Recycling Old Running Shoes

I love the feeling of slipping on a new pair of running shoes. Nothing beats the cushioned support and comfort on my feet. And that first run with new shoes is always terrific. What I don’t like is collecting a closet full of old running shoes. Fortunately, I’ve come across a variety of sources for recycling running shoes:

Big Peach Running Co.
This local retailer offers a 5% discount off the purchase of new running shoes when you give them your old pair. The old shoes are donated to local charities that assist the homeless.

RecycledRunners.com
As noted by its title, this site is dedicated to encouraging runners to contribute old shoes to recycling programs. It features information on programs in the U.S. and select countries. As an additional bonus, purchase a new pair of shoes from Running.Zappos.com and the web retailer will donate 50% of the proceeds to RecycledRunner.com’s Charity of the Month.

Reuse-A-Shoe
Nike offers a very cool program to donate your shoes. The material from old running shoes is grinded and manufactured into soft play surfaces for tennis courts, running tracks and playgrounds. You can donate your shoes at the NikeTown store at Phipps Plaza or by mailing them directly to Nike at this address:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

I found a new source for Atlanta running routes this week at Run.com. The route listed below was originally posted by Kelly S. at Run.com. While Run.com does provide a map, I find the map feature at Map My Run is easier to follow. You can access a map of the route at Run.com and at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Buckhead West Loop – 3 Miles (from Kelly S. at Run.com)

· Park in the Cross Creek Clubhouse lot (free parking).
· From parking lot, go back to main road and turn right on Bohler.
· Turn left onto Hanover Drive before the bridge.
· Turn left at dead end.
· Turn right at next dead end onto Defoors Ferry Road.
· Go about a 1/2 mile, and turn right onto Warren Road immediately after the baseball field.
· Turn right onto Moore's Mill Road. You will cross a bridge and go up a hill.
· Turn right at the first light onto Peachtree Battle Road.
· At the top of the last hill, turn right at the stop sign onto Bohler Road. This will take you back to the Cross Creek entrance.

This loop is easily extended. You can pass Warren Road and instead turn right onto Moore's Mill later- this will tack on about an extra half mile. You can also turn left onto Bohler at the beginning (instead of right) and then go right onto Defoors Ferry - this will eliminate the Hanover leg and tack on almost 2 miles. However, this also adds a steep 3/4-mile hill at the start.

Olympics-Inspired Running

I love watching the Summer Olympics. Seeing the accomplishments of world-class athletes inspires me to work harder towards my own fitness goals. I’m particularly excited about this year’s games because of the success of women considered too old to compete. Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita, a 38-year-old mother, became the oldest Olympic marathon winner in history. While other runners bent over in exhaustion after crossing the finish line, Constantina ran victory laps in the Bird’s Nest stadium. Watching her seemingly effortless win influenced my running this week. Despite the heat of summer, I had a great energy level during my runs. Thanks Constantina for the inspiration!

This week’s route is a 2-mile loop through Emory University. Repeat the loop to increase your mileage. You can access a map of this route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Emory University – 2-mile loop
· Start at Druid Hills High School, located off of Haygood Dr. between N. Decatur and Clifton
· From the parking lot, turn right and head toward Clifton Rd
· Cross Clifton and stay straight on Asbury Cir
· Veer right and head down Fraternity Row
· At the end of Fraternity Row, turn right onto Dickey Dr
· Turn left onto Dowman Dr
· Turn left on Fishburne Dr
· Turn left on Asbury Cir
· Turn right on Pierce Dr
· Stay straight and cross Clifton
· Head down Upper Gate Dr
· Turn left on Ridgewood Dr.
· Ridgewood ends at Haygood – repeat loop or return to Druid Hills H.S.

