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

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.)

Maps for runners

Happy Geography Awareness Week and Happy GIS Day!

Yes, folks. I know I'm a geek...
But what sociologist/runner/traveler wouldn't be lost without maps?

As one of the lone remaining Garmin-free runners, I use MapPedometer to log my miles. I enjoy clicking and zooming around a neighborhood rather than standing in a parking lot, holding my wrist up to the sky, hoping for a signal. (That said, if Santa bought me a GPS watch for the holidays, I wouldn't turn it away...)

I also keep track of all the places I've run using Trip Advisor's pin map.

Another tool I turn to, especially when I'm looking for a running route in an unfamiliar city, is MapMyRun. I prefer the simplicity (read: fewer advertisements!!!) of MapPedometer's interface for map distance measures, but MapMyRun's online tool also allows users to search through a database of routes that have been logged by others.

Similarly, USATF route maps allows you to map your own route, or to search a database of existing running routes. However, USATF has a significantly more advanced query system, compared with MapMyRun, that allows a user to search by running surface, route rating, and other important criteria.

And somewhat less technically useful, but much more aesthetically pleasing is Nike+ data from Manhattan that show runner's favorite routes around Central Park:


Nike+ City Runs from yesyesno on Vimeo.

What mapping tools do you use?

Postcards from Tallahassee

Last week I spent 36 hours in Tallahassee. I was invited to guest lecture and was in town long enough to enjoy a run, a lovely dinner, and a stroll around downtown. On the way home Hubby and I stopped at Torreya State Park for a hike and trail run, but that's another story for another time...

For now, here's your postcard from Tallahassee:
(It's just coincidence that my state capitol postcard arrives on Election Day, but it's a happy coincidence nonetheless.)

First things first... I've been in Tallahassee before, and my last trip centered around the Florida State University campus and capitol buildings. With little time to research alternate running options before my trip, I caved and asked the hotel front desk clerk to suggest a 3-ish mile route that didn't go through campus. (For the record: Hotel staff know the area and are used to questions from out-of-town runners, so they're usually a wonderful runners' resource.)

Unfortunately it's obvious that the clerk in question had never run a step in his life. He recommended that I run up Monroe St from Park to Lake Ella. To his credit, the route was almost exactly three miles. To his discredit, the entire route followed a bustling main street with numerous busy intersections. I spent most of my time sucking in fumes from passing cars and trying not to get hit while crossing the road...

The view along Monroe St. in Tallahassee

I wouldn't run a road like Monroe in my own hometown. I certainly would not recommend it to out-of-towners, especially when better scenery was only a few blocks away.

Fortunately things improved once I arrive at Lake Ella, a picturesque little park, surrounded by a paved trail.

Sign at the entrance to Lake Ella

  Unfortunately views across the lake accounted for less than half a mile of my 3+ mile route.

Egret looking over Lake Ella

But let's get back to the "better scenery" part of my commentary...

Nestled in the heart of Tallahassee is a thoroughfare known as Park Ave. This divided road is bisected by a "chain of parks." For runners who have the patience to wait for traffic signals, the scenery is pretty and the route is well shaded by overhanging live oaks.

One park in the Chain of Parks

The park at Park Ave and Monroe is home to a Saturday morning market with art, crafts, pastries, and some produce. (From what I understand, the true farmers market can be found at Market Square, also on Saturday mornings...)

Park Ave market

This neighborhood is also home to the state capitol, both the historic capitol and all of the functional administrative buildings.

Florida historic capitol building

The scenery and running options here are much better than the route I took the day before!

Dolphins in front of the Florida State Capitol

The streets, at least on a Saturday morning, are virtually silent, and a runner can enjoy an uninterrupted loop past historic architecture, community parks, and public art.

Oak poem and mural at one city park

Public art at Burnette Park

In fact, my only quibble is that the neighborhood might have been too quiet... I'm an unabashed fan of urban running. Part of the allure is passing shops and restaurants, dodging the hustle-and-bustle of crowded sidewalks, and giving the occasional nod to another runner.

The Tallahassee capitol area, however, is a virtual ghost town on Saturday mornings. (Unless you're waiting in line to vote at the Leon County Courthouse... Now there was a crowd!)

There are two ways to look at these long-voting-lines photos, I suppose. One perspective says:
"Oh my god. Look at those lines. How unfair."
The other says:
"Oh my god. Look at those lines. How awesome that so many people care enough to vote."
I suppose I believe both.

Either way...

Happy Election Day, y'all!

Postcards from Rhode Island

(Belated) greetings from Rhode Island!

All I'm going to say is thank goodness my family visit was last weekend. As a Florida resident, I have zero interest in spending my vacation time hunkered down during a hurricane. (Hope ya'll are safe and dry after Sandy!)

My family is outdoorsy (and you wondered where I got it from?), so we spent most of my visit hiking our way through some spectacular autumn scenery. (I really did get the luck of the devil with my travel planning - caught all of the foliage fireworks, and none of the storm surge.)

View of autumn color at Barden Reservoir

Now I'm going to take you on a loop around Barden Reservoir in Scituate, RI. This is an easy hike on gravel roads and a small stretch of paved roadway.

Hike on gravel roads around Barden Reservoir

Many pages of google search resulted in no maps of this hike/trail run, so I'm going to give you directions Rhode Island style (based on landmarks and road names).

Start on Hemlock Road, just west of the intersection with Ponagansett Rd. There are a few places to park off the road near reservoir dam and waterfall.

Waterfall over the dam at Barden Reservoir

Head back toward Ponagansett Rd and turn left. Stay to the left, and turn left at each roadway intersection for a complete circuit of the reservoir. (Left onto Ponagansett. Left onto Central Pike. Left onto King Randal Rd. Left onto Hemlock.)

A small section of the route traverses paved Central Pike. Stay to the left on this stretch as cars travel quickly on this section of road, but pause to admire the views out over the reservoir.

View from Central Pike

New England farmsteads are rocky places. Most farmers, during colonial times, cleared rocks from their land and piled them up in free-form stone walls between sections of their farm and along property lines.

Despite hundreds of years of wear and tear, these stone walls still crisscross the woods throughout New England.

In addition to the historic stone walls, a hiker often stumbles across tombstones on a typical trek in southern New England.

Historic New England cemeteries are a bit different than cemeteries in many other states in that they were often family plots, on local farms or homesteads, and not in a church yard.

Early Puritans rejected churchyard burials as they rebelled against other "papist" practices, as heretical and idolatrous. Instead, many 17th century New England towns set aside land as common community burial grounds.
Source: National Park Service

Tombstones in one of many historic graveyards near Barden Reservoir

Lichen and leaves in one of the historic graveyards

On this hike there is ample evidence that nature reclaims most of what humans can build...

Tree is slowly growing over a traffic sign

View over Barden Reservoir near the end of the hike

View of autumn foliage reflected in marsh near Barden Reservoir

  And while we did not see much wildlife on this trek, we did see this little guy...

Caterpillar. Anyone know what type he is?

And no New England autumn hike is complete without some fresh-from-the-farm apples.

Winesap apples, an absolutely delicious heirloom variety.

What's your favorite autumn hike?