Route #4

This week we're back to Shelby Park with Route #4 - the Big Shelby Loop.  We meet at the corner of 11th & Holly at 6pm (and 6am). We should have great weather as the temperatures and humidity have started to drop. Once again we will be running near the East Nashville Farmer's Market and the Shelby Park Picture Show- so please be courteous to the adults and kids that we share the park and greenway with. Speaking of the Farmer's Market, it's probably a great place to pick up a pumpkin or 2, ya know, to spice things up.

Reflective and Lighted Gear

If you didn't have your reflective/lighted gear last week, you will for sure need it this week. The long stretch of Davidson that's part of this route is pretty dark - so be sure to stay to the right on this section, run with a buddy, look out for cars, and wear something that reflects and/or creates light. Nashville Running Company is right around the corner from our meeting spot and has several options you can purchase if you’re in need of some gear.

Pint Night is Next Week

Speaking of NRC, they will be hosting our regular pint night NEXT week. So, instead, grab a new friend and invite them over to 3 Crow Bar for a beverage after the run.

See you Wednesday!

ENFL!

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. This Saturday we will be supplying Nuun at the start/finish thanks to Nashville Running Company! Fall is finally here!!! Time to break out the arm warmers and your Pumpkin Spice energy drink!

This weekend we will be running from the Parthenon parking lot at Centennial Park out to McCabe Park for a loop around the Richland Creek Greenway and then come back through the beautiful Richland neighborhood. You can easily alter this route for mileage of your choosing. We will be starting at 7:30a this weekend allowing you to sleep in a little later than usual.

Please note that it is the first Saturday of the month. Thanks to the amazing support from Nashville Running Company the past couple of months, we haven't had any dollar donation days. For October, it's back! If you enjoy running with us and appreciate the hydration on course and (newly) laminated direction sheets, please consider bringing $1 to help support the cause. The donation certainly isn't required to run with us but much appreciated.

7.75mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/855113393 10.3mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/855115931

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route #3

This week is Route #3 - an out and back route to the Musica art piece at the roundabout at the top of music row. This is our only out and back route, and as such, it offers multiple distance options. For example, if you go over the pedestrian bridge and back that is almost exactly 4 miles. If you go all the way around Musica - you're looking at 6.3 ish. So much of the city along this route has changed since we started running it several years ago - the Music City Center wasn't there, or the expanded Hall of Fame, or the Gulch Crossing, or much of the development on the end of Demonbreun. So, pick your distance, grab some friends and run through the new Nashville! Since we're running through downtown, please adhere to all the traffic signals! Help us maintain a good reputation with the city, ok? At red lights, just press pause on your Garmin and wait for the light to go green - you can do it!

Safety and Reflective Gear

We meet at the corner of 11th & Holly at 6am and 6pm. It's starting to get dark during our evening runs - it's time for reflective gear and lights. Please begin wearing something that creates or reflects light on Wednesday evenings. Nashville Running Company is right around the corner from our meeting spot and has several options you can purchase if you're in need of some gear.

Make a new friend!

We're getting into the part of the year with great running weather - which means we have a few more people come out. There is no place more lonely than a large gathering of people where no one talks to you. If you see someone looking lost or new, say hi and welcome them to the group! Invite them to run along with you and/or grab a beer after the run.

See you Wednesday!

ENFL!

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. This Saturday we will be supplying Nuun at the start/finish thanks to Nashville Running Company! Some of you are tapering for Chicago, others are going long for Indy, and the rest of us are just thankful to get out for some mileage!

This weekend we're going to take advantage of a rare weekend without any races within Shelby Bottoms (that I know of) and provide an easy route for those looking for mileage of any distance. Starting at 7am from the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, we'll run an out and back on the greenway and all others can continue on down Davidson to Nissan Stadium if they're looking to go long. We will only have a cooler at the start/finish but there is a water fountain at the turn points on each end.

8 miler - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/723520923 14 miler - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/604682932

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

 

Route #2

This week is Route #2 - a 4 mile figure 8 run through Shelby Park. Fun fact: the update to this route was suggested by former ENOW Zach Layne. Before settling on 'Round the Bird' (a reference to the chrome mockingbird art that we pass by on this run), we almost called it 'The High Five' or 'The Awkward Moment' because of the intersection in the park where you may (or may not) seek out (or receive) a high five from another runner going through it in the other direction - so, look out! Note that that we will be running right past the Shelby Park Farmer's Market - so please be courteous and careful of the people and kids we will be sharing the park with.

