earth day |

I’ve been celebrating Earth Day with a month of car free Fridays, but today I also made a point of taking my run outside (despite the heavy wind and dipping temps). I chose a stretch of the Three Rivers Heritage Trial located on the South Side. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the trails so clean! The crowds of volunteers picking up trash and debris from the river front was a happy sight.

I also had the privilege of running through eagle territory. Yes, there are real life eagles in the middle of my city. I’ve seen a pair of baby bald eagles on one of my runs last week, and now that the word has gotten out about our native eagle family, pedestrians and cyclists slow down to stare expectantly up into the wooded hillside along a now designated “eagle viewing area.”

And there was also that moment when the sun’s setting rays caught the bridges. Sometimes, I can catch that one second when the bridges glow golden with the filtered light. Unfortunately, my camera was too slow. You’ll just have to come to Pittsburgh to see the sight for yourself.

How did you celebrate Mother Earth today?

Cheers!

Sarah

Photo courtesy of madaboutbike.com

Last Friday I left work at the usual time, climbed into my car, and then waited through heavy Pittsburgh traffic for the next half hour. A half hour commute sounds pretty decent, right? But not when my apartment is only 2 miles from the office. On a good day, it takes me five minutes to get to work. Friday traffic is particularly awful, and couple that with beautiful spring weather and a desire to get home, open the windows, and let in some fresh air, and sitting in a car moving 4 miles an hour is that much worse.

So, I thought about it. I run about a 10 minute mile. That would mean I could run home in about 20 minutes. Not bad! And what about biking? It would surely take me less than 20 minutes. Either way, a car seemed like the least practical option for my Friday commute.

Since it also happens to be the month of Earth Day, and to be totally honest with you, I don’t really ever do enough for the the holiday, I’m going to commit to biking or running to and from work every Friday in April. In total, I will save nearly one week’s worth of gas, gain more than an hour of my time, and spare the Ozone a tiny bit of unneeded exhaust.

How are you celebrating Earth Day?

Cheers!