Overbrook – Run All The Streets

Labor Day Runs, 2022

Here are three runs from Labor Day Weekend, 2022. Each one targeted a specific street or alley; Ceres Way, South Scroll Way and Library Road.

This section of the city is a mystery to me. I don’t understand why it hasn’t become more upscale, or at least better taken care of. The location is decent, just east of Mt. Washington, with public transportation. It has great views, especially from Grandview Park. There’s a lively little business area. In some cities, Allentown would be prime, multi-million dollar real estate, but here it is a rather ragged collection of homes and garages. Can Allentown be rejunvenated without being gentrified?

But enough editorializing. I started on Bailey near Grandview Park, where I can always find a place to park, then turned down Beltzhoover Avenue and took a right onto Eureka Street.

I hopped onto Ceres Way, determined to follow it to the very end. There were smiley faces on garages and cool cars, but it all ended unceremoniously in a patch of weed-encroached asphalt. Later in the Fall, this would have a nice view of the Mon.

Wrapping around to Grandview Park was more fun. Lots of views and activities.

And that was it, one mile in a skyhigh neighborhood.

While the previous run down Ceres Way was on a cloudy and humid day, this run, the next day, was a washout. It was to finish up South Scroll Way in Brookline. Where is South Scroll Way, anyway?

South Scroll Way is a little upper-cut of an alley between Glenarm and Starkamp. It only goes behind a few houses. Both Glenarm and Starkamp are steep streets which fall off of Brookline Boulevard, just past the business district.

On rainy days, the sensitive touch screen of my phone makes taking pictures difficult. So another mile run but only few pictures.

After conquering Scroll Way (whoops, I mean SOUTH Scroll Way), I hopped into my car and drove over to Brownsville Road. My goal? To complete a section of Library Road.

I also needed some more miles, what with run 501a being only a mile. I ran down Maytide from Brownsville to Saw Mill Run Boulevard. That was a nice downhill. On the other hand, while Saw Mill Run Boulevard is one of the flattest streets, it is also one of the ugliest and busiest roads in Pittsburgh. Skipping past small car dealers, transmission garages and family eateries I got to the eternity light at Library Road. After said eternity, I made my way over to Library Road, running the short section to the border of Castle Shannon. I did a loop and retraced my route, ending up with four miles. This isn’t a very great place to run, with several areas only having a shoulder to run on.

Starting March Like a Lamb, Three Shorties

With February gladly behind me, I started into March with several short runs. The weather had moderated and I was just getting out.

RATS #00373 Overbrook

https://www.strava.com/activities/4880520786 — RATS #00373

The main point of this run was the triangle of streets between Jacob Street, Groveland Street and Aaron Avenue. It was already dusk by the time I parked at Brookline Memorial Park, donned my safety vest, powered up my flashlight and took off. I shot down Brookline Boulevard to Jacob Street. Cars all have to make a left, but pedestrian runners like me have the option to make a right onto steps descend steps. At the bottom, there is a walkway to a South Busway Station, but tonight I went straight through the soggy area, lifting up on steps rising on the far side, emerging onto another section of Jacob’s Street. I apologize for the photo quality, but it does illustrate my mobile night vision, or lack thereof.

There are just a few streets down here, all going up to Aaron Avenue. The houses mostly sit on decent sized lots and over the years, residents have really made them their own.

My ambition was to finish off Aaron, crossing Glenbury, then do more alleys in the far neighborhood. However, my back twinged at the end of Aaron, and I just limped back to my car.

RATS #00374 Shadyside

https://www.strava.com/activities/4886437737 — RATS #00374 – Shadyside

Cutting the previous night’s run was probably a good idea, but I was still taking it easy, so I did another easy run, in Shadyside. Shadyside is full of cul-de-sacs and this run was mainly about touching on several of them off of Ellsworth Avenue.

