East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. This Saturday, August 29th at 6am: Two of Nashville's greatest parks in one run? You better believe it! Starting from the Percy Warner flagpole just inside the stone gates off of Belle Meade Blvd, we'll take a scenic route across Tyne Blvd and in to Radnor Lake. My favorite is to go the full 12mi to get the run in along the lake. If you had too much fun the night before or you're just not up to it, this is an out and back route that allows any turning point of your choice.

12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/604730000

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route # 10 Wednesday August 26th. We meet every Wednesday at 11th & Holly at 6pm.

This route is awesome, with one of the greatest hills in East Nashville, but you need to be extra cautious at one particular intersection.   Right before the three mile mark, you turn left onto 14th from Sevier.   At the intersection of 14th and Sevier, you need to stop, cross over 14th and run on the sidewalk.   Please pass this along to your fellow runners!

Being Good Neighbors

Dear fellow runners,

Thanks for following ideas on being a good neighbor for the last 12 weeks; in short, being aware of what's going on around us is the common theme on which to close this column. Whether that's by knowing with whom we're sharing the road or paths, who can help us to improve intersections, when are we breaking the rules, how voting may be influential, how the city's evolving, or how to get involved.

A few months ago an electronic forum was started by some of the BPAC members. The bike/ped advisory committee was formed many years ago as an advisory group to the mayor by a group of influential volunteers.  The 6 or so annual meetings are open; East Nasty has been in attendance there for over a year. I'd encourage taking your thoughts or concerns to the forum or meetings and learning from some of the most involved in the city, and seeing what's new.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/walking-and-biking-in-nashville

http://www.nashville.gov/Mayors-Office/Priorities/Health/Bicycle-Pedestrian-Advisory-Committee.aspx

Thanks for reading over the past few weeks. Let's continue making East Nashville a great place to run. More work has been done in the forum on the bike/ped aspect of the candidates for the runoff election. Remember September 10 to vote again!!

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. The route that was almost forgotten! The Stones River Greenway provides varying terrain and mileage along (you guessed it!) Stones River. We start from the trailhead in the Kohl's parking lot which is mid-way along the route.

Head out and enjoy a close up and personal view of the Percy Priest Dam that most only see from the interstate. We'll come back across the trailhead to go out towards the water treatment plant. This route gives you 11.5 miles, but for those who are marathon training, it actually continues on past the water treatment plant and connects to Shelby bottoms if you're interested in some steep hill training to cross the river.

11.5mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/717079399

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route #9 This is a great run, but remember even while we are running around LP field, we are still on a street.  If you are new to our group and a little bit nervous about the pace, we have a walk/run group that starts early called the Lasty Nasties.   (Find them on Facebook)   They usually start about 5:45.   The "caboose" of our 6 p.m. group is about 11 minutes per mile (give or take), the front end is usually under 7 minutes per mile.   The bulk of the group runs between 8:30 and 9:30 pace.

See you at 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.

Being Good Neighbors

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week11 - Thankfully Reflecting on Change

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Although we all have our own internal clocks for how fast we feel things should improve, it's good to reflect on what has gotten better. Have you seen the new ped/bike protected lanes on Davidson? The longest and first protected in Nashville. The ribbon cutting ceremony was slated for Monday.

Already seen a concert at the Ascend Amphitheater and recall how that was area was no-man's land until a few weeks ago? Walked between there and Rolling Mill hill under the bridge? The sidewalks are a just little wider now.

The stop sign at s14th and Shelby catch you off guard? New sidewalks between Lenore and Davidson on s14th? New striping on Eastland? It's been a while since the bike lanes appeared on s14th in Lockeland Springs; like other improvements, they blend in.

Shelby Park is night and day compared to 10 years ago. The bike/ped trail from s19th and Lillian we often run has already been open a year. The park has many other recent protected bike/ped lanes. A lot of us would vote it's the best park in the city, opening up to over 10 more miles of greenway trails. Did you know there's now a B-Cycle station at the Percy Priest dam terminus? You've seen the land purchases along that route: the old Ravenwood Country Club? Go exploring there. The Stones River Farm? These are in East Nashville's backyard, more than ever a safely connected one.

We're lucky to be in the best place for cyclists and pedestrians in the city. Who will you thank? Use them often, but don't stop thinking about the little stretches that get us to the bigger ones. Later, remind that person or group you're now thanking that we still need more. Become one of those deserving that thanks in the next year.

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. Do you enjoy seeing some of the most beautiful countryside Williamson County has to offer? Are you thinking, "Williamson County?! That's too far across the river!" PR Bandits is one of the best running groups in Nashville (subjective plug) because we get out and run some of the greatest areas around with this week being no exception.

