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 San Sebastian (guest post)

Even in cities I've visited often, I haven't run every local trail. So, I've enlisted help from resident experts to round out the running travel guides series known as "postcards."

Today, we're headed to the city of San Sebastian in Spain, where Christine (Traditional Life in Progress) will be our tour guide:

About a year ago (July 13th to be exact) I enrolled in a Spanish language program in San Sebastian, Spain. To be completely honest, I had never heard of said city, and decided to go based off of my well-traveled brother-in-law’s suggestion. And what a magnificent suggestion! I was lucky enough to spend nearly 6 weeks in this amazing small city, where the surf was great (not that I can surf well) the food was amazing, and the people were genuine.

View of San Sebastian

Although I’d like to keep San Sebastian all to myself, I know that it isn’t realistic. Thankfully it’s a bit tricky to get to which will keep it off the beaten path just a bit.

But if you’re going to go, you should do it correctly.

The best breakfast and service in town is at Mapaal’s Bar which is not partially close to anything other than Lacunza language school and the train station. But Paco (the bartender and I assume owner) makes a mean tortilla and never forgets a coffee order.

The two best non-kept secrets for dinner are Astlena and La Cuchilla de San Telmo (both of which are recommended in Lonely Planet).

As for night life, I fell in love with a bar/club called Ezpala. It is nothing special, and was probably only fun because all of my classmates went there every Thursday night. But if you like to dance in basement bars, you have found your haven. On nights that didn’t include my beloved Ezpala, were spent in the square on a patio enjoying some red wine. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

Aside from eating and drinking (which you’ll do a lot in San Sebastian as it has more Michelin stars than almost any other city in the world) there are plenty of fun healthy activities to be done, surfing is quite popular as well as swimming and kayaking in the bay. There is a river that runs to the outskirts of the city that has a path alongside it, making for good running or biking.

Monte Urgull Mendia 

One of my favorite activities was walking up Monte Urgull Mendia which was a challenging walk but offered beautiful views, and many runners run around Monte Urgull (examples here and here).

Sunset from Monte Urgull Mendia

I also enjoyed the long walk around the bay to see the famous Wind Comb, or Peine del Viento, a sculpture by artist Eduardo Chillida. (You can find one proposed running route to the sculpture here.)

Wind combs in San Sebastian

If you ever find yourself in Spain, it’s worth the detour to see this magnificent city.

Do you have any questions for Christine?
What's the most beautiful place you've ever run?

Are you my next guest blogger?

Do you have stunning vacation photos that deserve a wider audience?
Would you like to tell the world about your runner-friendly hometown?
Are you interested in driving more traffic to your own blog?

If your answer to any of these questions is "yes," this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I am looking for guest bloggers to expand the "Postcards" series of travel-related posts.

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Step 1:
Send an email to me - coffeeb123 (at) yahoo (dot) com - with the following information:

• Your name, as you would like it to appear when posted
• A link to your blog
• The location you would like to write about in your guest post

Step 2:
If your proposal suits the "postcards" theme, I'll ask you to email a post to me along with 2-4 of your own photos illustrating the location. I generally accept submissions as-is, but I reserve the right to make minor modifications for grammar and clarity.

Step 3:
I will post your postcard, along with introductory text that links readers back to your blog. When it goes live, I ask that you post a link to the postcard on your blog.

What makes a good Postcard?

Postcards posts are generally 250-750 words, but good content is more important than length.

As with a hard-copy postcard, photos are crucial. Images do not need to be studio quality, but should capture the spirit of the area you describe.

To make the link between travel and running, text should highlight one (or more) of the following:

• Favorite local running route(s)
• Popular local running club(s)
• Running gear stores that cater to runners with extra perks (e.g. provide lockers and restrooms for use by runners, organize weekly group runs, etc...)

I hope to hear from you!

Postcards from?

Hello dear readers!

It is guest blogger request time.
I'm working on running-while-traveling state profiles for Texas and Louisiana. I've run in both states, but would love to add an in-depth local perspective, similar to the "postcards" shared by Kristin (Philadelphia) and Alma (Seattle).

If you live in one of those states (or any other state, province, or nation), and would be interested in "sending a postcard" from your hometown, just drop me a line.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Postcards from Seattle (guest post)

Even in cities I've visited often, I haven't run every local trail. So, I've enlisted help from resident experts in the running travel guides series.
(PS - don't forget to enter the February giveaway)

Today, we're headed to the Pacific Northwest, where Alma (The Average Woman's Running Blog) will be our tour guide. Drop by her blog and say hi! In the meantime, here's where she would take us on a running tour of her hometown:

Coming to the Emerald City for business or pleasure? Looking for a local’s view of the city via sneaker? I’ve got three great, flat options for you, my friend:

1. Downtown waterfront via Olympic Sculpture Park and Myrtle Edwards Park – Great for people staying downtown without a car.
2. Lake Washington waterfront – Popular running route great for sunrise runs.
3. West Seattle / Alki Beach – Stunning cityscape and Olympic Mountain views.