We meet at 6am and 6pm at the corner of 11th & Holly. It's starting to get dark during our runs - it's time to break out the reflective gear and lights. Don't make Jeremy ask you where your safety gear is!

I Dream of Weenie Night - courtesy of State Farm

After the run, it's one of our favorite summer treats! Head over to I Dream of Weenie for a FREE hot dog - courtesy of our local State Farm Team! IDOW has all kinds of hot dogs (veggie dogs, too!) but doesn't sell beer. HOWEVER,  you can BYOB, as long as you keep it in the grassy area right next to the Weenie van. Be sure to thank the State Farm Team in person or with a tweet or post.

Balega Lesedi Project at NRC

Also this Wednesday, Nashville Running Company is hosting Belega's Lesedi Project which raises funds for the Ethembeni School in South Africa and for local charity Give Me 10 East Nashville. Pick up Lesedi bracelets ($2.50) and sunglasses croakies ($5) (handmade by the children at the Ethembeni School) and support some great kids. And if I know know Lee Wilson, there will probably be beer.

Shelby Bottoms 6 Miler

We've all run the greenway in Shelby Bottoms, but if you've never run the trails there, then you're missing out!  The Shelby Bottoms 6 Miler trail race is on Sunday October 2nd and starts and finishes on the runway at Cornelia Fort Air Park. Don't worry, you will only be on the black top for about .3 miles to begin and end the race - the rest will be soft, luscious, flat, fast, wide track trails (even some single track too!). A perfect race for those looking to dip their toes into the art of trail racing! A portion of the race proceeds is donated to Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms - an org that keeps our 'home' park one of the best in the city. Today (Tuesday Sept 20th) is the last day to register at the early rate and guarantee getting a race shirt. Need even more incentive? Breakfast tacos at the finish line. Boom!

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. Still need mileage for that fall marathon? This weekend we will be back to some greenway running for easy mileage of any distance. We will meet at the Edwin Warner Nature Center - use 7311 TN-100, Nashville as the address - and start at 7 a.m. This is slightly different from our usual meeting spot but still at the same enterance - just turn left to nature center (bathrooms!) instead of right in to the dirt lot.

12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/703961829

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

"We're gonna get there, get there, back to the beginning..." - Mat Kearney

Route #1

Congrats to everyone of you that crushed The Nasty last week and earned your sticker! We hope you've been proudly displaying it! This we week we start our 12 run cycle all over again with Route #1. 6am and 6pm at the corner of 11th & Holly. Temps are starting to cool off and these first few weeks are some of our easier runs - which means it's a great time to invite a friend. And since we are back to the beginning, this a great opportunity to give everyone a reminder about how these runs work...

How It Works

We meet every Wednesday, year round, for a run at 6pm (and also at 6am). The 6pm evening run is is our ‘main event’ and the best way to get plugged into the group. Rain or shine, hot or cold – we run.  There is nothing to sign up to participate, no email list to join – just show up. We meet at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.  We have 12 different runs (each one 3-6 miles) that we follow sequentially each week. There are usually some 100+ runners on any given Wednesday evening, the morning group is smaller.

More about how it works…

1. Wednesday morning – Check the blog for any updates and changes, and reacquaint yourself with that week’s route. Print out the route if you think you might get lost.
2. 5:45 (sometimes a little earlier) – The Lasty Nasties start their run/walk.  The Lasties are our walk/run group that starts before the main group.  If you typically run slower than 12 minutes per mile you should consider joining this group. Here is their Facebook page.
3. As you are arriving, the big map of the route for that night should be hanging on the porch of the yellow house.
4. 6:07 – We begin announcements which should take only about a minute or two. Please pay attention!
5. 6:10 – Greet someone new, make a new friend, and prepare for your run.
6. 6:11 (ish) – We don’t just start running en masse. We leave in groups by pace, and someone will be starting those group from fastest to slowest – starting with under 7:30 pace, and going in 30 second increments (7:30 – 8:00, 8:00 – 8:30, etc…), with a short gap between groups. This helps with breaking our group up to better let traffic through. So, please, join a group, don't just take off on your own. The last group is 10 minutes per mile and over.
7. Safety is priority number one! We encourage you to run as hard as you want, but this is not a race. So, (1) run on the sidewalk as much as possible, staying to the far left running against traffic when necessary to be in the street, (2) wear something that creates or reflects light, (3) cross the street ONLY at intersections (NEVER in the middle of the road!!) and be careful, don’t assume cars are going to stop, and (4) stop if one of your fellow runners needs help. We are a large group and we want to be considerate of our East Nashville neighbors and community – and most importantly, we need to be safe. If we police ourselves, then we don’t have to worry about issues with the city. 
8. There is nothing permanent scheduled for after the run, but bring a change of clothes (or not) – and head over to 3 Crow Bar (2 for 1 on Wednessdays!) or one of the other local establishments for a drink and/or some dinner. Sometime we will have special events after the run (Pint Nights, hot dog nights, popsicles, etc - keep an eye on this blog for news about when those may happen)

