Augusta, Bobby Jones, Kevin Bacon, Winston Churchill and Running

Most notably recognized for hosting The Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta, Georgia, has a lot more to offer than golf. Along with a top rate medical community, fantastic historical relevance in the south and tons of trendy shops and restaurants, the city has carved out fantastic running, walking and biking trails. By pure chance, while we were there I ran along the hedges of the highly esteemed Augusta National Golf Course. This was exciting to me, as upon graduating college Shannan received a prestigious Bobby Jones Scholarship from Emory University, allowing her to live and study for a year at The University of St. Andrews in Scotland. That's my “Kevin Bacon degrees of separation” style connection.

Shannan remains very active in the Bobby Jones program and has served more than once on the selection committee. Still, she has never visited the famous course in Augusta. I'm no better. I've never played anything other than putt putt, or even watched a minute of live or televised golf. We have, however, seen several Bobby Jones exhibits at museums and golf clubs. Of course, the Augusta Museum of History has a standing golf exhibit, where I read the following quote from Sir Winston Churchill, "Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose."

Though not my sport, I recognize the place golf holds in the hearts of many around the world. If not on the renowned Augusta National Golf Course, there are lots of ways to enjoy an active day in Augusta.

Tom

Somewhere in Augusta

This year, Shannan's annual surprise trip took us to Augusta, GA. We dined at a posh new restaurant with one of Shannan's childhood friends and her husband when we arrived Friday evening. First thing Saturday I rolled out for a nice jaunt in a delightful residential area. Nature served up a picture perfect morning.

Once exercised, stretched, cleaned and breakfasted we headed out for a day of Augusta exploration. Destinations like Phinizy's Swamp, Barnyard flea market, the boyhood home of President Woodrow Wilson and the Augusta Museum of History educated and entertained. Shannan and I altered the agenda a bit for a pass through the Saturday Market at the River Walk and lunch at Nacho Mama's downtown (a fine choice).

Over the years we've encountered a number of inconveniences in our travels, but this morning was a particularly odd one. The electronic lock on our hotel door broke and we could not access our belongings after breakfast. We left the debacle to the hotel staff and went about our day. A fine day it was. We met the day as we always do, with zest for new experiences and zeal for life. Oddly enough, rapture had been proclaimed by a doomsday prophet from California. As it turned out, Jesus did not return to judge the living and dead after 6:00 pm May 21, 2011. In the mean time, Shannan and I had a grand day in the city of Augusta.

If not the places mentioned above, take some time to visit and run somewhere in Augusta.

Tom

Savannah, History, Literature, Mother's Day and Friendship

Choices. We spent a fabulous day in Savannah. Upon arrival we fortified ourselves with a light lunch at the Firefly Cafe, followed by an incredible tour of Flannery O'Conner's childhood home. Then we headed out to Wormsloe Plantation. What a treat! All of these made for fun new activities especially since Shannan, Joel and I have visited Savannah multiple times. Even so, we took time to enjoy classics like a walk along River Street and a ghost tour.

I write as we enjoy a brief afternoon respite. I'm looking forward to a new area in which to run tomorrow morning in this charming southern town. Options abound. Close to our hotel I saw a Botanical Garden, military installations, a local park, neighborhoods, and a small airport. Where to go in the morning for a run? I think I'll let my mood decide in just a few hours.

Fast forward, we are on the ride back home to Atlanta. As it turns out, I went for the airport. It quickly gave way to a nice neighborhood. I inhaled the maritime air, listened music and pondered Mother's Day (It was May 8).

Funny thing about choices. This morning Joel and Shannan did not go for a walk. Since I wrote the blog about our Brasstown Bald rain-out adventure (which happened long before I posted it) Joel made a new choice about meal portions. As a result, he has dropped a significant amount of weight. Now, when we choose a high cholesterol, heart stopping, fat-filled southern breakfast, he manages finds a healthy choice for his meal.

Even though we tinkered with the long-standing recipe for success, including an overnight, out of town outing, the magic ingredient of friendship won the day. More so than exercise, I strongly recommend friendship.

Celebrate friendship.

Tom

Summer Schedule

Finding time to exercise ranks high among the reasons many people do not lead physically active lives. In our highly scheduled society to exercise or not comes down to a question of priorities. That remains a hard pill for some folks to swallow. As an educator, I’ve just entered the best time of year for exercise, summer. I love the hot weather, being outside, sweating and a flexible schedule that makes it easier than ever to exercise.

I know many twelve month employees don’t share my enthusiasm as I ponder the joys of longer runs and more intense workouts. I will be teaching some during the summer term and working on a research project out of town, so it won’t be pure athletic bliss, but it sure will be nice.

Tom

Salt Seeking Runner

One of the hotel employees highly recommended a visit to the salt mines in Ouirgane. I loved the idea from the onset. She suggested we follow Berber Trails rather than take walk along the street. The well-trodden paths form a labyrinth which quickly spun me out of sorts, leaving me a wee bit lost. Forty minutes into the run and no salt mine in sight, I decided to try another day and to focus on finding the way back to the hotel.

The following morning, in preparation for another attempt at the denied destination, I asked another person at the hotel and received slightly different directions. Mental map ready, I sought out the salt mines. A resort, two hotels and three villages later, the salt mine continued to elude me. This day I had lots of time, so I cut across the tree-filled valley and joined trekking trails. I ran along a perilous ridge until I nearly went over a STEEP drop off (really). Footing secured, the vantage point gave view of a mountaintop that seemed only twenty minutes away.

Time can prove dangerous with too much or too little. I scrambled up the steep rocky face. The mountain's peak proved misleading. Beyond it loomed another charge I estimated to take ten more minutes to summit. So, again I scaled the increasingly difficult uphill terrain. At last the top fell under my feet and three valleys into my view. Stunning doesn't begin to get at it.

See the world differently. Run.

Tom

Post script- While walking Shannan and I finally found the salt mine. No one mentioned it had been abandoned for years. The destination disappointed, but the walk through the woods and over the river was well with the time.