Recovering from an Injury

As a runner, there’s nothing worse than suffering from an injury. I was recently sidelined for a week while I dealt with a bruised toe. My options were (1) become a coach potato and fight the urge to raid the fridge or (2) find an alternative activity to running. Sometimes it was hard to make the smart choice. Depending on the nature of the injury, swimming, biking or the elliptical cycle can be a good option. Since I belong to a gym with a pool, I swim to supplement my running. It’s a nice break from sweating and I like the challenge of working different muscle groups. Plus it’s a great cardiovascular workout.

What’s your alternative to running? Share your feedback by commenting at this blog.

For this week, the featured route is the 5-mile loop at Stone Mountain Park. The directions listed below are also available at the Stone Mountain Park site. You can access a map of this route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Stone Mountain Park – 5 mile loop
· Start from the main parking lot near the railroad depot
· Head west on Robert E. Lee Blvd (turn right, facing the railroad tracks)
· At the 2-mile mark, stay straight on Robert E. Lee (the 8-mile loop turns right on Stonewall Jackson Drive)
· The 5-mile loop ends at the railroad depot

Outdoor vs. Treadmill Running

I’m strictly an outdoor runner. I love the experience of running outside and exploring neighborhoods. It’s a great way to discover communities and meet other runners. For me, running on a treadmill is a sterile, mind-numbing experience. However, other runners I know prefer the convenience and sense of safety you get with running on a treadmill. I can appreciate that – especially during the winter when the weather is miserable.

What’s your preference? Share your feedback by commenting at this blog.

This week’s featured run is a 4.5 mile route through Brookhaven. You can access a map of this route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Brookhaven – 4.5 miles

· Start at Big Peach Running Co., located at 3881 Peachtree Road NE
· Turn right on Peachtree
· Turn right on Bellaire Dr
· Turn right on Club Dr
· Turn right on Winall Down Rd
· Turn right on W. Brookhaven Dr. and follow the road around the golf course
· W. Brookhaven turns into E. Brookhaven
· Follow E.Brookhaven away from the golf course
· Turn left on Davidson Ave
· Davidson turns into Club Dr
· Turn right on Winall Down Rd
· Turn left on Vermont Rd
· Turn left on Stovall Rd
· Stovell turns into Club Dr
· From Club Dr., turn left onto Peachtree Rd
· End run at Big Peach Running Co.

Running for a Good Cause

Atlanta hosts a variety of running events during the fall, including many that support important community groups. If you’re looking to run for a higher cause, here’s a few road races to consider:

Red Devil Dash – September 13
This 5K run/walk event takes place at Druid Hills High School, located at 1798 Haygood Drive in Atlanta. Proceeds support Philip Hicks Memorial Soccer Scholarship Fund and the Druid Hills Soccer Booster Club.

Four Seasons Run for Research – September 20
An annual race hosted by the Four Seasons, it benefits the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Health System. The race takes place at the Four Season, which is located at 75 14th Street in Atlanta. A fun bonus is the chance to win a stay at a Four Seasons hotel. Event registrants are automatically entered in a drawing to win a trip to one of five Four Seasons locations. The Grand Prize is a stay at the Four Seasons in Nevis, West Indies, Carribbean.

Starlight Atlanta Run for Kids – October 4
This first-annual event takes place at Lullwater Conservation Park at Emory University. The Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families by providing comfort, support and entertainment during all phases of their medical journey. Lullwater Park is located at 1463 Clifton Road in Atlanta.

3rd Annual Patty Foell Road Race – October 19
Located at the Doc Chey’s at 1424 N Highland Ave, this race honors the memory of Patty Foell who was a well-known Atlanta runner killed in 2005 by a car while on a run. All race proceeds are donated to the Patty Foell Fund within the Atlanta Track Club.

ZOOMA Atlanta – November 16
Hosted at Atlantic Station, this running event is designed to inspire women to get active. Participants can sign-up at activegiving.com to raise funds for CARE. Runners receive a t-shirt, boxed lunch, mini spa treatments and free training. The post-race party includes live music, shopping, demos and product samplings.

