(no subject)

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

So, now that it's March and the threats of beachwear are growing closer and closer, it's time for me to get off the couch and start jogging again. The cold and snow of Boston was too much for me to handle this winter (Having spent the last one in Hawaii) and my once 4-times-a-week jogging habit has now turned into extreme laziness/excuse making/project runway marathon. I haven't been on an outdoor jog in months.

I am wondering if there is anyone out there that is perhaps feeling the same way and would maybe like to join forces for the benefit of having someone else there to haul your ass of the couch and get some exercise. I'm not looking for an avid runner as I wasn't really fast to being with and now am probably painfully slow. My perfect jog buddy would be someone who:
*Lives somewhere near Highland and Central, so I wouldn't have to jog too far before the actual jog started.
*isn't ms/mr marathon, but rather a non-jock like me who wants to get out and stretch his or her legs a bit more.
*Is perhaps interested in undoing all those burnt calories with the occasional end of the week, "hey, we did a great job not being sloths" celebration at the bar.
*doesn't want to chit/chat the whole way, as I know I am going to be gasping for air as it is. Ipods are welcome.

It may be a long shot, but there might be other folks out there who need to get moving again before the ground thaws officially. I'll be talking my first pre-sprint jaunt tonight, around 6.

Comments

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

I fit that description save for proximity. I'm on the other side of the Square, on Orchard st.

[richips.livejournal.com]

Hmm this sounds awesome, too bad i live far away.

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

How far is too far? Maybe we could all meet in the square and be the cool not really runners jogging pack.

[richips.livejournal.com]

i live in Allston and i work in Brookline

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

Oh, so sad. That would probably be too far, I personally don't like to get sweaty and then get on the train.

[richips.livejournal.com]

though it seems a little counterintuitive, maybe once in a while i could take the bus to Harvard Square and meet you there or something.

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

I could do the Harvard Square thing. We would have to find a route that was tourist/sorority free, but there are many scenic areas around there that would make for a stimulating jog.

[richips.livejournal.com]

Yes, along the river would be the best!

[ron_newman]

sorority-free ??

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

The last time I went down to Harvard for a little shopping, I was bombarded by Sorority rush week. I have no problem with it, but it would have been a difficult pack to get through while jogging.

[ron_newman]

I didn't know Harvard even had sororities.

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

They don't, as far as I know. They must have been from another school.

[ron_newman]

Someone started davis_ramblers for this purpose a couple of years ago, but it never really took off.

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

Well, at least there were some good routes on there. Being fairly new to the area, my routes are boring and I wish they could be more scenic. Now I have some ideas. I would be nice to get a group of like-minded people together to jog, but I don't want to go as far as the group that I see constantly jogging together on Medford at night with their reflective vests and flashing headlamps. I can't bring myself to being that hard-core.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

That was me, and perhaps with spring coming, it might be worth re-advertising it soon and seeing if folks are more interested.

I know I'd love some running buddies, but I'm on the other side of Davis from the OP.

[david-grana.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely be interested in getting into this. I live just 10 minutes from Central; the only problem is that Mondays are no good, but any other nights during the week would be great.

EDIT TO ADD: Oh, you mean Highland Ave and Central St. in Somerville :/ That would add a bit more to my commute, unfortunately :(

[mderidder.livejournal.com]

My wife and I live on Central near Medford. I run often with my dog, my wife a bit less often.

We are heading out of town for a week, but could try to coordinate a run when we get back next week.

[cemeterygates.livejournal.com]

I'm in Porter, but I don't mind meeting up in Davis to jog.

[ron_newman]

To the OP: If you can edit a Subject to your post, people will have an easier time finding it later. We don't really have an appropriate tag for this yet, so I tagged it "local sports".

[sekala.livejournal.com]

I live off of Broadway a little too far down(near 16) :(

[maggiebex.livejournal.com]

I'm totally up for this. I live up by Powderhouse/Ball Square, I too started slacking off since I moved to Mass, and I'd love to start running again.

Not that I was ever fast, either. At last count, I was doing two-to-five mile runs three times a week, at a pace of 10-12 minutes per mile. I expect to be much slower now, but I hope to do better soon. Or whatever, just getting moving again would be great.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

I'm also a Ball Sq slow runner. I think I was getting up into the 3-4 mile range last summer, but I've been a slacker all winter. Perhaps we could set up a bike path jogging group?