I did come across a spectacular mansion of modern style along an alley. One side purports to be a driveway, but it is actually a through street. This was a pleasant, short and flat run.

RATS #00375 Greenfield

https://www.strava.com/activities/4896854497 — RATS #00375 in Greenfield

This was a cool run, again in the evening. I started along Greenfield Avenue and powered up Winterburn Avenue. Sun Way lived up to its name, with a grand vista of downtown bathing in pumpkin light, as river mists started rising.

Sun Way Looking Downtown from Greenfield

Besides the incredible hills, Greenfield has incredible views. The Cathedral of Learning prominently punches to the sky. It was no surprise that I came across steps; these continuing Noah Avenue, from Tasso Street to Tasso Street (yes, the upper and lower sections have the same name).

Cathedral of Learning Sticking into the Sky

On Lower Tasso, I had great views of the South Side lights and downtown framed by the last sunlight. That was about it. This run, while only 3.73 miles had a healthy 581 foot elevation gain, over 150 feet per mile.

Brought to You by the Letter ‘g’

Strava Route of Run 349 — RATS #00349 – Carrick & Overbrook

Continuing the seize the day with ‘warm’ January temps, I got out and ran in the Carrick and Overbrook neigborhoods. I had planned it out fairly meticulously and was rewarded at the end.

I started out on Brownsville Road and headed for the streets south of Maytide. Here Pittsburgh borders Brentwood. You would be hard-pressed to tell the difference from the look and feel of the neighborhoods, with the biggest evidence being different colored street signs and paving lines across the road.

Once up from Maytide Avenue, the houses have decent sized yards as the streets undulate over the hills. After laboring up a steep hill, I got a kick out of seeing the houses across the street sitting far below street level. I did cross over and look. Those back porches stretching nearly the width of the house have a great view of the retaining wall.

I also saw a couple of Pittsburgh chairs, ‘working’ to keep parking spots safe from intruders. Now, when there is a heavy snowfall, and you have to shovel snow for hours, putting a chair out is a time-honored tradition to make sure no one pulls into your spot when you leave for work. Woe be unto those who steal spots! However, there was no heavy snowfall, so I think this chair was working overtime.

Houses whose porch roofs are below street level

Chair for saving parking spot — Houses whose porch roofs are below street level

I came across a back-alley garage around here, emblazoned with a “g”, like on Sesame Street. Finishing the grid of streets around Stewart Avenue, I continued along Stewart as it plunged 200 feet down the hill toward Saw Mill Run Boulevard. It’s a wild road leaving behind the orderly neighborhood above and going back in time as it approaches a “cemetery zone”. The houses tell the tale.

Nicely Maintained Pittsburgh Four-Square

As Stewart twists and turns before hitting Saw Mill Run, it passes Saint George Serbian Orthodox Cemetery on the right and Shaare Torah on the left and eventually Shaare Zedeck.

Entrance To Serbian Orthodox Cemetery, Pittsburgh — St. George Serbian Orthodox

Gates of Wisdom Arch — St. George Serbian Orthodox

I touched my toes outside Pittsburgh where Stewart hits Saw Mill Run Boulevard. Then I clambered back up to Horning Avenue, where I took the Horning Steps past the St. Norbert Church building, now for sale.

Rounding out my run, I started up Overbrook Boulevard, but decided to catch just one little alley I had previously missed. Tyro Way leaves Overbrook and hits the Antenor Way Steps. In an earlier, dark run, I had stopped at the top of the Antenor Steps, warned off by a barricade. This time, starting in the middle, I was pleased to note that the steps were actually pretty good, all the way from Maytide to Antenor. Oh, there may have been a missing tread or two, but nothing horribly wrong. Strangely enough, barricades at each end had been knocked over. I’m now including Antenor Steps as a very doable section, preferably in daylight.

Top of Antenor Steps — Top Antenor Steps

Bottom Antenor Stpes at Maytide — Top Antenor Steps

And that was that! “G” that was a good run!