The Tomato Festival and the accompanying East Nashville Tomato 5k are just around the corner (August 9).   (1) We want you to run and (2) we could use your help at the festival, so please take a moment to read below. First, Wednesday's Run...

Route #6

Remember, you can meet us at 6am or 6pm (or both) at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.  (If you meet with us in the morning, you need to bring your own water.   We'll have water and some treats at the evening run…)

Tomato Festival

I know we're biased, but the Tomato Festival is the best street festival in Nashville.   And this year there are more bands, more vendors and if this 80 degree weather keeps up fewer people in the medical tent!   East Nasty is a big part of the festival, and we want you to get involved as well:

Run the Race

The race benefits the Margaret Maddux YMCA, which shares the vision of making healthy living available to everyone in this community.   You can sign up on line here, or you can sign up Wednesday night at the run.   (You will be able to pay by credit card.)  Just remember, if you don't sign up, you will suffer the wrath of Drew Jones, who will have access to a microphone that morning...

Sign Up Here For the Race

Volunteer for the Festival

Every year, East Nasty has a booth right in front of 3 Crow Bar where we offer free water, and we sell our t-shirts.  First, the festival is usually scorching hot, so providing a "water stop" is a great way for us to add to the festival.   Next, we sell East Nasty t-shirts at the booth.  This is our big fund raiser for the year.    (I'm sure you've noticed that everything we do is free - but that doesn't mean we don't have any expenses…)    We need 12 volunteers who are willing to work a 2 hour shift to help out at the booth.   Would you consider helping us out?

Volunteer Here

Run #5: The Walking Bridge

6 am or 6 pm Wednesday, July 23rd.    (Yes, if you are a morning runner you can join us at 6 a.m.)    We always meet at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.

Remember, if you are more of a walk/runner, join the "Lasty Nasties".    They start the run at about 5:45 pm.    Check out their Facebook page for more information.

This week is one of the "exceptions to the rule" as far as running on the left side of the road.   On this route, we run on the right side of the road as we go up first avenue, across the Woodland Street Bridge and up Woodland.

Tomato Fest 5k

Remember, this is our "home" race and all of us need to run!   If you haven't signed up yet (Register Here), Wednesday's the day.   Between 4 and 8, go to Yazoo Brew, sign up for the race, and get 2 free beverages.    (We are also going to need some volunteers to help out at our booth during the festival, more details soon…)

Yazoo Brewing Company Sign-Up Special

What: Sign up for East Nashville Tomato 5k

Where: Yazoo Brewing Company 910 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203 (in the Gulch)

Why: Get 2 FREE adult beverages when you sign up for the race.

When: Wednesday, July 23

Time: 4-8pm

Photo Shoot

On Wednesday, a marketing representative will be recruiting runners for a photo shoot, and it's a paid gig!   Seems like a fun way to get paid to run.   You are especially desirable if you run with your dog.

Here are some quick details:

When: Aug 3rd (11am-7pm) and/or Aug 4th (6am-9am)

Where: Opryland Area

Who: Seeking approximately 18 runners, 6 or more with dogs who are experienced runners to serve as brand ambassadors.

What: Runners will be running, jogging, and walking during this time frame in groups of 3 or 4 to raise awareness of a pet food brand that is focused on balanced nutrition and health. There will be plenty of breaks to stay cool and be able to run in intervals during this time frame. For those with dogs that run frequently, each group will have at least one dog running with their group to keep the theme and add to the awareness.

Compensation: Approximate $16-18/hr, and more for those with a dog.

Why: This is an exciting marketing opportunity for our brand, and it is also a great opportunity to earn some extra money doing something you love to do.

Before the Run

One unfortunate reality is that when buying a pair of shoes, you have to choose a pair after jogging up and down the block.   I don't know how to solve that problem, but one helpful trend is that shoe companies have started wear tests.   A wear test is where runners can take a pair of shoes out for a run.  This week Mizuno is having a wear test.   Drop by Nashville Running Company before the run on Wednesday to wear a pair of Mizunos during the run.

