"Marathoning is just another form of insanity."

John J. Kelly, winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon; U.S. National Marathon Champion eight straight times, 1956-1963. Two time Olympian. (1956 &1960) Five second place finishes at Boston. Pan American Games Marathon Champion in 1959.
(from http://www.runningpast.com/)

Wet streets again, runners keeping the pace, at about hour 4, Highland at Jackson.

running backs, same location, ~same time.

The signs that confounded many who tried to get to Pitt graduations...

Water Station, Highland Ave at Hampton Ave.

I decided to walk from around

Mile 20 (Highland and Jackson) to Mile 21 (Negley and Wellesley?)

Things I remember from this Marathon:

• Someone running seeing my shirt and saying "Pink is the new black!" (I had no idea my shirt would be so popular!!) (My shirt, pale pink, with "Pink is the new black, in black letters.) I also wore my pink beach hat, partially for the rain, but also to have fun with the pink motif.
• Meeting folks that lived along Highland--hi to David, Mary Lee, and Peter, it was great cheering folks along with you.
• a runner who gave us all finger touches as he ran along and we held out our arms.
• The "Runaway Bride/Runaway Groom" couple, in gold shirts with black lettering.
• The woman who had a shirt that said "Go Sarah Go" on the front and "Sarah's Back" on the back.
• The women who had colorful nylon skirts and striped socks.

People were running for food, laptops, or had pictures of cancer survivors on their shirts. It was a lot of fun to cheer them on. The last runner, a guy I watched pour water over his head at the water station at the Union Project (Negley and Stanton): wearing a Steeler's jersey with a lot of ribbons. I cannot for the life of me remember the funny caption on the back of his shirt.

A tragic moment: something resembling an explosive was found around the Greyhound station. It was determined to be a microwave and the bomb squad is still trying to figure out if there was foul play. AP article.

What are your memories of this year's Marathon?

"I ran my fastest marathon in the rain:" Marathon pictures from 2009

(Bill Rodgers, four time winner of Boston, NYC marathons, member of 1976 Olympic team, winner of the 1977 Fukuoka Marathon.)

Well, we've had two rainy marathons here in Pittsburgh. I was going to post after last year's marathon but...so here are some great pictures from last year. I think I have more, but when I changed computers, my pictures got mixed up, so if I find more, I'll post them.

The group in front of Tazza D'Oro, where Jim Ferlo hosted a breakfast. There was a great band.

The Post-Gazette on Monday.

The Tribune-Review on Monday.

The empty street.

Moments I remember from last year:

• being there as the first runners came down Highland.
• being there as the first woman runner came through.
• getting to know folks that were good friends of my neighbors.
• Jeffrey Dorsey, getting to the stage at the Tazza D'Oro area, and dancing when he got there, then going back to run.

He sent this great email to the list-serv:

Thanks for your support yesterday! I ran the marathon and it was a HUGE boost to see families & supporters on Higland Ave, pass T'azzadoro, then pass the Bryant Street Fest, and then the Union Project. Lots of people. Lots of music. (I even stopped to dance the Conga for a second. :)

Thanks to you all for your organizing efforts to support us. Lots of extra good energy, smiles, and encouragement that helped me, and I'm sure a lot of others, continue on to the finish.

Thanks Highland Park!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey

I contacted Jeffrey after he posted that email and told him I was thinking of posting about the marathon...so, a year later...here it is. He said it took about 5 seconds off his finish time.

You may recognize Jeffrey if you hang out at the Union Project...he's the Programming Manager and Interim Executive Director.

Next up...this year's marathon

Pop City loves Highland Park!

Highland Park has a great list-serv. Every day (or so) I get emails about free desks, requests for recommendations for the best local dermatologists, or BAGPIPES, this Sunday (10:50 a.m.), at St. Andrew's Episcopal (in celebration of St. Andrew's Day.) I even once scored free tickets to the Pittsburgh Symphony through the list-serv.

But one of the emails I didn't open until today was a profile of Highland Park in Pop City.

The article is a walking tour of the neighborhood, and my only complaint is that it doesn't spend enough time on the café at the Union Project. But hey, I'm biased, my church, the Open Door, meets at the Union Project, and church members used to be a main part of the café staff. The café, which was once Union Station, then Urban Fusion, and now Eat UP, have great panini sandwiches, and the prices are right. Plus, if you eat your food there, your hot drink or soup may come in handmade pottery, probably made right in the building (there's a pottery studio in the basement, where local potters, Justin Rothshank being one of the most prominent, ply their trade.) Your sandwich or wrap might be served on plates with the name of the Union Baptist Church, one of the former tenants of the church building at 801 Negley Ave.

What's your favorite Highland Park venue?

"Tennis begins with love."