WonderGirl – November 16
Girls on the Run of Atlanta and the Atlanta Youth Soccer Association host this 5K Road Race. Proceeds benefit both organizations. The race takes place at the Arizona Avenue Soccer Complex, near Decatur and Kirkwood.

This week’s featured run is a 5 mile route through Druid Hills. You can access a map of this route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Druid Hills – 5 Miles

· Start at the CVS location at 1554 N. Decatur Road
· Turn right on N. Decatur
· Turn right on Oakdale Road
· Oakdale becomes Emory Road and cross Oxford Road
· Follow Emory to Briarcliff Road
· Turn left on Briarcliff
· Turn left on Harvard Road
· Turn left on Springdale Road
· Cross N. Decatur and continue on Springdale
· Turn left on Ponce de Leon Avenue
· Turn left on Lullwater Road
· Turn right on N. Decatur and return to CVS

Why do I run?

Like me, a lot of people I know started running for the physical benefits (e.g. managing weight and building endurance). But over time, I’ve found that the mental aspects of running start to matter more.

What do I mean? Running helps me unwind when I’ve had a stressful day. As a working mom, it’s often the only time during the day that I have to myself. Morning runs help me mentally prepare for my day, while evening runs relax my body and calm my mood.

Why do you run? Please share your thoughts by contributing comments to this blog.

This week’s featured run comes from Big Peach Running Company in Decatur. It’s a 6.88 mile route through Decatur, Oakhurst and Druid Hills. You can access a map of this route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

Decatur – 6.88 miles

· Start at Big Peach Running Company on E. Trinity Place
· Turn left on Trinity and head towards S. Candler Street
· At the Dairy Queen, turn right onto S. Candler Street and cross the railroad tracks
· Turn right on E. Davis Street
· Turn left on S. McDonough Street
· Turn right on Oakview
· From Oakview, turn right onto E. Lake Drive
· Stay on E. Lake, passing the Baptist church and the Marta Station
· Turn left onto Ponce de Leon Ave
· At the sign for Deepdene Park, cross Ponce and turn right on N. Ponce de Leon Ave
· At the end of N. Ponce de Leon, turn left on Ponce de Leon Ave
· Take Ponce back into Decatur
· Turn left on Commerce Drive
· Turn right on College Avenue
· Turn right on S. McDonough (run past Decatur H.S.)
· Turn right on Trinity
· Stop at the start point (Big Peach Running Company)

Running Groups Thrive in Atlanta

Through a Google search on Atlanta running, I was pleasantly surprised to see the number of group runs organized in the metro area. There are groups that cater to a variety of fitness levels, distances, and personal interests. At the Atlanta Track Club’s (ATC) site, I found over 60 group runs listed for every day of the week. I’ve listed a few below:

Oakhurst Running Club
Meets Wednesday at 7:00 pm and Saturdays at 9:00 am in front of One Step at a Time, located in Decatur at 650 East Lake Drive.

Virginia-Highlands Running Club
This group meets Wednesdays at 7:00 pm near the fire station on N. Highland Avenue.

Roswell Runners Club
Starts at 6:30 pm on Thursdays near the Square at Chaplin’s Restaurant on 555 South Atlanta Street.

Chattahoochee Road Runners
Mondays at 6:00 pm in Marietta, behind the TGI Friday’s on Powers Ferry Road.

Windward Road Runners
Meets on Saturdays at 6:30 am at the Starbucks located at 3070 Windward Parkway.

This week’s featured run comes from the UPS Health and Fitness Center. It’s a 4.5 mile loop through Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. You can access a map of this route at Map My Run under my group Atlanta Running.

UPS Run – Sandy Springs/Dunwoody:

· Start at the corner of Abernathy and Glenlake Parkway (near 400)
· Turn right on Glenlake Parkway
· Turn right on Glenridge Drive
· Turn left on Spalding Drive
· Stay on Spalding Drive (turn right at Dairymple Rd and Spalding Dr)
· Turn right on Peachtree-Dunwoody Road
· From Peachtree-Dunwoody, turn left onto Abernathy Road
· End at start point