Postcards from Maui (guest post)

While I've covered quite a lot of ground, I haven't been everywhere. (Yet...) So, I've enlisted some help from local experts in the "Postcards" series of running travel guides.

Today, we're going to Maui!

Our running tour guide is DC native and runner, Tai Fung. Tai is a regular run-chatter on Twitter and has been giving me pointers about what to do when I move to DC later this year. In the meantime, he's going to take us on a tour of his favorite vacation destination: Maui. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.

Belated greetings from Maui!

I appreciate Beth letting me guest post this tale of my time in Maui, along with my experience running it. I travel to Maui yearly (or have, over the past few years), and stay on the west side. Maui is kinda shaped like a sideways number 8, with the left/west circle a little smaller than the right/east one.

Fortunately, based on the amount I eat and drink while I'm there, there are plenty of things to do, activity wise, so those Mai-Tai calories can find a little outlet. And really, would a guy with my handle drink anything ELSE?

Tai's Mai-Tai

I'm usually in Kahana, Maui, which is not far from the former capital of Hawaii, pre-statehood, Lahaina ("La-hi-nah," which translates roughly as "cruel/relentless/unforgiving sun").  Arriving in Maui, my full-blooded Italian roots kick in, and I quickly tan up, but if you're of a more fair complexion, bring or buy sunscreen -- the waterproof kind!

You'll see lots of morning runners in West Maui, and waving to each other seems to be the custom (even in my home of Washington, DC, I usually flash the Hawaiian "hang loose" wave when passing runners, since, after all, wouldn't we all rather be in Hawaii?).

In the Kahana region of Maui, there are two primary roads of interest, known as the "upper" and "lower" roads.  The "upper" road, is just Highway 30, the Honoapiilan Highway. This is where you'll get a lot of good, uninterrupted mileage. But beware! It is HILLY, and you'll often have a wind either going or coming. But run against traffic, and you'll get an excellent run in. Scenery-wise, there isn't a LOT that you'll see, although at certain points along the road, you can stop and watch the ocean. Wait long enough, and you'll see (male) Humpback Whales breaching, slapping fins, or otherwise trying to find a lady whale to make "friends" with (I guess these whales haven't discovered Match.com). But the whales are only there in the winter, and if you're out running on the highway, you'll want to keep moving before you're baked to a crisp (you DID put on sunscreen for this run, didn't you??).

I snapped this picture after running along the upper highway, and then headed down to the beach to cool off.  That's not a camera trick.  That's just the biggest rainbow you've ever seen.

Maui Rainbow

The "lower" road is called the (wait for it!) LOWER Honoapiilani Highway(!).  This is a little more challenging for a hard run, but if you're looking for an easy, I'm-on-vacation run, you'll want to run here. You'll be with tons of runners doing slower paces (often because of walkers, driveways, etc), but you can see amazing views.  One of my favorite stops is Pohaku Park, nicknamed "S-turns" by the locals.  From here,  you can often see Green Sea Turtles swimming in the waves, and muching on the Limu (algae) on the rocks.

Beautiful views while on the run in Maui

As for beach running itself -- I advise against it.  Hawaii, at least Maui, is pretty rocky in places. You won't go as far as you think before you have to turn back, or move up to a road. On the plus side, walking the beaches is lovely as a post-run cooldown, because you can find amazing lava rocks. Here's one I found that formed a perfect little heart:

Heart-shaped lava rock

Bearing in mind the fate of Greg Brady, I threw it back after photographing it. Hawaiians take very seriously the removal of lava rocks from their home, and that a curse follows those who do. So don't, or be in deep doo-doo. Dig?

Sorry.  Anyway.

I have more pictures on my Instagram account, including a simulated picture of Steven Tyler (who I literally almost ran into in Lahaina).

Oh!  One thing before I finish up -- West Maui does have the lovely highway 30 for running great distances, but do NOT try and run in Lahaina, along their lower road, called "Front Street." It can't be done. Tourists abound. Kids. Cars. The odd homeless surfer who also happens to think he's Jesus Christ (really). Go there for a wonderful, memorable visit, but get your run in another time.

Finally, if you're really itching to race, check out the Maui Oceanfront Marathon, which features many different distances, and runs along some really lovely areas of West Maui, including Lahaina (when delusional surfers are shoo'd away).

Find me on Twitter, Instagram, or my own blog.

Aloha, and Mahalo to Beth for this opportunity!

Postcards from Austin (arts, music, culture)

When we left our heroes on their travel adventure in Austin, they finished a run around Town Lake and enjoyed a wide variety of culinary adventures. They also got a healthy dose of arts and culture. Let's see where they went...

The capitol was an impressive architectural and historical site.

Capitol as seen from the rose garden

 As more than 260 feet from the rotunda floor, the capitol dome is vertigo-inducing.

Capitol dome

And the stairway to the top is a good workout...

Flights of stairs in the Capitol.

We went on a free tour of the Texas state capitol...

