Dec. 29 Run: Peet's Coffee on 3619 Forbes Ave. in Oakland and don't forget Xmas holiday run: 7:30 a.m. Commonplace

Next up:  First, Xmas run tomorrow 7:30 a.m. at our default spot, Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill.  And on Sunday:  Oakland area run starting at Peet's Coffee, 3619 Forbes in Oakland, off of Atwood.

Glad tidings!  As a very special treat for the season, the report on last week comes courtesy of Lainy, our bard in residence: 

T’was the run before Christmas and all through the town

The runners were waking to rain coming down

With temperatures rising alongside the sun

The rainfall was heavy and dampened the fun

The plan was a flat one, on Walnut to meet

Outside of the Coffee Tree… patter of feet

First Sarah and Lainy, then Sandy and Yi 

But soon it was clear they were all there would be.

No Wendy or Paulas, no Karen nor Roye,

Just FOUR East End Runners, all ready for joy.

They loitered, they waited, for hopes there’d be more

By 10 after seven, they wondered “what for?”

On Walnut they headed toward mansions on Fifth,

To gaze at a manor all wrapped like a gift!

Then down Panther Hollow, more modest abodes

And up a steep staircase to Oakland’s back roads.

Now Tom should not read this, of this I must WARN

For then…a spontaneous route change was born

See, Sandy, it turns out, had yet to discover

The most beloved Shrine of the Sweet Blessed Mother.

So onward the foursome did head in a line

To take in the Queen of the Parkway Shrine

As always, a treat full of awe and some wonder

The sky remained grey with some rain, but no thunder.

Now back into Oakland and towards the Cathedral

(And now comes the trespass that wasn’t quite legal)

Though fire alarms flashed and speakers spewed warnings,

We’re used to the Cathedral being open most mornings

Now, back at the Coffee Tree others arrived

And into the ritual chatter we dived

We spoke of good movies, and holiday treats

And next week the run starts in Oakland at PEET’s!

In keeping with Christmas Day rituals and rites

We’ll meet at the Starbucks, in jackets and tights

Not ‘til 7:30 (you get to sleep in)

Then promptly the Christmas Day Run will begin.

But meanwhile we hope that the week will bring fun,

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good RUN!