Notes from the Red Bird House

I'm a runner and I travel. It's a great combination. Most of the time. There is no better way to see a city than on foot. Plus a morning run keeps me from languishing in bed half the day and I seldom binge out on the hotel's free breakfast buffet (Admittedly, the bacon yesterday was a poor pre-run choice but it smelled too good to pass up). The best part for me? I don't gain weight on my vacations or lose fitness. The even better than the best part? It's free.  Ok, it's mostly free (I'll come back to this...). Or it can be. Strap on your running shoes, zip your room key into an inobtrusive pocket (that hopefully opens easier than mine does, especially with frozen fingers), and hit the road. Look, if you're female or merely safety conscious, you've gotta have a knot in your stomach by now. "Let me get this straight, Stacee... I'm supposed to run in a strange city, on strange roads, where I probably don't know where I'm going, in pl...

My latest idea goes like this. Thirty running tours in thirty European cities in thirty days. It sounds like a blast to me. See Europe. Run Europe. Write Europe. For a month. A MONTH! Of course, the downside is that I'll have to run 8-10km a day for thirty days. On forty-nine year old legs. Pish-posh. Nothing easy is ever really worth trying. Besides if I fail, I'll have failed in Europe and, with the right spin, it'll still make for a good story. And ultimately, that's what matters. I've almost let the luke warm response I've gotten from people get me down. Invariably, heads sink into necks, eyes narrow to a quizzical near-scowl, and lips purse. No vocalized nay-saying is required. Facial expressions and body language are more than plenty. The "Huhs" and "Whhhyyyyys" come through loud and clear. So, why do I want to do run thirty running tours in thirty cities in thirty days (The 30-30-30)? Give me a few minutes of your time and I'l...