Women Runners Connect at Traxee

A recent web search on running communities pulled up a link for Traxee. Traxee brands itself as a social networking site for women runners. It features a collection of blog posts from women runners, information on gear and training. You can also track your runs through applications offered at the site. Setting up an account is easy. But because it’s still in beta, I’m not able to feed my blog posts to my profile.

During my web search, I was looking to see if running shoe companies offered online communities for runners at their sites. I was surprised to see that the major brands did not feature any Web 2.0 tools for runners to connect with the brands and each other. As evident by Traxee, Runner’s World and hundreds of individual running blogs, there’s a huge community of runners interested in connecting and sharing stories.

This week’s route is a 3-mile loop around Georgia Tech. I found it at Run.com, which is a handy resource for local running routes. The route was originally posted by Sierra Nicholson. I’ve included it at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Georgia Tech 3-Mile Loop:
· Start at the corner of 5th St. and W. Peachtree St. NW
· Head down 5th St. towards Georgia Tech
· Cross Techwood Dr. and Fowler St.
· Veer left on 5th St. as it turns into Ferst Dr.
· Follow Ferst Dr. around the campus
· Turn left on Cherry St.
· Turn right on Bobby Dodd Way
· Turn right on Williams St.
· Turn left on North Ave.
· Turn left on W. Peachtree St. NW
· End run at 5th and W. Peachtree or repeat to increase mileage

Great Day for ZOOMA Atlanta

It was a very cold but festive start for the ZOOMA Atlanta Road Race. While I trained for the half-marathon, I ended up running the 5K stroller jog because of continuing problems with runner's knee. It was great to see a few men join several hundred women for this inaugural event. I was one of the few runners with an actual stroller in the 5K race. My daughter had a great time riding in the stroller even though she had to get up early with me. And she loved the sterling silver necklace that runners received at the finish line. Part of the appeal of the ZOOMA Race Series is that it supports Atlanta-based CARE. As a global humanitarian organization, CARE strives to help poor women and their families move out of poverty. At least $3 from each entry fee is donated to CARE. For UPS employees, the company generously paid the $75 fee.

This week's route is the 5K course from ZOOMA Atlanta. You can find the route at May My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

ZOOMA Atlanta 5K Route:

• Start from the Atlanta Station Parking Garage, at the P2 level
• Head down 20th St.
• Turn right at Fowler St. and cross 17th St.
• At 16th St., turn left
• Turn right on Northside Dr.
• Turn right at 17th St.
• Follow 17th St. back to Atlantic Station
• Just before Fowler St., make a u-turn on 17th St.
• Head back down 17th St. and turn right on State St.
• Follow State St. back to the starting point

Great Songs for Running

It’s time to update my iPod with a new song list. Since I mostly use it when I’m running, I decided to search for songs that will keep me mentally motivated and energized. Here are a few selections that I plan to add:

· Going the Distance (Cake)
· One Week (Barenaked Ladies)
· Come Original (311)
· We Got the Beat (The Go-Gos)
· Call Me (Blonde)
· Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
· Hey Ya! (Outkast)
· Got Caught Stealing (Jane’s Addiction)
· Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
· Beautiful Day (U2)
· Bitter Sweet Symphony (Verve)
· Freedom! ‘90 (George Michael)
· Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode)
· Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
· 100 Days, 100 Nights (Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings)
· Any podcast from This American Life

This week’s route is a 4 mile run loop around Grant Park. You can find the route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

· Start at the entrance to the Zoo, on Cherokee Ave. and Georgia Ave.
· Facing the park, turn left down Cherokee
· Turn right on Sydney St.
· Turn right on Park Ave.
· Turn left on Berne St.
· Turn right on Blvd Dr.
· Turn right on Atlanta Ave.
· Turn right on Cherokee
· Repeat