Starting from the Grassland Middle School on Hillsboro Road, we'll head out to enjoy the gorgeous estates and rolling hills along Moran Rd and Old Natchez Trace. This out and back route allows you to get just a few miles or as many as 20 if you so desire.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/710563785

RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

1)  The Route:

Rick's Market - coldest beer in town.  This is one of my favorite runs, just remember we will be running UP the new greenway this week.   And as you are going up said greenway, remember we share that space with cyclists who will be coming DOWN.  So stay alert and keep to the right. We meet at 6pm at 11th & Holly every Wednesday.

2) Mizuno

The best way to try a new pair of running shoes is to run in them.   Unfortunately most of us get to run a block or two before we have to decide whether to buy them or not.   Not so this week.  Our friends at NRC have organized a wear test for Mizuno shoes.   That means if you show up to NRC before the run, they will let you run the entire route in a pair of Mizunos.  Obviously there are limited styles and quantities, so if you have ever wanted to try a pair of Mizunos head to NRC as early as 5 p.m.

3) I Dream of Weenie Night

August 12 is our I Dream of Weenie hotdog night!   The first 100 hotdogs will be free (courtesy of our local State Farm rep.)   If you don't know what I'm talking about, read about I Dream of Weenie here... They don't sell beer, but amazingly enough, you can BYOB, as long as you partake in the grassy area outside of the Vanagon.   If you aren't lucky enough to get a free dog, a couple bucks to buy one and join us on the lawn.

4) Being Good Neighbors - Vote

One phrase repeated throughout many election campaigns was bettering neighborhoods. Have  you followed the NashvilleNext process? Filled in your rankings at one of the meetings  over past months/years? Many repeated walkability as a top goal for our neighborhoods.  Years ago a certain running group ran with that, and here we all are, better than ever,  both us and our neighborhood.

Was your voice heard in the election? Will it in the runoff? For what's being relied on  for the Next years of Nashville? It's never to late to find out our history and how to  enact change for the future. There's a lot to learn; find your place. Hold change to the  chosen standards, or see to changing those standards. Is your neighborhood evolving with  or without you?

Below is a link to the Nashville Next document about East Nashville.  It has some fascinating demographic data about our beloved part of the city.   It's not short, but it's a fun read! http://www.nashville.gov/Portals/0/SiteContent/Planning/docs/NashvilleNext/StaticDraft/next-vol3-EastNashville_052215_2.pdf

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. East Nashville Tomato 5K is one of our favorite races of the year. If you've never run it and stayed around for the festival afterwards, you're really missing out! If you haven't signed up yet, do so here - Tomato 5k Registration and Info. Then join us for some pre-race mileage. We have two route options to choose from depending on the total mileage you're looking for.

6am 7 miler - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/796899283 6:30am 4.5 miler - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/796889735

Please note that the start time is 6:30 for the shorter run. You'll want to be back around 5 Points shortly after 7 to get staged for the race.

PARKING - All of 5 Points and the surrounding areas are completely shut down for this event. You don't want to find your car missing after the race because you left it parked where the art fair is to take place. I have always had great luck parking on/near 11th St and Lillian. You're within a few blocks of The Yellow House and not far from the race start/finish or 5 Points with an easy exit out of town on Shelby.

Welcome New Nasties For the last 8 weeks, our potato to tomato participants have been braving the heat to become runners.  This week they join us.    This Wednesday, be sure to introduce yourself to at least one of the new Nasties, and then invite them down to NRC for pint night.

5k to 10k

A lot of our couch to 5kers want to keep on going and run a 10k this fall.   This training is open to anyone who can finish a 5k in under 45 minutes.  If you are stuck at 3 miles and are looking for a group to help you break through we would love for you to join us.   Email 5kto10kENFL@gmail.com for more details.

Tomato Festival

First, you need to sign up for the East Tomato 5k, wear your East Nasty gear, and enjoy a late-summer 5k!   Then after your race, come visit our booth for the unveiling of the new East Nasty shirts.  We will be on located on Woodland right outside of 3 Crow Bar.

A Few More Volunteers...

Speaking of Tomato Festival, we could use a few more volunteers for our booth this Saturday.   It's a fun way to experience the festival and meet some new friends!    Consider filling one of the open spots.  Click here.

Also, if you cannot volunteer Saturday, we could use some cup washers.   Sign up here.

Route #7

Little Hollywood.  After mile 2 we will be running on Eastland Ave.  If we run on the left side of the road, there is a section where there is no sidewalk.   So after you pass Rosepepper on Eastland stay far left and single file until you pick up the sidewalk on the other side of the bridge.

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. Bongo to Bongo has been a long standing favorite among many and we're back again! Starting from The Yellow House (East Nasty starting location) in East Nashville, we'll run through downtown to Bongo Nashville on Belmont. Being an out and back run, choose a run distance of your liking! Want more than 10? Continue past Bongo and go down to 440 and back for an even 12.

10mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/754971765

This week's run falls on the first Saturday of the month which is.... Dollar Donation Day!!!! We collect a $1 donation from each member willing to help with the cost of hydration and supplies. The donation is not required to run with us but appreciated to help reduce the personal investment to support the runs each week.