(Unknown)

They're tearing up the tennis courts at Stanton Ave. I noticed it last week when the chain link fencing was gone. I was horrified. What is going on? I walk along that stretch of street most days and when the weather is nice, enjoy watching tennis players. I asked a woman who was at her car. "I don't know," she said. "I keep thinking community gardens." (In my mind I thought, um, there ARE community gardens on Stanton Ave.) I wished I had my camera because there was a surreal look, all the poles for the chain link fencing, but no fence. I actually walked into the courts, it was like walking through invisible walls.

This morning, I was again horrified, as bulldozers were taking apart the courts. I called over to a man who was at his car and he said, "Oh, they're re-surfacing the courts. They do that every fifteen years or so. Yep, that one was resurfaced about fifteen years ago." Phew!

I haven't played tennis in years. It might be a full decade by now. There are tennis courts where my family goes on vacation each summer, and we used to go up at least once during our week there. I stalk the completely unusable tennis court on the campus of the Seminary. I notice they recently took away the trailer that sat at the end.

So what is this obsession I have with tennis? I'm not a player, I'm not a fan (I've never watched a full game that wasn't being played by a family member, and like I said, that was at least a decade ago.) It's this thing I have with joy. People playing tennis are playing. They are running after the ball, or that volley back and forth, back and forth. I love the fact that people play tennis, and I'm always happy to stand and watch the players for a few minutes before resuming my walk.

Maybe someday I'll take up tennis again. But until then, I'm glad to know the Stanton Ave. courts will have a new surface soon.

Oh, and it's not fully autumn yet--the water fountain at the courts is still on.

Highland Park Residential National Historic District

The Highland Park neighborhood is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the "Highland Park Residential Historic District"!

National Register designation is a big honor for our neighborhood. It also increases the financial incentives for some private property owners to maintain the historic character of the Highland park neighborhood.

The Highland Park Community Development Corporation began the nomination process back in 1995 with surveys of over 1,300 structures, documentation of their historic qualities (both social and architectural), and an evaluation of significance by local, state, and federal preservation professionals. Highland Park residents David Hance, Charlie Uhl, & Mike Eversmeyer played a big role in getting the listing. No doubt big thanks should go to others as well.

The announcement was in this week's listing notice on the National Register of Historic Places web site.

It's Freakin' Cold!

Yep, it's freakin' cold out, negative 13 today, but I still heart highland park. Have to admit I didn't feel much like walking the reservoir however...

Mona's law, eh? I dunno, I've got a great husband, a great job at Chatham (in the aforementioned Squirrel Hill), and a great house here in Highland Park. Now if I could just get a little more heat - maybe that's the terd ting that's missing. Well, there's always hot coffee at Tazza D'Oro, right?

And who here was wishing for snow? Please stop! Lololol! Yesterday as me and my frozen neighbor were warming up our cars (we leave for work at the same time) we looked at each other, yet again, as we have for the past three weeks scraping our cars down of the frozen white stuff, we sighed at the same time. "Not again!" we said with our eyes - we had to because our mouths were wrapped tight with scarves.

Summer and my hammock feels so far away. Stay warm neighbors........

Overheard at Tazza, or more reasons to stay in Highland Park

Woman 1: Where do you live?
Woman 2: Squirrel Hill.
Woman 1: You drive all the way over to Highland Park to walk?
Woman 1: Well, I used to live here, for thirteen years. I miss it. And there aren't any coffee houses like this in Squirrel Hill.

EXCLAMATION EXCLAMATION!!

Squirrel Hill folks think Tazza is the place to be? I mean, I adore my third floor walk up, but I could only DREAM of owning a house in Squirrel Hill. And yet, thinking back to my two years in S. Hill, the walking in Squirrel Hill is not as great as it is here in HP--I mean, who can rival the park, with the Reservoir, trails in the park, sidewalks in the Park...Frick has an open dog area, but there aren't really any paved walking areas...

And, the order dude at Tazza (I have got to learn their names if I want them to see me as a "regular"!!) got my order wrong, so I got a free Ham and Asiago croissant to go because I told him I was hungry and then I waited for the Tomato and Cheese Croissant that I had paid for. Nice. And I was worried about lunch? Some days are great like that. Now, if only some of this rain would become glittery white DRY snow...

Well, you can't have everything. What is Mona's Law? You can't have a great job, a great apartment, and a great boyfriend all at the same time. Two out of three is the limit. Shoot, I'd move to a bad apartment if it meant I could get a date...no, I take that back. And my job...no, I wouldn't want to change that either. So there's gotta be a loophole in Mona's rule.

See you around the 'hood!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Well, it's green green green, here in Highland park, on the tenth day of Christmas. This picture was taken on a walk last week. In the background, the Bunker Hill highrise to your left. The reservoir is on the right, out of the picture. I wonder who thought this tree should be gussied up for the season. Anyways, it's a nice touch to a Highland Park Holiday scene.