Parking: It's getting more and more difficult to navigate traffic and parking in the 5 Points area with all the growth. You can find street parking in and around 5 Points, but be mindful of fire hydrants and street corners (30 feet minimum distance per the city), No Parking signs, construction areas, and blocking in other cars. Do not park behind the YCAP building, the YCAP gym, or in the church lot in the alley. Both buildings host groups that meet on Wednesday evenings and we need to be respectful of their property and access to their vehicles. Always lock your vehicle and hide your valuables – don’t be an easy ticket or target.

See you Wednesday! ENFL!

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. This Saturday we will be supplying Nuun on route thanks to Nashville Running Company! Meeting at 7:00am at the Percy Warner Golf Course Clubhouse, not far from the stone gates of Percy Warner Park found at the end of Belle Meade Blvd, this is an out and back route allowing you any mileage of your choosing!  Please reference the link for location - it is near the entrance to Cheekwood, offers ample parking, and bathrooms!

Enjoy a fun run along Tyne Blvd and in to Radnor Lake. Turning at the welcome center (where they have bathrooms!) will get you about 10 miles but you can go further and enjoy the path along the lake.

12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/604730000

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Tonight! 6pm at 11th & Holly we will run our signature route - #12: The Nasty! 6 miles of the worst best hills in East Nashville. Here's a route map. You get our famous bumper sticker when you complete the run! If you need a little shorter run, you can run 'Nasty Lite' - a 3.7 mile run - but, there's no sticker reward.

The Hammer Down Race (Nov 5th, benefitting Our Kids Nashville) will be on site tonight with registration discounts and a water stop at the top of 'Mount Nasty' (around mile 3.75). Yay!

After the run, Nashville Running Company will be hosting its monthly Pint Night, and we will have a few remaining East Nasty t-shrts and tanks for sale there if you missed getting one at Tomato Fest. $20-$25. Cash or cards.

*Note: the Mizuno wear test has been rescheduled.

Our Signature Run...  The Nasty.

Mizuno Wear Test

If you want to try out a pair of Mizunos show up at Nashville Running Company before the run and try a pair out.

Pint Night

...then head over to NRC after the run for their monthly pint night.

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. This Saturday we will be supplying Nuun on route thanks to Nashville Running Company! One of our most scenic routes, assuming you like rolling hills across beautiful horse farms. We will be starting from the Grassland Middle School parking lot off of Hillsboro Rd at 6:30am the first Saturday of September. Please note the 30 minute delay from previous runs, as the days are getting shorter, but the tempatures may not get cooler.

This route is an out and back with the water located at 3 miles, and church with bathrooms at 5 miles! Some people may choose to go long and and do the 10 miles before turning back, but 6, 8, 10, 12 mile options are just as beautiful. Paces of all speeds are welcome, and we will have groups of varying distance so no one should have to run alone! If, you have not run this route, this is a run you should not miss!

Up to 20mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/710563785

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

We need cup cleaning volunteers! Including tonight! Please sign up on the Google doc. Big shout out to Grant England who has volunteered THREE times this quarter. Who's got next?

A look ahead: 1) Tonight! Route #11. 6pm at 11th & Holly. It's hot - be sure to hydrate before and after. 2) Next week, Sept 7th, is Route #12 The Nasty, sticker night, and Pint Night at Nashville Running Company 3) Sept 14th we start our 12 run cycle over again with Route #1. Invite your friends! 4) Sept 21st is Route #2 and one of our favorite summer treats: State Farm free hot dog night at I Dream of Weenie. Plan to stick around after the run.

ENFL!