I am READY. This may be the best I’ve felt going into a race since my very first one. Last Sunday was amazing for me, dehydration and all, this week is going well, and I feel like my “just get to the starting line” philosophy is paying off. I have no regrets about my training this time, I don’t feel like I’ve pushed too hard or not enough. I’m golden.
Also, I am looking forward to getting out of Russia almost too much. It’s bordering on obsession.
I may be complaining a bit much but.. just as the weather got perfect here it kept going and went too far (for running that is). Yesterday was a rough one for me. Fighting a head cold all week combined with 69 degree sunny weather made for a much dehydrated run. WE sucked down the camelback even before the halfway point and stopped to get 5 more bottles (but not after running another 6-7km). Woo. Sally was bookin’ it (yeah girl!) but it was a struggle for me just to fight that dry mouth. I forgot how shitty dehydration can feel. New rule for self: when all else fails knock over one of the obnoxious kids and steal their water bottle, they don’t need it as much.
1 week till fun, 2 weeks till run!
Okay, that’s a lie. A half truth, really.
After my 8miler last week I was feeling pretty good. Today was supposed to be a 10k-Race ( which I mistakenly read as a 10 mile run–so I was pleasantly surprised this AM when I checked and saw the 10K part). So I planned to just try and run a fast 10K.
I did, actually, manage that with an overall sub-10 min average pace. My Garmin is old and off on the instant pace results so I was not really aware I was going that fast. Maybe it’s time for a new one… 
I ran along the Mississippi river. Not at all surprising there were other runners out. It was a cool and misty/rainy run.
I crashed at the half-way turnaround. I think it’s a combination of fatigue from all my time zone changes and my ribs still hurting from the roofing project. I was tempted to just walk home…but I remembered a quote I was looking up for an Oman post (which I never got to do–maybe I’ll do a belated one later) and made myself finish.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
Muhammad Ali
The rest of me enjoyed it quite a bit, however.
We ran along the Moscow river. We even saw OTHER RUNNERS.
4 weeks until race day. Antici pation.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but I’m a cold weather runner. Yup. Anything south of 60 Degrees is ideal for me. I know, I know…preaching to the choir of my TAS Comrades who are like minded.
My internal clock is a bit off still, so I woke up around 4am, read for a bit, checked the interwebs, then did a 2.5 mile run to get back in the swing. The last round of travel back home threw me off track a little. So I just went out for a nice little run. Yeah, I’m not suited for running 4, 5, or 8 miles in 80+ degree weather in a desert. Glad I won’t be back to that until after the race…but I’ll still try for some runs next time.
Okay, I’m rambling…must need more coffee.
I would have posted sooner, but my geekery was failing and I was thwarted by this:
Rebekhizstan, let me know what I missed.
“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope he likes enchiladas, because that’s what he’s getting.” ? Jack Handey
In my case that would be Papa John’s pizza. Yum. You’re welcome, Jesus!
Melting sidewalks? Running with one wet foot the last 3km? This is sucky. C’mon Moscow, step your game up. And Sally, 26 days till we’re bustin’ out of this dreary gray city (even though it’s sunny today I’m in an “I hate mosow” mood right now.)
I’m ticking off the days. I NEED a break from Moscow and teaching.
9 miles of relatively uneventful running. Luckily, no one fell.
Well, not “Russia/Moscow” cold…blah blah blah…
But it is down in the 30° zone.
So, I guess I finish my coffee, harness up dawg (bad idea, I know), and take my bruised ribs for a run. Then it’s off to help someone move.
TTNF