One of the capitol tour stops

 ... where we discovered, among other things, that nearly every fixture boasts either the lone star or the word "TEXAS."

Lone star logo.

After the capitol, we spent several hours at the the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Much like Texas itself, the museum is huge.

The exhibit on women's rights was particularly captivating. Unfortunately photography is not allowed in the museum, so I have no photos to share.

On the other side of the museum-size-spectrum, the tiny Old Bakery and Emporium, just south of the capitol, is a neat place to stop. Arts and crafts for sale on the lower level are all hand made by Austin seniors. Proceeds from the shop support senior programs.

The upper level showcases a brief history of Austin.

Old Bakery

No trip to Austin would be complete without music.

We hung out at Maggie Mae's...

Maggie Mae's

... and had cocktails at The Firehouse Lounge during a jam session. The "lounge" is really a cozy little music space in a hostel. The drinks were good. The music was good. I'd recommend a visit.

Firehouse Lounge

Austin's quirky culture is a definite highlight of any visit. On New Year's Eve, locals gathered to give out free hugs.

The city also has a thriving art scene. We stumbled upon a shop dedicated to lomography, which was described to us as an analog photography movement.

Huge wall mosaic of staff photos

Speaking of art... Austin seems to be the bronze sculpture capital of Texas. There are dozens of statues and monuments on the grounds around the Capitol. There are sculptures depicting pioneer history...

Tejano history sculpture at the Capitol

...and glorifying cowboy life.

Texas Cowboy

The city also acknowledges its musical history with statues of Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

But my favorite statue was an unexpected discovery on 6th Ave.

The bronze of Angelina Eberly commemorates Eberly's successful bid to maintain Austin as the capital of Texas when then-governor Sam Houston attempted to move the seat of government to Houston.

Angelina Eberly

According to the historical account:

When the citizens of Austin resisted his attempts to move the capitol, Houston sent a delegation of Texas Rangers to steal the government archives. They would have succeeded if it had not been for a fiery local innkeeper named Angelina Eberly, who heard the rangers loading their wagons in the middle of the night. She hurried down to the the corner of what is now Sixth and Congress and fired off the town cannon, missing the rangers but blowing a hole in the General Land Office building. The cannon fire roused the populace, who chased down the rangers and recovered the archives near Brushy Creek.

And so we ended our whirlwind tour of Austin with a bang.

What sorts of activities do you seek out when you travel?

Places to go

The New York Times recently published a list of 46 places to go in 2013.

Image source

What I like about the list: While some of the recommended locations are travel staples (Isn't Ireland on every travel list?), many of the suggestions are off the tourist-beaten path.

It's rare that I come across a Places-To-See! list on which I've seen so very few of the places.

46 Places to Go in 2013

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Marseille, France
3. Nicaragua
4. Accra, Ghana
5. Bhutan
6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
7. Houston, TX, United States
8. Rossland, BC, Canada
9. New Delhi, India
10. Istanbul, Turkey
11. Singapore
12. Montenegro
13. White Salmon River, WA, United States
14. Hvar, Croatia
15. Mongolia
16. The Big Island, HI, United States
17. Philippines
18. Vernazza, Italy
19. The Kimberley, Australia
20. Ningxia, China
21. The Adirondacks, NY, United States
22. Oslo, Norway
23. Constantia, South Africa
24. Lithuania
25. Burgos, Spain
26. Lens, France
27. Changbaishan, China
28. Porto, Portugal
29. Puerto Rico
30. Koh Phangan, Thailand
31. Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
32. Jackson Hole, WY, United States
33. Bangkok, Thailand
34. The Jeseniky, Czech Republic
35. Waiheke, New Zealand
36. Yucatan, Mexico
37. Charlevoix, Quebec
38. Pecs, Hungary
39. Republic of Congo
40. Ireland
41. Getaria, Spain
42. Mergui Islands, Myanmar
43. The Falkland Islands
44. Washington, DC, United States
45. Casablanca, Morocco
46. Paris, France

What I dislike about the list: I've added country information for each destination, but the original list is a confusing mix-and-match of cities and countries, regions and specific locations. For example, the Kimberley region in Australia is bigger than Germany, while White Salmon River seems an oddly exact choice on a list that includes such broad travel destinations as Nicaragua and Mongolia.

Nevertheless, it's thought-provoking catalogue of travel destinations.

Would I have included Bhutan on my travel bucket list before reading the Times?
Perhaps not...
Then again, I wouldn't have picked Houston, either.

Completing the list: Out of the 46 selected destinations, my somewhat anemic tally is 2.5
(DC, Puerto Rico, and a drive-by of Jackson Hole)

How many of these places have you visited?
How many are on your travel bucket list?
What location(s) would you add to the list?

Postcards from Austin

Sometimes postcards get lost in the mail and the sender returns home before the postcard arrives...

Greetings from Austin (and Happy New Year)!

Ringing in the New Year at Wine Dive in Austin

There is an abundance of good food, good running, and good recreation in Austin. Trying to pack all of that into one postcard would be like trying to shove an oversized suitcase into the overhead compartment on a regional jet. It just shouldn't be done...