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Tomato Festival Volunteers East Nasty is committed to making East Nashville a great place to live and to run, and to make running accessible to everyone in our community.    On August 8th, both parts of our mission come into play, and we could use your help.

1)   Sign up for the East Tomato 5k.   This is our home race, where we unleash our potato to tomato participants into the running community.  (Our "potato to tomato" program is the East Nasty version of a couch to 5k program.)   So get out there and run along side your friends and neighbors.  And yes - that morning you can run in the middle of the street.

2) Volunteer to help out at our water stop...for the festival.   The tomato festival is hot.   But that doesn't deter 30,000+ people from showing up.  So every year we have a booth right by 3 Crow Bar where we keep 4 coolers of water filled for the festival goers, and sell East Nasty swag.   It's our way of helping the festival out, but it's also our big fund raiser of the year. We need 15 people who are willing to work a 2-hour shift at our booth.  If you've never done it before - it's fun!   A completely unique way to experience the festival.  Grab a friend and sign up here.

Route #6

Wednesday at 6am and 6pm. Corner of 11th & Holly.

I love this route, but want to point out a couple of things:

When you are running up the hill out of the park (right before the 2-mile mark) stay on the right side of the road.

Right after mile 3, you turn left off of Riverside onto Rosebank.  Rosebank is a fairly narrow road, so please run single file.

Oh yes, and the free pizza is THIS week, not last week...I'm almost 100% sure this time.

Being Good Neighbors: Vision Zero

We've talked about how we can actively try to enhance safety with the pedestrian resources we currently have: but sometimes working within the given cannot not have undesired outcomes. Some might call those accidents.

Vision Zero is a campaign supported in other cities that attempts to raise goals to Zero fatalities and serious injuries, and shifting the meaning of an accident outside the realm of vehicles. Infrastructure changes, enforcement, and multi-departmental cooperation are key. Whereas street design gave equal importances to the conflicting objectives of moving vehicles and safety, safety must trump all other concerns. "Accidents" are unacceptable.

Google Vision Zero and see what you learn. Do you have thoughts on first priorities for Nashville making this a reality? Is it possible? What must we lose in order to win?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/visionzero/pages/home/home.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_Zero

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. We're adding another new neighborhood to the rotation this year with 12 South! We will be starting in Sevier Park from the lot near Granny White and Clayton Ave. This is a large loop route with many options for shorter or longer runs. Edley's brunch after?

8mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/755024315 12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/717094933

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route #5: Walking Bridge

6 am or 6 pm at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.   It's going to be hot, so start hydrating now.

Being Good Neighbors: Cyclists

Our friends, the cyclists

Imagine walking or running with no sidewalks. No physical separation from cars that weigh  10 or 20 times more and moving 2 or 20 times faster.  Unfortunately, in many areas of Nashville that is the case, but that's almost always the case for cyclists.  Because of this some cyclists choose to ride on the sidewalks or not ride at all. Some places have some paint on the road reminding drivers bicycles are allowed but cars often don't observe the minimum  3 foot passing law.

Although there are currently a few  protected bike lanes for cyclists in Nashville (28th/31st Connector), there  are more  in the works. Davidson Street will soon have separation for pedestrians and  cyclists.

But on these shared, designated areas for cyclists and peds, it can be a challenge for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate around each other while enjoying some protection from automobiles.  Cyclists need to ding their bell or say "On your Left", and pedestrians need to stay right.  Look behind before passing  someone, just as you hopefully would on the interstate, and stay right after. Remind other  peds to stay right. Everywhere.

For example, on many of our runs we go down the Lillian Street [dog-park] greenway descending into Shelby Park.  Often we forget that this is a shared resource and as we run down into the park we spread out and take up the entire width of the path.   We should welcome this protection from the road, but remember that our friends the cyclists use this path as well.   This goes for all the Shelby Park greenways.   Stay right and always make sure there is room for a cyclist to pass on your left.

A few tips for us Sharing our own Road, and remembering that cyclists are our biggest  allies in bargaining for safer infrastructure.

There is going to be free pizza after the run...

But you'll need to head down to 3 Crow if you want a cold beverage... Just thought I'd let you know.

East Tomato 5k

Once again, there are very few excuses for you not to show up to this race/festival.  We consider the Tomato 5k our “home” race, so we need to show up en masse.    That means every single one of you needs to sign up!   When and how do you ask?   Here are two options: (1) just sign up here or (2) sign up at Yazoo on Thursday and get free beer.* Read below.

“You’re invited on Thursday July 23^rd at 5:00pm to Yazoo Brewery. Anyone who comes and registers for the Tomato 5k race gets 2 free drinks and we also just want to hang out with YMCA staff, friends, family… whoever! So please stop by and invite everyone you can. It should be a lot of fun and a good chance to take a breather during this crazy summer. If you have any questions, let me know! Hope to see you all there!”

Yazoo Brewery 910 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203