East End Runners

So many decisions could have been bad!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Aug 7 Run: Entrance to Frick Park at Reynolds St

Meet at the entrance to Frick Park at Reynolds and S. Homewood Ave for a trek through one of our lovely parks.
I am sure there will be a Run to the Run from the CommonPlace - watch your email for the exact time.

It was slightly cooler and certainly clearer this morning for the Strip district loop. It lived up to its reputation as a favorite: lots of river views and now a stunning new trial connection by the convention center which offers direct access to the wall of water feature, no more climbing over fences. We waited to see if we could catch a glimpse of triathletes but our timing was off.

The warm weather did make sitting outside of La Prima a treat. The only disappointment was the usual mele supplier was late and the ones from Enrico, while they did have fresh fruit filling, did not quite live up to the melt-in-your-mouth ones.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Jul 31 Run: Parking Lot at Liberty & 21st in Strip

Meet at the Liberty Commons parking lot at 21st Street and Liberty for a favorite loop around the Allegheny River. We may even catch site of a few Triathletes on the way. Coffee and meles at Enrico afterwards - yumm.

I was away again but I am sure last week's run was entertaining given the Vintage Grand Prix centered course. Here is the map of the run  (thanks PtB):
 
 
Cars and cantering.
 
If you remember, I asked for recommendations for a computer repair shop and every recommendation I got, but one, was for the same place (which I find is unusual) so I thought I would pass it on:
Kevin's Computers at Hobart and Wightman:



Monday, July 18, 2011

Jul 24 Run: CommonPlace Coffee in Squirrel Hill

 Thanks to Paul the Brit for taking up scribe's duty while I was rowing away in Boston:

Next week we will do something involving the cars. PtB will lead. Meet at The Common Place. And in an unusually organized fit we planned the week after's run which will be something across the Allegheny around Washington's Landing/boat houses ???? to catch Aimee's husband emerging majestically, from the river to do stage 2 of the triathlon. Not sure he will be wearing a bikini, singing about mango trees, so sadly Sean Connery is unlikely to be present.

Not sure who agreed to do the writing but words that spring to mind are:
 
Welcome to Sarah Ross our newest member.
 
The hat of birthdays was worn by PtB and passed on to Sarah who's birthday is SOON but not as SOON as Dr P's (Pam) who won't be with us next week.
 
Wonderful clear day and views of the downtown and rivers from the dizzy heights of Greenfield. Aimee did a sterling job of guiding us round hills (but not too many to be honest) to catch these views frequently. And then to finish off with some secret city steps.
 
We saw a cutie house where Teri grew up. Tom may also have grown up in Greenfield but I missed that bit. Tom did tell us a tale of the Pittsburgh defenders setting up artillery bases high up on Bigelow in case General Lee paid a visit. I am not up on my american history so forgive me. I suspect General Lee took one look at the hills (and in those days the lack of IKEA or Crate and Barrel) and went off somewhere flatter.
 
Talk at coffee was of..... I arrived a little later with Karen so fill in the blanks but the Race Around the Square was mentioned, the Great Race, Harry Potter and the costume of lipliner (Teri took her daughter's to the showing at midnight and everyone was in costume). A spontaneous, minimalist affair that Jean Muir would have approved of, and Teri's daughter's were envied of.
 
That is all I can remember.
 
I am pretty certain this is it:
 
 
 

Monday, July 11, 2011

July 17 run - from Wendy Bennett Trailhead in Schenley Park through Greenfield

Next Sunday is a Greenfield run led by Aimee, starting at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead.

This Sunday’s run gave a bleakly hot summer day a cool and refreshing start at least. Wendy and I, leading from behind much of the way in time-honored tradition, brought our sizeable group down a newish cool and shady path through Frick Park, zigzagged by cute hopping bunnies and misty slanted rays of sun. We crossed over Commercial St., and followed another newish path to the Monongahela dock where a day of fishing and beer apparently starts early. Nobody defected at that point however. Detour to adorable Duck Hollow and an analysis of its tiny ceramic animal shrine in relation to the Blessed Mother one. Climbed the killer hill back up to Summerset, where we marveled at its resemblance to a set for The Truman Show. We considered leaping over the gate into the pool, the second time on the run we were almost seduced into our habitual brush with the law, the first being the earthmoving equipment whose gigantic seats and shovels were just perfect photo ops. Oh well - maybe next time. Coffee was delightful as usual enhanced by a super pumpkin bread made by Carrie (maybe this is the one) and talk of summer weekends away. This led to endorsements: The Cambridge Suites in Torontowhich provides free bicycles, and Jeni’s ice cream in Columbus which is also available at ruinous (but maybe worth it) expense at Whole Foods.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Jul 10th Run: Blue slide playground for a Duck Hollow run

 Thanks to Wendy for leading next week's run as well as her recounting of the holiday runs:
 
Roye and I will co-lead from the Blue slide playground. We'll head thru Frick Park down to Commercial and across Nine Mile Run to Duck Hollow. 
Heads up to runners: It might be a somewhat longer than usual  route.

It was an especially steamy couple of runs, Sunday downtown over bridges and Monday locally thru Murdoch Farms. Both outings concluded with Commonplace Coffee gabfests with subjects ranging from Haikus for Jews, why there is no Nobel Prize award for math, why it's not a good idea to wear a Pirates cap in Red Sox country, the difficulties of searching for alcohol on an early holiday morning and guilty pleasure books like Game of Thrones. We welcomed Bud and Susan Hunt at the Monday run and PtB shared some scrumptiously patriotic cherry/white choc chip/blueberry shortbreads, representing her maiden voyage as a cookie baker. Believe it or not!