11 mile run (17.5 km run), Wallonia to Brussels

I've been training for the Brussels Half Marathon this year! It's been fun so far, and it's my first race of any length so wish me luck. Anyway, during training you're always looking for interesting routes to run.

This one is cool because it starts in Wallonia, passes through Flanders, and then ends up in Brussels, in the Bois de la Cambre, already one of our favorite places to run.


View Running route from Wallonia to Ixelles in a larger map

More information:
Distance: ~11 miles (17.7km)
Starting point: La Hulpe train station
Ending point: Bois de la Cambre, by La Bascule
Terrain: Mostly forrest with some farmland type areas. Passes by the Chateau de la Hulpe, which is a very nice bonus. Gentle hills up and down. 

Pittsburgh Marathon 09

Jonathan
Originally uploaded by DixiePistols.

Yesterday was the Pittsburgh Marathon! It was a lot of fun to watch, although I can't say much about how fun it was to run. I took a bunch of pictures. Most people I know who would care have probably seen all of these, but for completeness sake I'll tell you who I saw!

My hardcore friends who run marathons include:
Jeff
Noam
Jonathan
Gabe S.
Emily
Gabe Z.
Stacey
Tom
Carsten
Mary
Thomas
Patrick

You guys rule! You make me want to start running again, so pencil me in... Great Race 2009. No, I am not doing any marathons, and even if I do one some day, I am not dumb enough to commit to one now, considering I haven't run since last summer. But it was really fun to watch, and I got excited by the prospect of running again.

In other news, I am trying to grow banana peppers in my back yard! If only I lived in a city with 6+ hours of sunshine a day, as the seedling suggests banana peppers require.