Head out from the cabin with Nala. Turn right. Go down the long hill that follows the path of the river. The roadway is empty. Cabins mainly vacant. It is off season. The county is just commong off an executive order banning Airbnb rentals due to the pandemic.
Read MoreAm wound up tight. Aggressive tendencies barely restrained. Okay, maybe not restrained at all. In full warrior mode.
The defense lawyers haven't been too bad lately. Wish they were bad. Then could have an outlet for this simmering fury.
Read MoreOut the revolving door of the Sheraton onto Canal Street. Run across two lanes of traffic, the street car in the middle, two more lanes of traffic and reach the other side. It's late in the afternoon. A nice assortment of unfortunate ragged souls line up against neon lit buildings.
Read MoreAm so excited to run in Central Park. Can hardly stand it.
Out the door of the Hilton, to the left and according to the concierge, will run straight into the park. It is gorgeous, barely muggy out and very sunny. Weave in and out of the people strolling down the street. Give in to peer pressure and jaywalk/jog terribly until arrive at the massive green belt. Need to get inside. Way is blocked by busload of Japanese tourists. And a lineup of horse drawn carriages. Make it inside.
Read MoreOut the door, down the cobbled street to the left a few feet, under the archway and am in St. Marco’s Piazza. The weather is perfect at barely 70. In honor of being in Italy, Ipod is filled with songs from…why Madonna of course. Starts off with Lucky Star. Am getting in the Venetian spirit.
Read MoreTake two right turns out of the hotel. My breath catches. Am facing the capital building. Smile hugely. Techno music on the ipod. The sun is shining and it is muggy. Negotiate the sidewalks and cross streets. Arrive at the Capital Mall.
Reminds me of the big track around the Tour d'Eiffel. The vast open spaces are great for running. Try to get lost but can’t because the monuments are everywhere. Like giant compass markers. The Washington Monument is the first one in line. It is tall, white, solid, symmetrical. Massively Pristine. Run around it, looking up but decide better keep eyes on the ground. Lots of ruts in the path.
Read MoreFinish speech. Time to see the city that I've only seen through my hotel room.
Black knee length tights, racerback shirt, long-sleeve shirt, sunglasses, cap. Ipod. Grab a running map from the front desk. Turn left out the door. Blue skies. Probably around 70 degrees. A bit windy. Down two blocks on W Peachtree to 10th. Take a right and head for The Park. Pass cute little eateries with outdoor seats filled with those having a late lunch or afternoon snack. Too hot. Wiggle out of long sleeve while running (nice spectacle) and tie it around waist. Can’t help but smile. Left snow in Seattle.
Read MoreI head out the hotel take a right and manage to find the Seine river. This is my goal because I figure it will be less difficult for me to get lost. I’ve got such great location radar. It is like my intuition just takes me there. I pat myself on the back (mentally because I’m running of course). And notice that I can go down off the sidewalk and run on a path right alongside the river. I do that and head to the right to see what else is downstream. Not terribly interesting plus the path runs out, so I turn back.
Read MoreHempfest - Seattle's Ode to All things Marijuana - clogs up the park I want to run through Sunday afternoon. So I decide to try Discovery Park. I would actually like to run to it, but there is no trail leading into it. By now you will have noticed my running pattern involves avoiding streets. What's wrong with streets? Hmmmm. Being hit by a car is the number one reason. But also, I don't like having to turn up my ipod all the way to drown out the car noise. Plus inhaling the exhaust fumes mentally (if not physically) defeats the goal of enhancing health. Plus I don't want to get hit by a car. Nala either.
Read MoreFor decades, homeowners along the shores of E. Lake Sammamish enjoyed the benefits of adopting for use, the unused railway bed. For some, it ran behind their multi million dollar houses (even a shack is worth a million on the lake). For some it ran in front. In 1996, the land reverted back to the county under the Rails for Trails program. This would create a precious link to an already extensive trail system of about 40 miles. What a wonderful opportunity for the public to get out, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. But No. For more than a decade, the homeowners fought the county until in 2005 finally, the county was given the go ahead.
Read MoreIn my mind I've pictured Twin Falls as a quaint small town with cute storefronts and obviously a waterfall or two somewhere. In reality, we drive for a few miles through cattle/farm country from the airport to the city center which consists of government buildings and storefronts which look relatively abandoned.
Read MoreI have to run in the morning which I don't like to do. But there's no other time I can do it so out the door I go, to the right. I'm in Pearland, TX. And it is 80 degrees at 8:30 am. I get about one block before the sweat starts. There is no wind. Just hot thick air that is moving only because I'm running through it. I'm in a planned unit development which means that I can run back and forth up and down and never really get lost because eventually I'll hit a fence that will take me back where I need to go. The street names are like: rosesprings, willowsprings, happysprings. Wishful thinking.
Read MoreThere is a point of critical mass I reach around 2:00 today. I don't want to go to another meeting. I've promised I'll attend one more at 4:00. It is not the best of meetings (i.e. boring and nonsubstantive), and I scoot out early intent on tuning out as quickly as possible. I like getting to know people and doing the cerebral dancing that is required at AAJ convention. But I need to change things up. So off I go, taking a right out of the hotel entrance like I've done everyday, headphones in, tennis shoes on.
Read MoreThe sandy beach frames the ocean as I run along the boardwalk. Past volleyball matches, people walking their pets and each other, rollerbladers, skateboarders, slow going bicyclists. There are no motor noises. No cars with the exception of an occasional police vehicle. Just the sound of voices, the waves, and my headphones. The houses are built as big as they can be - most are like big boxes within arms reach of one another.
Read MoreThe last deposition ends around 4 and I run out the door. Down the road across the bridge. On one side of the river (where we've been) is Lewiston Idaho. The other side is Clarkston Washington. I'm thinking that I will be running along the river, and I am. But I'm on an elevated path, perched on top of a berm created for years when the river runs high. It's a low year so I'm tottering about 20 feet above the river bed.
Read MoreI can't believe I don't fall today. My head is spinning this way and that when I should be looking for potholes. I'm in the Theater District with the old fashioned flashing marquees on every block. The lake - as in The Lake - is about half a mile from the hotel. I go thru the Millenium Park with its fields, tennis courts, and groomed perfection. The Lake looks like the ocean. It is a bit windy so there are waves and you cannot see to the other side. I run past the aquarium and museums, turn back and the city view --- well.
Read MoreAt the last minute the sun makes an appearance so I run out the doors of the Davenport Hotel and head towards the river. Spokane has the wonderful “Centennial Trail” that winds its way from the city through Gonzaga to the out and beyond. As I jog into the country (well, it is country-like in places) I feel like little red riding hood venturing into the forest with all its little creatures.
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