The Run

Run #4: The Big Shelby Loop.   We're going to be sharing Shelby Park with our couch to 5k group, and with the East Nashville farmer's market.    There's probably going to be more traffic in the park that usual, so even though we typically run on the left side of the road, this week, run down the right side of the road on Davidson.

After the Run

This week is I Dream of Weenie night.   Every hotdog is $0.50 off, and it's BYOB.   So bring some cash and plan on staying after the run to enjoy a dog and some time with your fellow East Nasties.

It looks like we are going to have a beautiful night for a run!

ENFL

Mark

Route #3

This is our only out-and-back route.  You can turn around at any point, but one common way to cut this run short is to cross the pedestrian bridge and go back.   That makes the run almost exactly 4 miles.

Make sure that you have signed up for the Tomato Festival 5k.   This is our "home" race, and we need to show up en masse.  (We will also have a booth at the Tomato Festival where Duane will unveil the 2014 East Nasty summer t-shirts…more details later.)

Remember, every Wednesday there are three options: 6 a.m., 6 p.m. or you can join the Lasty Nasties.  The Lasty Nasties are mostly walk/runners and start running at either 5:30 or 5:45 p.m. (depending on the route)   Check out their Facebook page for more details.

Run #2

6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.

Pint Night

Once a month, our friends at NRC invite us over for a post-run Yazoo.   Everyone is invited and it is a great way to meet your fellow East Nasties.

Women's Half Marathon

Our training for the women's half marathon has begun, and it is not too late to join in the fun.   Email Alyce Scrivner if you are interested.  a-scrivner@comcast.net.

Starting over with Run #1

6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.   We run rain or shine, but if there is a storm, we'll wait it out.

I Dream of Weenie Night

Tomorrow night, the first 100 hot dogs are free.   Yes, you heard it right.  Drinks and sides are your responsibility, but courtesy of State Farm the first 100 people will not have to pay for their dog. (Remember you can BYOB if you want.)     Yet another reason to stick around after the run...

ENFL

Mark

The Nasty

Our signature run: 6 miles, 7 hills (or more) and it looks to be hot.  A perfect combination for the nasty!

(There is a 3.7 mile short-cut which yields no glory, but is significantly easier)

You can join us at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.

Women's Half Training

The Nashville women's half marathon is in September, and starting at the end of June we'll have Sunday long runs focused on that race.   If you are interested in being a part of these runs (they are free like everything else we do…), or helping out, please  email Alyce Scrivner at a-scrivner@comcast.net.

ENFL

Mark

The Route

Wednesday at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly.   Remember we meet rain or shine, but if there is a thunderstorm, we'll wait it out before starting.

The Church Run. This is a great run because it is a figure 8, which gives less experienced runners a chance to run just 2 miles.  If you complete the whole route, you will end by running up Shelby Ave from 5th all the way to 11th.  For you cyclists out there, this is a category 5 climb.

Potato To Tomato

Change of Location for our June 14th meeting!

Our couch to 5k program, we call it Potato to Tomato, is starting this Saturday.  Note:   We are going to change our meeting location because the "Run or Dye 5k" is being held at LP field.   This Saturday we will meet at Shelby Park, outside the nature center.   The run will start at 7 a.m.  Coaches need to be there by 6:45 and we are encouraging participants to come at 6:30 to go through a health screening.

Parking

Just another friendly reminder.  Do not park illegally.

Parking revisited...

Last week I had at least 2 cars that I could have used as examples of illegally parked cars.   (Luckily, I don't think they were ours…)  Read last week's post and pay attention to where you are parking!

Potato 2 Tomato

Our couch to 5k training is about to start.   Information is here.   If you (or anyone you know is interested) you need to:

1) Sign up on line.

2) Attend the information meeting this Thursday night at 6:30 p.m at the Margaret Maddox YMCA.

3) Show up to the first training session.  7 a.m. Saturday, June 14th at the Pedestrian Bridge (LP field side..)

Route #10

6 .m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.   Afterwards, head to NRC for our monthly pint night.

