Omaha, NE

Omaha Riverfront Trail

Running Time: 55:50 + 2-minute kick

This is my second Omaha entry. I had planned to run on a dirt trail across the border in Iowa, but it was a 27-minute drive, and I got into Omaha late, so I picked the closest paved trail, which was urban and boring and a little smelly.

I was thinking there was not much river to this riverfront trail. It was only when I looked later at the map that I was running along Carter Lake, and I never got to the where the trail met the Missouri River. That could explain some of the smells, though I imagine the Missouri River is no Cinnamon Scentsy.

It was hot and muggy, and my legs felt heavy, so it was a heavy jog, which is fine since I was on concrete. This is actually my second Omaha post. When I was here last year, I ran at an alternative high school near my hotel. I stayed at the same hotel (not good), and I passed the school track on my way back from the run. The run also took me back along the route I took from the airport to the hotel, so there was a depressing redundancy to the whole day.

Trying to eating less standard restaurant/fast food fare and something perhaps locally sourced or at least created, I got the idea to look for a food truck after the run. First place was a vacant property – no food truck. Second place was an unmanned food truck. Third place was a hotel parking lot – no food truck. Fourth place was a standard cafe – no food truck. I finally gave up and tried to eat at the Burger Theory in my hotel. 15-minute wait, no help. Crossed the street to a sports bar and had a decent Coffee Stout while I waited for my BLT to go.

Omaha would not be my first choice of a place to live, but it also does not seem representative of Nebraska. Nebraska in May is green and beautiful. The next day I found a little cafe in Hastings called the Back Alley Bakery, where I had a delicious egg salad half-sandwich with a side of cabbage slaw. There was bacon in the egg salad. Also, it was dine-in only, so no to-go trash waste. Delightful!

I never saw Big Ben in Omaha, so I guess he delivered his hogs and moved on.