge without the red jacket that Tom said he was meant to be wearing. We got a little taste of Schenley Park in the winter before heading back to Squirrel Hill where we had to imagine a very elaborate inflatable display (it was Tom's run - you knew there were be at least one inflatable) on Marlboro Ave - unfortunately the owners had not anticipated early morning gawkers.

Several runners on the injured list joined us for coffee and Pam provided ginger bread making it even more festive than usual.

Dec 19 Run: Tom's House for the Holiday Panther Run

Another run that is sure to bring bad weather: meet at Tom's house (5434 Ayesboro - about a 1/2 block from Forbes) for a run to see the Panther statues by Phipps with their holiday hats on. I am sure there will be additional visual treats, knowing Tom.

I admit, I was thinking of staying in bed this morning, but as I have recently learned, 40's and light rain is really not bad running weather, so I drove downtown and of course was glad I did. 

Despite having the role of run leader thrown at him with no warning, Tom took us on a comprehensive tour of the city's holiday displays, with a few historical facts thrown in for our learning pleasure. One of the first stops was at, what I always thought was a mural, of Pirate players throughout history displayed at the juncture of Second Ave. and the Boulevard. It is not a mural but a painting on canvas. Our enthusiastic pointing and touching caught the attention of a near-by police person who turned on his siren and gave us a stern hands-off warning. We have done unsanctioned things in the past but this was the first time anyone noticed! Luckily this did not set a precedent and we managed to restrain ourselves for the rest of the run - although I was sorely tempted to have us all climb into the the life-size nativity scene at the Steel Building (we decided it would be safer to Photoshop our faces onto the statues given our earlier run in with the law). Despite some who did not find the Macy's windows attractive, I and a few others found their detail and execution entrancing. We also saw many well-decorated trees and had a discussion about the proper display of Menorahs but the big finale was an amazing display of ginger bread houses at PPG place (http://www.ppgplace.com/gingerbread.php). There were many ingenious subjects and artful touches to capture your attention! Among others there was a pyramid made of Matzo crackers, a church made out of gum, a rendering of the civic arena, a swiss chalet with little hearts on the shutters, a remarkable likeness of St. Bernard's Church in Mt. Lebanon made by pre-schoolers and more. We discussed these and lots of other topics over coffee and donuts at Dunkin Donuts in  the all new Market Square - continuing the new random practice of having coffee where we run. This also made it easier for Louise to get to know us. She a long-time lurker now made famous as part of the dining table relay.Welcome!

Oh and for those who are looking for new dinner ideas, here is a site with an intriguing name but delicious recipes: http://cooktobang.com/ 

Dec 12: PPG Place for a Holiday Run

Assuming the roads are passable, next Sunday we will meet at the Tomb of the Unknown Bowler - aka PPG Place for a tour of the city's holiday sites - a classic run, not to be missed.

Run to the Run starts at 6:15AM from Phipps (not Squirrel Hill).

Hello winter! Cold winds and snow did not prevent a good showing for a scenic and adventure-full run this morning. We headed out from IHOP and after a few downhills and turns the road opened up to a snowy post-card view of the Mon - it was a run stopper! We were the first to make a mark on the river trail on our way to the Glenwood bridge and by this time big fluffy flakes were adding to the holiday feel. Many thanks to Roye who remembered the little tricks for getting on to and off of the bridge! Unfortunately the were big gates across the entrance  to Sand Castle which were not closed the last time we did this route. After some discussion and a pause to let a train go by we opted (well, I started running) to take the tracks. Luckily no other trains came and we were able to pick up a road very quickly. After that it was back to the stacks, up to the Homestead Grays bridge where a flock of birds and a hawk greeted us then across the river where we got a good view of where we had just run. Those who did not have to head home (this turned out to be a longer run than expected) stayed for a big enough breakfast to feed even those who did not order!