Sun Sep 4 & Labor Day Runs: Commonplace Coffee

It is an old refrain but really where has the summer gone? This coming weekend is the Labor Day Holiday and the runs will stay close to home base: Sunday 7AM @ Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill, 

Monday 7:30 AM @ Commonplace Coffee (Holiday = sleep in).

Teri organized a complete Sunday morning event for us this past week. It began with a run through Frick Park during which she introduced us to Geocaching - a fun activity for all ages complete with prizes! Back at her house she fed us a scrumptious breakfast complete with homemade scones and muffins. If that were not enough she also hosted a book swap - I saw quite a few people walk away with new reading material. It was a pleasant way to start the summer to fall transition.

Aug 28 Run: Terri's house for run and book swap

Next week Terri Malmstrom has graciously offered to lead a run and host an end of summer book-swap. Terri lives at the Wilkins end of Severn Street in Squirrel Hill. If you are not sure where it is, just park on Wilkins or at the foot of Severn where it intersects with Wilkins. You will be sure to find the group by the chatter!

Bring any books you'd like to "swap." Those that are leftover, will make their way to the library or other worthy cause. This is the second time we have done this and last time I got some great reads so give it a try. Terri is also providing coffee (thank-you!).

We had a new twist on a familiar run today. Elaine led us down Carson Street, which had more foot traffic than I remember from previous Sunday mornings. Tom introduced us to the The Milkshake Factory which in addition to drinks also makes chocolates - sadly it was not open at 7:20 AM on a Sunday morning.
But the real jewel of the run was the The Riverwalk Corporate Center formerly the Terminal Building. It's brick facade has been cleaned, windows replaced and it is now inhabited by small business, such as the embroidery shop that led Elaine to this discovery. We were all taken by the period lettering on the facades and the feeling we had been transported to another time or place. But - that was not all - at the end of the building was a sweeping overlook of the a side of the city we rarely see (not to mention the jail). From there we took the riverside trail back to the Hot Metal bridge. It was good to see the occasional flock of runners and bikers starting to take advantage of this Pittsburgh perk.

Aug 21 Run: Hot Metal Bridge

Elaine Mormer has dreamed up an intriguing sounding run for this coming Sunday:
Meet at the Hot Metal Bridge for a run on the flat South Side trail and neighborhood, with a new side street and staircase.
Note there is a parking lot just beside the bridge - you enter at the foot of Bates Street.

I was not on last Sunday's run and did not get an update but I am sure it was a fine one.

Aug 14 Run: Phipps for a Tom's Special

Tom has offered to lead the run next week which means it will be interesting. Meet at Phipps.

Today's run ended with a story and a metaphor: "Don't drive the wrong way on a one way street" which apparently applied to several of the on the run conversations. Roye claims the group has now reached a new level although it may be that we were all just suffering from the heat. In any case our tour of many of the trails in Frick Park, while hot, was distracting and shady.

Most of us on the run could not go to coffee but apparently several people came by to fill in the gaps.