get in gear!!

It's high time for me to get my @ss in gear and really start training!  Eindhoven was done on a whim, but I've got the Seattle half in November and the HB half in Feb. Not to mention that little relay with Lisa and Wendi in Utah next summer! These last two weeks have been absolutely terrible for motivation and running.  At least I walked to and from work all week! About 30 minutes each way.

I just want to go home though! I'm sitting in the hotel in Amsterdam, right by the airport, so it's not convenient to go into the city. I mean, I could, but going alone SUCKS!!!! On the plus side, I only have about 20 hours to kill before I have to check in at the airport- and I'm hoping at least 7 of those will be sleeping!

The airport does have some great shops though, maybe I should wander and try to find some things for my nieces and maybe some chocolate for me  :)

it's going to hurt a lot more tomorrow!

..... but it was worth it! I have now done an International race. And although my time was not where I would hope, it wasn't terrible either. I haven't run a Half since May 2009! And yes, I'm training for the Seattle Half at the end of November I have to remind myself that I've been away from home for a week now. My training fell off the wagon and I've been sleeping and eating strangely here. Everyone rides these little scooters that are SOOOO loud at night! They buzz like a bunch of pissed off bees.  I've been wearing earplugs to bed, but too much of those makes my ears hurt.  And I've been eating relatively healthy, but not training healthy. I only at twice yesterday and today, and very European things all last week. It doesn't help that I'm totally homesick and confused about being in a foreign land.  True, nearly everyone speaks amazing English I hate having to ask them to! I hate not knowing what all the signs say, what is on the menu and even more-- I hate eating alone. It's not so bad at breakfast because I'm in a hotel and that's pretty common for business and all.

But I did dinner alone on Friday (at the hotel even!) and I felt so awkward. I have no problem with this at home. I think it's the language thing. The people at the next table could be mocking me "stupid Americains, zey come here vith der monies and dey expect us to speek to dem in der language. ha!"  Paranoid much? yes!

Anyway, the race was today and it was strange. I watched the beginning (or pretty close anyway) of the marathon from the elevator lobby of my hotel, then hustled down to the parking lot to have a better look. How cool is it that I wound up right on the course!!

Some of the elites just after the start

The marathon started at 11am and the Half at 2:15pm. I read somewhere that is was expected 17,000 for the Half.  Eindhoven is not a big city.  It started in the City Centre and had six starting chutes that went off different streets. I think it was about 18 minutes from the time of the start until I actually crossed the line. All the while standing in the middle of Europeans. Don't get me wrong- I love them. However, they don't tend to shower as much as Americans and the smell is very distinct. Didn't help they were all wearing technical fabric and spandex shorts which we all know makes everyone smell lovely. The start line reminded me of the finish line at Ironman. Ew.

Me in the hotel room getting ready!



So, after standing around and getting sore for awhile the race started. I knew right away it would be painful. The sun was blazing- bright and quite warm- and me without sunglasses!  It was a really pretty run. Strange since I had no clue where I was or what was going on. It was made even harder since all the markers were in kilometers and even though I knew the approx 5k times, I had no idea about my in between.  So, at 10k I was around 58 minutes. Not too bad. And then the flatness of the course really got to my knees and glutes. Yowza!!!  I started walking some- feeling guilty the entire time. The course was completely lined with people cheering. I've never experienced a race in the US like that.   The last kilometer or so was through the Centre along a street lined with bars and restaurants. The people were packed in! I probably could have reached out to each side and high-fived people on my left and right at the same time.  It's killing me that I don't have pictures of all this!

So, when I finished I had no clue where to go! I got lost trying to figure out where to return my chip and then even how to get back to the hotel! I finally made it after wandering through a college, more streets with bars and closed shops... where I am now catching up with work and eating room service!

Internation racing! yeah!

best day ever

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Eindhoven streaming Ironman Kona live online and listening to the drums beat outside getting ready for the Eindhoven marathon to start shortly.  It's a beautiful clear blue sky day here. I just saw this guy finish online (from the website live updates):

"Clayton Treska finishes! The amazing marine, who is still undergoing treatment for stage 4 testicular cancer, just came across the line. He only came out of the hospital in August. He was still in hospital, undergoing chemotherapy, when he finished Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. Earlier this week he told us he wanted to inspire other people with cancer. "You can't ever give up," he said. He didn't today - he's become an Ironman. "

 

He looked amazing! Watching these incredible athletes makes me even more excited to pick my next race! Another year in CDA? Or will it become a bigger event? Hmm, time will tell.

 

I'm nervous for this half marathon today. I'm not in shape, I've picked up a cold over the last few days and I've been having a muscle spasm in my right hip, running inot my right foot. I think it's from the hardness of the hotel bed. Oh well, it's only about making it to the finish line- and from what I hear, the Dutch put on a hell of a race! And if the drumming that's been going on for the last hour+ is any indication.... then it's going to be quite a show!

Nederlands

I could move here for the shoe selection alone. Everyone wears boots and skinny jeans or skirts. And I mean- EVERYone. I love it. If only I had an empty suitcase and an unlimited budget. And I've only been here ten hours!! The men are extremely attractive too.  Definitely that 'foreign' vibe that we're all familiar with- but tall and good looking.  And the bicycles!! Omg, I have to get a picture of the hundreds and hundreds of bicycles outside the train and bus stations!  And they ride everywhere. And if not on a bicycle, then on a little scooter. There's even bike/scooter lanes separate from traffic and no one wears helmets and no one gets mad. Ok, I'm sure they do. But I saw plenty of incidents today that would have had American drivers out of their cars yelling.  I only wish I spoke the language. I look so much like I should be Dutch that it's really embarrassing to have to ask  the store clerk "English??"  Oy.

Tried to add  some photos, it's not letting me at this time!

Yup.

yeah, I've decided (as I sit here at the sea-tac airport starbucks- N gates) that I'm nervous about this trip. Quite nervous. This is amplified by the fact that I won't be able to use my cell phone to sanity text anyone for two weeks! Two whole weeks without poor american grammar and slang. AND two weeks without american tv! Biggest loser- I miss you already. Even though I already missed the second episode.
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