Downtown Waterfront
Honestly, running downtown sucks. It can be stinky and stressful unless you’re running early in the morning before traffic picks up. Plus, you are constantly stopping and starting at each block waiting for lights to turn (yes, we obey walk signs here). The good thing is that this is easy to escape. From where ever you are, just head west until you reach the waterfront (Alaskan Way). Cross over to the “water side,” start running north, then you will have miles of uninterrupted path to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of Elliot Bay and downtown Seattle.

Our entire waterfront is a tourist area with restaurants, charter boats, public ferries, Seattle Aquarium, parks, shipping boats, etc. You can check out all these sights as you run north along Alaskan Way. At the same time, you can see beyond the bay to Bainbridge Island and the Olympic Peninsula, with the snow-covered Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Olympic Mountains and Elliot Bay (view from Myrtle Edwards Park)

If it’s summer, you will likely see the Alaska-bound cruise ships. At the end of Alaskan Way, the sidewalk leads you right into our Olympic Sculpture Park and Myrtle Edwards Park. Off to your right, check out our Calder exhibit, with the Space Needle in the background. For the next several miles, you will have no built structures between you and the water! Just paved and wood chip path, sculptures, bicyclists, other pedestrians, and sometimes a seal or two.
On the way back into town, the view changes as you look to the south. 

Seattle skyline and Elliot Bay

This is where you see our city skyline up ahead and the Port of Seattle and mouth of the Duwamish River, filled with shipping containers from Asia. On a clear day, you’ll even see beloved Mt. Rainier.

Mount Rainier, Duwamish River, Port of Seattle

The path leads north to the neighborhood of Magnolia, which offers a brutal hill climb and stunning views. This run can be anywhere from 3 to 20+ miles, depending on how far north you are willing to venture.
Run this at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset. Bring some $ and stop in at Anthony’s Fish Cafe for a local microbrew to finish out the sunset then walk back to your hotel. If you’re a morning tourist, then run back via Pike Place market (take the Hillclimb across from the Aquarium to get there) and stop at Three Sisters Bakery for coffee and treats.

Lake Washington Waterfront
If you have access to a car and are running in the early morning, head over to Lake Washington to enjoy sunrise over the water and views of the Cascade Mountain range. If you’re visiting in summer, this is a great run to do the evenings as well. Pack a picnic dinner and go for a swim to cool off. I recommend starting at one of three public parks on the lake, each of which will provide water, toilets, swimming beaches, showers, and nearby coffee/beer stops: Madison Park, Leschi Marina, Seward Park.

If you start in Seattle’s upscale Madison Park, you will be near the Highway 520 floating bridge.

Madison Park, with view of Hwy 520 floating bridge and Cascade Mountains

From the beach, head south along the lake, hugging the water as much as you can. There are times when you must jog inland a couple blocks but if you keep to the east, you will make your way back to the water. The homes here are beautiful and this is where you will see many other runners out enjoying the views. On this route, you will have the chance to stop at little parks for pit stops, as needed.

Lake Washington path

About 3 miles down the road, you will come to neighborhood of Leschi. This is also a great place to start, and allows you to run either north or south along the lake. This section is included in the Seattle Half/Full marathon route (Thanksgiving weekend) and is a good place for spectators (i.e. Starbucks = hot beverages & toilets).

Rowing on the lake, just north of Seward Park

Another 4.5 miles down the road is Seward Park. This is my personal favorite. Seward Park consists of a large, wooded peninsula that juts out into the lake with a 2.4 mile paved trail around the perimeter. From this trail, you get views up and down the lake, including views of Mt. Baker to the north, Mercer Island and the Cascade Mountains to the east, and Mt. Rainier to the south. Also, between Seward Park and the I-90 bridge (about 3 miles), the waterfront is completely open – no houses. So, you can enjoy unobstructed views of the water. On Sunday mornings, this stretch of road is closed to vehicles to allow bicyclists to ride unmolested, so watch out for large packs of speeding bikers!

Trail along Lake Washington, < 1 mile north of Seward Park

Total distance between Madison and Seward Parks is about 7.5 miles, so many distance options here, especially when you throw in the 2.4-mile loop around Seward Park.

West Seattle / Alki Beach
For a more unique view of Seattle, jump on the West Seattle Bridge and take the exit to SW Admiral Way, following the road north, up and around the peninsula. This is a great out & back course along the waterfront for varying mileage and wonderful views. I recommend starting near the Statue of Liberty / Bath House so you can have access to toilets and plenty of coffee shops and food/pubs for post-run refreshments. There are two great runs from this starting point: north around the peninsula to Lincoln Park (7 miles RT), or south along the water to the water taxi (4 miles RT).

