July 4th Run: Commonplace Coffee at 7:30AM

After consulting with PTB we arbitrarily decided to go with the usual Holiday Run - so meet at Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill at 7:30AM and participate in a run chosen by the majority of attendees in celebration of the democratic process.

July 3rd Run: PPG Place, July 4th Run TBD

Thanks to Elaine Mormer for capturing this past Sunday's run:

We decided to embrace the fourth of july festivities and Regatta by taking in River views of the preparations. ….Meet at PPG place for a rivers and bridges run, with views of the sand sculpture at Point Park.

Sunday’s run took a leafy course skimming the upper trails of Frick Park. We visited a robust tree planted by Iain in the Frick Park basin. The group was relatively small, but boldly faced the wooded hilly trails for a 5 mile loop back to coffee.

Thanks to Paula tb for mapping the route…http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/38891580

Watch this space for information on a July 4th run.

Jun 26 Run: CommonPlace Coffee

After two "designer" runs, next week will be local. Meet at the CommonPlace Coffee shop for what will likely be a Frick Park run.

Today we ran on the newest portion of the trail connecting Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. It was classic Pittsburgh: steep wooded hill on one side, on the other a little more greenery, train tracks, the river and Steel Mills on the far bank - that Western PA mix of nature and industry that surrounds us. We ended up on the backside of Kennywood, looking at the abstract sculpture that two of the roller coasters make and wondering if we could easily sneak into the park (we did not).

More iPhone chat at coffee, along with all the other usual diverse topics such as reading cookbooks on the beach.

Jun 19 Run: Lowe's in Waterfront

Meet at Lowe's in the Waterfront for a run somewhere near there that may or may not include Kennywood (discussion over coffee was raucous and I did not catch all the details!). Park in the Lowe's parking lot but close to the road not the store.

Run to the run: 6:15AM at the CommonPlace Coffee Shop in Squirrel Hill.

It must be summer:

• Many people were there
• We hosted out of town guests both at the run and after
• We diverted from the original run plan (a sign of vacation laxness creeping in)
• It was hot and humid
• We saw an exotic flower in Panther Hollow
• We took up all of CommonPlace's outdoor seating and more (it was a little street party)
• Great enthusiasm was showered on a father and daughter who were promoting an Urban Chicken Coop tour 
• Two members have children graduating from high-school today (congratulations Wendy and Virginia)
• Map of the challenging and impromptu run: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/37279906

News of Note:

Our own Virginia Lynn writing in the Post Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11162/1152816-109.stm

Texture Contemporary Ballet Company Performances: July 8th @ 8pm, July 9th @ 2pm and July 9th @ 8pm

Get tickets at: http://www.showclix.com/search/Texture%20Contemporary%20Ballet

This is the group my son, Edward, will be dancing with.

June 12 run: Schenley Park starting at Wendy Bennett Trailhead

Next week’s run through the leafy environs of Schenley Park, starting at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead (entrance to Schenley Park below the Oval).

So gather round to hear the Legend of the Founding Mothers! Handed down to us today by Elaine, who conferred with her fellow FM, Susie Hall, on Friday night, and hereby confirmed: It was a day in 1992 at the Toy Lending Library, when she, Susie, and Bobbie K. decided to overcome the obstacles to running presented by their young families, and pledged to head out every Sunday morning at 7 a.m.– and soon thereafter were joined by another Susan H., and then Elena, and then Tom, and ultimately… everyone else. And so it began, the Running Group, soon to reach its 20th anniversary! We need to start planning an event: direct flight to Paris, anyone?

That history culminated a delightful though slightly muggy run through the strip, over to Herr’s Island and back, where we ran by, among other things, a leaping woodchuck/groundhog (not sure), the cheery blue and yellow Gran Chapiteau of Cirque de Soleil, and the new path along the river past the Convention Center – at which point we glanced up beyond the eerily dark underground water path to catch sight of more cheery blue and yellow - the Megabus making its stop.

Coffee at La Prima was in fact primo due to the conjunction of: lots of us, coffee aromas, balmy outdoor temperature, and fresh out of the oven meles. And, of course, the Legend.

Endorsements:
 Glass blowing classes at the Pittsburgh Glass Center: http://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/classes/classes-page.aspx
 Trader Jack’s Flea Market in Bridgeville: http://traderjacksfleamarket.net/ - they have plants! But according to many of us, it is practically in West Virginia.
 Rosemary olive oil cake – not sure which recipe was referred to but this one looks pretty good! http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/rosemary-olive-oil-cake-recipe.html