[i-custard.livejournal.com]

I'd be up for this once it is a little warmer (I'm a 3 year NC transplant and I'm still not used to it). I live on Mass Ave right off the Davis side of the bike path so when I moved here at the beginning of the fall I was jogging along the path til it ended on the Somerville side and back. I'm a 10-12 minute mile-er myself, but at least I try to get out there. Maybe we can resurrect the davis_ramblers community that Ron mentioned so when people decide to do a run they can post there and have people join them?

[ron_newman]

I designed these as bicycling routes, but they would work well as running or walking routes as well. They run between Davis Square and East Somerville, minimizing hills and staying on low-traffic streets wherever possible.

Flat Route Across Somerville - Eastbound
Flat Route Across Somerville - Westbound

They are two different routes for biking because of one-way streets, but that won't matter for runners and walkers.

(Warning - last time I tried it, these did not display properly in Safari. Use Firefox instead.)

[ron_newman]

And here'a the route for a bicycle tour I led last fall. Again, most of what makes it suitable for biking also makes it pleasant for walking or running. The first part of it differs from the Flat Routes above by going under McGrath Highway (on Gilman Street) instead of across it (on Pearl Street).

Tour de Somerville 2007

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

You don't want to jog to East Somerville.

[ron_newman]

Why not? Khoury's (mentioned in several other replies) is in East Somerville.

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

It seems like there are other people out there like me that want to (slowly) work their way into some fun-for-fitness jogging. I like custard's idea of resurrecting the ramblers, that way we could all benefit from each other's desires to be less lazy. Anybody else for this?

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I am, but I have to say that I am a total sloooow poke runner and pretty out of shape.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

I am totally into this. I need to get out there and I'm not afraid of running if it's over freezing.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

The Khoury's run on Thursdays from East Somerville (see www.srr.org) is a super-friendly environment where it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are - it's a great club (and also a major charity-contributer in Somerville!). Yes we do have reflective vests and the like, but that's a measure of keeping our runners safe on dark streets (we have vests that we loan out for the run) than an indication of hard-coreness.

And since it starts and ends at a bar, you can bet there's post-run drinking/eating opportunities. Yay steak tips! Yay cheap beer!

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I agree - I have done Khoury's a few times in the past and have had a good time.

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

Great, I'll check it out!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Quite far -- you're over on my side if Davis, but even further out.

My level is about what the OP describes, except that I *would* like people who might want to talk while running. Running with others who are using ipods would be a bit disconcerting to me unless it was a very large group. :)

I'm looking forward to going back to my river-side route once I feel the ice/snow is safely away.

[kimchee1.livejournal.com]

I might be interested! I am recovering from a stress fracture, so I am looking to return to running REALLY slowly. Maybe I could make it on your next jaunt?

marguerita run

[cthulhia]

I halfheartedly wanted to do a marguerita run series (to jose's, rudy's, that not-mexican named place on mass ave, etc.) last year and never did it.

If there's interest, I could try to do something again. Something friendlier to slow runners than either of the Somerville running clubs.

I run a 11-12 minute mile, and have for the past decade.

I avoid running outside unless I know there's zero ice. But, I could try to plan a marguerita run for april if people are interested.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

I'm in the same boat. I used to go on these long jogs that probably never went above an 8-minute pace.

I definitely like Davis->Mass Ave->Harvard->sometimes beyond. Lots of things to see, you can people-watch, there's not too many cross-streets.

Morning or evening?

[toastygw.livejournal.com]

I'm up for a run - I've recently joined BSC and have been using the treadmills there - but running outside once the weather's nice sounds good.

Are you thinking mornings or evenings?

Re: Morning or evening?

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

I'm not a morning person, so it's evenings for me. Maybe this summer I can work my way up to mornings again.

Sounds like we have a bunch of takers

[maggiebex.livejournal.com]

So what's the plan? Are we going to do Ron Newman's routes, re-start Ramblers, or all head over to Khoury's?

And what night, Monday or Thursday?

Re: Sounds like we have a bunch of takers

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

Well, I would be up for Khoury's, once this season of LOST is over. I guess I could record it, but I have a dorkish addiction to that show. However, I all for bringing back the Ramblers. It could be a great resource for people who want to get together and jog.

Re: Sounds like we have a bunch of takers

[maggiebex.livejournal.com]

So let's try for Mondays while LOST is still airing? Did you go last night?

Re: Sounds like we have a bunch of takers

[photographyjess.livejournal.com]

I did, it was great. My legs are pissed at me today, but I'll get over it.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

I'm closer to Medford than you are, but I jog/walk the bikepath all the time. I'd love to make more connections with local runners/joggers.