This blog has no specific agenda...that is until I come up with one. Possible choices may include but not limited to the following: Running, Work, Social Life, Family, Friends, Faith, Politics, Learning Spanish, Music, Books, Complete randomness. I'll post just about anything as long as it does not incriminate me at work or in a court of law. My family shouldn't be too embarrased because they probably know about half these things.
I am never one to pass up a challenge, so when a fellow co-worker of mine challenged me to fly out of the States on a Friday afternoon to hang out for the weekend with him in London, how could I say no? He was on his way back through London having just completed a training session in Monaco and was preparing for formal meetings in London the week after, so there wasn't anything for him to do in the meantime and wanted someone to hang out with. I accepted and booked my flight out of STL and ORD to LHR for Friday 1/18 to return on Sunday 1/20. Upon arrival in Chicago I discovered that plans had changed and that I would be staying an extra day. As it turns out I was invited by my friend's boss to participate in a team building exercise at an undisclosed location that would require a passport and little to no English speaking ability. I rebooked my flight home for 1/21 and waited in anticipation for word as to what we would be doing on Sunday.
Saturday in London was set aside of fish and chips and beer. We walked around the place with no particular place to go. We did seek out a Thames River Boat Tour, but they were either booked or not quite what we were looking for. We settled for a cafe next to the London Eye.
Sunday morning the team met at St. Pancras train station and found that we were booked on the Eurostar to travel to Paris to participate in a team building scavenger hunt. We were to visit Parisian landmarks and take pictures to provide photographic proof of our visit. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and the Louvre were all on the list, among a few other obscure landmarks. We barely made the train back to London.
It was a great little get away - I didn't get very many good pictures, as we were on the move most of the time. I have wet my appetite to return to Paris to see more, and of course a trip to London is always on the list.
Well folks...I did it. I finally ran a marathon! Saying that I've run 5 half marathons (which if you do the math adds up to 2-1/2 marathons) just didn't cut it anymore. It was finally time to stop talking about doing a marathon and actually do it! I picked to run in the Phoenix Rock and Roll Marathon which proved to be a wise choice given the mild temperatures (right around 50 degrees at the start and the mid-60's by the end) and the flat course.
I did fine for the first 13 miles of the marathon, averaging right around a 10:00 minute mile pace without walking (see the blue line in the chart above). I became aware of my feet around mile 8 and my legs started feeling a little tight around mile 14. It wasn't until mile 16 that I started to struggle a bit...stopping to stretch and rest a bit. By mile 18 I couldn't run and all I could do is walk. After crossing the 20 mile mark I stopped at a medical tent to get a leg massage, a couple aspirin, and some salt. It appears that my sodium levels were low which is why I was cramping. As soon as I left the tent I felt like a champ and ran the rest of the way with a few quick walks to further loosen my leg muscles. I finished with an official time of 5:07:35 (take away the 9 minute massage I ran it in under 5 hours). I am very much looking forward to doing this again!
I've registered for the Shamrock Shuffle in April and the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in May. It is my hope to find another marathon to do sometime in the fall. I've caught the bug!