Parking

Just a friendly heads-up…there will be parking patrols out and about five points issuing citations.  Not necessarily tomorrow or on Wednesdays at all, but some folks are parking illegally, and parking enforcement is going to be stepped up.   Here is a link to the parking codes, but the ones that I want to highlight are about intersections.  There are two rules about intersections you may not be familiar with:

you cannot park...

c.Within thirty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection,

d.Within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway,

There is no doubt that I have parked within 30 feet of a stop sign before.   So be aware of this regulation!  30-feet may seem like a lot, but it will make intersections around the 5 points area much, much safer - for both vehicle and pedestrian alike.

Note: This increase in parking enforcement is not because of us, and it was nice of the neighborhood association to give us a heads up before tickets just started appearing on our cars...

East Nashville Tomato 5k

Our home race is coming up on August 9.  This is not just a race for our potato to tomato graduates, but a race which we all need to support!   This Wednesday the YMCA will be out with information about how to sign up.

Wednesday's Run

6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly.   If you are a run/walker, meet up with the Lasty Nasties at 5:45.  Check out the construction as we run around LP field…our riverfront is going to be amazing.

Shoes

Don't forget to bring your shoes into NRC.  Our goal is to collect 100 pairs of shoes before next week (May 28th).  Read this blog if you need more details.

I Dream of Weenie

Once again this summer, I Dream of Weenie is going to have East Nasty night.  The third Wednesday of every month, I Dream of Weenie will stay open late and offer $0.50 off everything on the menu.   Also, as a bonus, they will provide a cooler of ice and you can BYOB.  (Disclaimer: you can't walk up and down the street, but you can drink beer if you stay on the lawn.)

So put this on your calendar and plan on sticking around after the run this Wednesday.  Grab a beer from the Kwik-E-Mart and relax with friends and a hotdog at the picnic tables.

Potato to Tomato

Information about our Potato to Tomato 5k training program is available.  If you have anyone in your life who would love to make a change, this is a great way to start.  The program is free, and open to anyone.  Information is here.

Route #8: Rick's Market - Coldest Beer in Town

6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.  This route has a couple of street crossings where the cross traffic does not stop, so approach all intersections cautiously.

If you are a run/walker you are welcome to join the Lasty Nasties.  Note: they meet at about 5:45p.m., so if you show up at 6 p.m. they'll be gone!   Check out their facebook page for more details.

Potato to Tomato

Our free couch to 5k training is just around the corner.  Information is here, and there are four things you need to do:

(1) Consider coaching.    We could use some faster coaches.  (Relatively speaking...)  The majority of our participants are brand new runners who will complete the Tomato Fest 5k in over 40 minutes.  But there are usually a few ringers who are in great shape, but just new to running.  We always need a couple experienced runners (read: can run 8 minute pace consistently) to help guide this group.   Is this you?   Consider coaching. Send Mike Clark and email, and he can give you more information.  mclark@eastnastyforlife.com

(2) Pass the information on to friends, and get them to sign up.   Everyone is welcome to join us, but it really helps us plan if the participants sign up.    There is an informational meeting at the Margaret Maddox YMCA at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday June 5th.

(3) Sign up for the Tomato Festival 5k.  This is our "home" race - and it benefits our local YMCA which does amazing work in the community.   No excuses!   Sign up, run and enjoy a fantastic festival after the run.

(4) Donate your old shoes. (read on…)

Shoes

Every year East Nasty collects used running shoes.   If the shoes are too worn out, we toss them or give them to goodwill.    If there is still some life left in them, we find them a new home.   We give away hundreds of shoes every year, and many of them go to our Potato to Tomato participants.

We rely on you guys for our shoe inventory, and that is the case this year, but we are going to do collection a little differently.   This year, between May 14 and May 28, bring your used shoes in to Nashville Running Company, and they will give you 20% off your new shoe purchase when you bring in 2 used pairs.   If you only have one pair, please swing by the store and drop them off anyway!  Our goal is to collect over 100 pairs of shoes during this two week period.

The Route

Run #7

6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.   Enjoy the architecture on this route!

ENFL

Mark