(Read: You can expect more than one postcard from this trip.)

So, first, let's talk about the running...

Run 1: Covert Park at Mount Bonnell

Covert Park, at Mount Bonnell, is the Highest Point in Austin!

Plaque at the parking area

It is (please don't laugh) 775 feet above sea level.

So... perhaps calling Bonnell a "mount" is too strong a term, but the views of the Austin city skyline and of the lake/river are worth the many-stair climb to get to the "peak."

Some of the many stairs to get to the top of the "mount"

Full disclosure: I didn't run this trail, I hiked it, but the route would make for a nice, short, hilly course or a useful location for hill repeats. I did spy runners among the photo-taking tourists.

Trail to the top (alternate route if you want to skip the stairs)

View from the peak

The view of lake-side real estate made me wonder what it's like to live in a house in which thousands of strangers can look straight into your backyard every day...

The views take in the lake and sprawling real estate below

Run 2: Lady Bird Johnson Trail (aka Town Lake Trail)

The Town Lake Trail is, far and away, the most popular runner, biker, hiker, dog-walker spot in the city.

Trailhead at Congress Ave

We went for a run at dusk, thinking we'd need to hurry to make it back to our hotel before dark. But the trail was surprisingly busy, even after sunset.

North side of the Town Lake Trail through downtown Austin

More Town Lake Trail

The trail goes under, over, around, and through a series of bridges...

Crossing under a bridge on Town Lake Trail

View from one of the bridges along the trail

View of downtown Austin from a trail-side pavilion.

And past some unique art...

Artists are very creative with the scenery.
Old pilings become a sea monster in Town Lake.

Call it street art. Call it graffiti. Either way, keep your eyes open for whimsical messages, social commentary, and random acts of art.

"The only magic I still believe in is love"

Pac-Man graffiti tells you "don't give up."

"Don't give up" graffiti seen in the distance (middle right) from the pedestrian bridge. Click here for closeup.

Ghost bikes remind people (especially drivers) about cycling safety.

Ghost bikes

And there's art every runner could love. (The sculpture is cool, but I suspect the artist wasn't a runner. No runner has ever bent in quite that way... Trust me. I tried.)

Running man statue near Town Lake Trail

Run 3: More Town Lake Trail and an accidental 5k

On our last day in town, Hubby and I headed out to explore the other side of the lake.

Crossing the bridge at Congress Ave

The view from the south side is pretty impressive...

View of the city from Town Lake Trail

As we were running, we heard the distant crackle of a loudspeaker.

Then we heard the national anthem.

We paused.

And when the song ended, we both said "There's a race!" So, we did what any good runner-tourist would do, we bandited we ran over to the starting line of the Commitment Day 5k to take photos and cheer on the runners.

Yes, that's me looking like a bandit.
No. I did not bandit the race.

When the runners passed, we took off to finish our run.

We said hi to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Town Lake

We crossed back over the race course on the Pfluger pedestrian bridge and cheered some more.

... and we finished our run at 24 Diner.
(More on that later.)

Postcards from San Diego

(Belated) greetings from San Diego!

So... that's it. I cut ties with my job in San Diego. No more week-long visits every other month. No more business trips (at least not in the near future). No more hope of renewing my California driver's license.

But... I did spend one last, glorious week there last month. Here's the picture postcard version:

There was ice skating...

Ice skating at Horton Plaza
The kid next to me is making the same face.

And I enjoyed cocktails at one of my favorite downtown restaurants: Quality Social.
The restaurant features dishes from scratch and superb beverages.
(Try the pickle back shot. Whiskey with a pickle juice chaser. Sounds gross, I know. But seriously. Delicious.)

Dress code at Quality Social:
"If it's on the Jersey Shore, it's not getting through the door."

I went for one, unplanned, last shopping spree at the Little Italy Saturday farmers market...

You can see San Diego Bay from the market

Fresh local produce...

... and some of the best uni in the world. Served fresh at the market.

After 10 years of living in San Diego, and 12 years of working there, I thought I had seen everything downtown had to offer. But on my last run through the city, in the Chinese Cultural District, I found a hidden garden I had never seen before.

Then I filled my belly with Mexican food and fusion delights...

Avocado and heirloom radish salad

Braised pork belly

Pizza with spinach and locally-grown mushrooms

I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to the Balboa Park rose garden...

...and the Botanical House...

Botanical House at Balboa Park

...and the giant ficus tree...

One of several giant ficus trees in Balboa Park

... and my favorite little garden in the park.

View from Alcazar Garden

I also got to spend time with my extended family, and I stopped by to see the seals in La Jolla (at night, so no pictures).

Unfortunately, with work and family obligations, I did not get a chance to run with my long-time running buddies... but while I've said goodbye to a San Diego paycheck, I'm not leaving forever. The big difference is that on the next trip, I'll be 100% tourist!

What places would you want to visit "one last time" if you were leaving your hometown?

Have you ever eaten uni (sea urchin)?