January 28 Run: Bakery Square Coffee Tree for a Special Event

Special event this Sunday!  Run will be led by Sarah's friend Erika Strassburger, who has been chief of staff for Dan Gilman during his time as city councilman in District 8, and is running for the newly vacated seat. She'll be leading a run around district 8 - beginning and ending at Coffee Tree Roasters at Bakery Square - and will point out some of the happenings in the district. She is also eager to talk to us about the the burgh app connected to 311- that runners and walkers are particularly suited to use because we literally hit the streets and see things that people in cars may not.  Useful information on the move!

Joanne led a delightful Highland Park run that had so many runners and walkers that we took up an entire side of Enrico's.  I didn't catch the endorsements because, to be truthful, we were so loud.
But two items to impart:

• Joanne recommends training with "Triathlons for Everyone" - call Elite Runners and Walkers in Monroeville if you want to know more.  This involves swimming in a nearby lake, in Keystone State Park, in New Alexandria, PA, which all by itself sounds pretty cool.  
• Sara Spanjer from Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and member of this list wrote in to inform us of their mission in Poland this upcoming summer, including a 55-mile bike ride from Auschwitz-Birkenau to the JCC Krakow. The trip is taking place over the Jewish Cultural Festival in Krakow.  More information here.

January 21 Run: From Enrico's Tazza D'Oro for a Highland Park run

Next week we are back to Highland Park (hi Joanne!) starting and ending at the classic Enrico's Tazza D'Oro. We haven't been there in quite a while - since last March, according to a search of this blog. [So I just spent 20 minutes re-reading our captivating endorsements - a much more productive timesink than Facebook.] The forecast isn't arctic, though it might be wet - hoping to get a good group anyway.  Don't forget: walkers welcome!

Concerning last week:  we need to honor the following valiant heroes, who get the "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" award!

January 14 Run: 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill and we'll go from there

So it's going to be freezing again, but this time we're determined to layer up and go out there.  Aren't we?  The Riddler Rule says it's OK if it's over 10 below.  Since we didn't come up with a plan, we'll start at the trusty 61C and try to find a new route - could there be one after all these years?

Walking is now a thing!  (It was just waiting to happen.) We've got walkers AND runners, so if you don't feel like running and want to power walk instead, come on down!  We all end up communing at coffee.

2 weeks ago is already too long to remember how the run went, but there were 2 in a row on Sunday and Monday - Happy New Year!  Cold did not deter us, and the fireplace at the Bakery Square Coffee Tree definitely deserves another visit. 

Endorsements:

• Amy Poehler's Smart Girls
• Movie:  The Meyerowitz Stories
• Cross-country skiing in Laurel Ridge
• Karen had a wonderful experience at Yoga Vida in NYC - which she totally deserved after that unforgettable Megabus trip
• She also told us the secret of visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral: go in the side door
• Never wash dishes without rubber gloves.  I was going to recommend good old Playtex, but then I read this article about Mommy Hands.  Who's going to try them out?
• The New Yorker Radio Hour is now on WESA.  Some of us are thankful that Prosody is out.
• A schlup mask.  We have to revisit this because I can't remember the exact story, but evidently it can be made out of cashmere.
• Best medical news ever:  studies indicate that moderate use of alcohol both protects your heart AND reduces risk of memory loss - cheers and l''chaim!
• 25th Running Group Anniversary coming up!!  Plans are being made.  

January 7 Run: Update: it's too cold!

Update on Saturday:

Hi there everyone,

Just letting you know that tomorrow's "real feel" forecast is for negative 5 degrees at 7 am, and Accuweather has a wind chill advisory until 10 am that terrifyingly says "The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin."

So maybe it's not the best idea to be running out there. 

We have a special plan for next week, when it should be relatively balmy, so stay tuned!

Sorry - just a bulletin today - I just got back from freezing in the Poconos this week (but it was beautiful.) This Sunday we'll visit the Hot Metal and the South Side trails, starting and ending at Big Dog Coffee, 2717 Sarah St.