Last week before Antwerp! Continue to get excited -- sometimes a little anxious. But all in all I'm confident that I'll finish and hopefully I'll finish strong. Weather reports out of Antwerp are calling for temperatures in the low 50s (perfect for me) but also forecasting some rain. As long as it's a drizzle and not a downpour I'll be fine -- would prefer not to run in soggy shoes!
MONDAY: 3.45 miles at 9:31 pace. 332 kcals. 156 Avg HR. A good run. Temps in the low 50s with a slight breeze. Even a little chilly starting out but felt good. Continue to make mental checklists of everything I need to pack but I think I'm in pretty good shape. One more short run tomorrow and then it's all downhill to Sunday.
TUESDAY: Woke up early ... decided to get my run out of the way so I could finish up office paperwork later this afternoon. It was chilly -- only in the low- to mid- 40s -- but that's the temperatures I prefer so not bad. Ran 3.5 miles at a 10:08 pace -- easy run -- didn't feel like I was pushing myself at all. 294 kcals and 140 Avg HR. Didn't notice it at all while running but afterward noticed some tenderness to the touch just below my knee on the outer left leg -- but I think it's where I bumped into a chair yesterday at the dentist's office. Go figure -- the running doesn't affect me but clumsiness does. Anyway, I'll ice it later.
So ... I'm done running until Sunday in Antwerp. Feeling strong and healthy and looking forward to the marathon. I'm thinking all the sights of running in a European city, unfamiliar languages, smells, etc. will keep my thoughts occupied and a lot of the time will go by quickly. And the course is flat which is different than what I'm used to running. For the most part I think it will make the run a little easier than my usual hills. Forecasts for the weather continue to change almost on a daily basis. Latest this morning was that the high for Antwerp on Sunday is projected to be 65 degrees F. On the hot side for me so I'm hoping that forecast is incorrect.
I'm just about done with the packing. Carrying all my running stuff onboard with me just in case luggage finds a way to get lost -- it shouldn't since there are no connections between here and there. Carrying three different options for running tops so I'll be ready no matter what the weather actually turns out to be. I have all my gels in carryon -- in my quart size Ziploc bag to clear security. Also have my powders for Cytomax and Pre-Formance to mix up on Sunday. The only thing I'm not carrying on with me is my Fuel Belt -- hoping I won't need it but if the temps end up on the high end then I'm hoping it makes it to Amsterdam on the same plane I'm on! Oh, and also my gymbag for my stuff to shower with after the marathon and change of clothes, etc. -- I can always buy a new gymbag easily enough. I typically take an extended release Ambien on the Europe bound flights and have decided I will do that again -- it should be out of my system by Sunday and will help me adjust more quickly to the new time zone. I'm actually more organized than I've ever been this much before an extended trip. Much more relaxing being fully prepared!
Thursday is scheduled to be a 3-mile walk. Not sure if I'll do that here before leaving for airport or figure I'll get that much walking in at the airport, etc. Will see how I'm feeling on Thursday and how much last-minute stuff I need to do or decide to do!
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