If you pick the northern route, you’ll get views of Bainbridge and Vashon Islands, as well as the Olympic Peninsula. Head north from the Statue of Liberty along the water, and just follow the water the entire route. In < 0.5 mile, you’ll get into a residential area and the road will bend south. Enjoy the smell of salt water, fresh breezes, and views of the Vashon Island/Southworth ferry as you follow the waterfront.

View from Lincoln Park

This route has some mild hills and takes you past some interesting homes. Eventually the road will turn into what looks like a private driveway (check out the large wood carving of the fisherman!). Continue down this road and you will suddenly find yourself at the north end of Lincoln Park. This gorgeous park includes a waterfront path stretching about 1 mile, ending at the West Seattle ferry dock.  The views of the Olympic Mountains from this park are the best in town. Once you reach the end of the trail, you can turn around and head back or detour up into the wooded portion of the park for some trail running before heading back into town.
If you pick the southern route, you’ll have views of Elliot Bay, the Bainbridge Island and Bremerton ferries, and the Seattle skyline. Head south from the Statue of Liberty along the boardwalk and simply follow the boardwalk the entire way.

Alki Blvd Boardwalk

Be mindful of roller bladers and cyclists! You will see swimming beaches (sometimes with seal pups), all kinds of work and pleasure boats, water birds, and seals. The view of downtown Seattle from this angle is just perfect, beaten only by the view you get from the Bainbridge/Bremerton ferries as you’re coming in to dock. The water taxi stop (runs between here and downtown) is a great turn-around point, giving you a little over 4 miles round trip and offers toilets and water. If you take a few minutes to stretch here, you’ll notice this is a popular spot for divers, kayakers, and paddle boarders.

View of Seattle skyline from Alki Beach

Other resources 
If those three routes don't keep you busy enough, or if you are looking for a social running event, check out Fleet Feet Running (Capital Hill), Sound Sports (downtown), or Super Jock & Jill for regular group runs and information about local clubs. The best resource for information on local races is at the Seattle Runs website.

If you are looking for more ideas, contact the Average Woman Runner and I’ll be happy to help you find additional routes.

Happy running!

-Alma

Postcards from Philadelphia (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 running travel guides series.

Today, we're going to Philly!
Our running tour guide is local ultra-runner and trail-lover, Kristin, at Every Day is Run Day. Kristin's blog is funny and honest, and she is serious about her running. Drop by her blog and say hi! In the meantime, here's where she would take us on a running tour of her hometown:

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Forget the cheesesteaks, Philadelphia is a runner's town! Any season, morning, noon, or night you will find tons of runners out of the streets of Brotherly Love. If you ever find yourself in Philly, consider checking out some of my favorite routes:

The River Loop
This 8.4-mile loop can be run in either direction starting at the Art Museum and Lloyd Hall heading north to Falls Bridge on either West River Drive or Kelly Drive and coming down the other side. The entire course can be run on a paved bike path. In addition, West River Drive is closed to traffic between April and October so that runners (and bikers) can spread out on the road.

Schuylkill River Path
If you don't feel like being boxed into an 8.4 mile loop, the Schuylkill River Path, which makes up the Kelly Drive side of the River Loop, starts in Center City and extends 23 miles north to Valley Forge.

I'd say about 90+% of the path is paved with a few sections of rocky towpath which you won't find until you are slightly north of Philadelphia. As the main thoroughfare for runners, bikers, walkers, skateboarders, etc. in the area just make sure to stay to your right!

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Forbidden Drive
If you're looking for that non-city feel without leaving the city then Forbidden Drive is for you! Part of Wissahickon Valley, Forbidden Drive is the 5.3 mile main drag through the park. You can drive and park at several different locations.

For more information about the park visit the Friends of the Wissahickon website.

If you want to stop for a quick bite, or a beer after the run,
be sure to visit the historic Valley Green Inn nestled right
along Forbidden Drive.

The Rocky Run
There are many versions of Rocky Balboa's running route. The obvious inclusion would be his infamous run up the Art Museum steps (complete with celebratory jumping up a down of course).

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Below is my own personal 6-mile version, which also includes passing other major sites such as the Ben Franklin Parkway, City Hall, Market Street, Independence Park, South Street, Broad Street and Rittenhouse Square. Tack on parts of the Schuylkill River Path for an even greater sightseeing extravaganza.

Benjamin Franklin Bridge
If there is one thing Philly is lacking it's hills. There are a few here and there in West Philly and to the north in Manayunk, but Center City is pretty flat. If you're in town and looking for a bit of a kick, head to Ben Franklin Bridge, which connects Center City to New Jersey over the Delaware River. The bridge is about a mile across and offers great views and a healthy incline.

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Local Run Clubs
Philly has several run clubs, some of which are very active including Philly Runners and the Wissahickon Wanderers. The local City Sports and Lululemon also host a number of runs each week.

Where would you take tourists on a tour of your town?
If you're interested in guest-posting about your favorite running routes, send me a note and let me know!