I'm here in my comfortable little room in Darjeeling. Just back from dinner of some delicious Tibetan noodle soup. Now I've been unpacking and re-packing my bags. I leave tomorrow morning for the race, and need to reorganize so I take only what I need for the race.

I've spent the last few days walking the hills of Darjeeling and going for runs in the morning. I think Dar is about 6800 feet, which is enough to make this sea level girl short of breath. But my few days here have helped. I'm hoping I won't have such a hard time with altitude during the race.

I'm feeling nervous! I always do, but seriously disrupted training schedule is worrying me. I was training really well until I got sick. Then I had a couple weeks off while I recovered from my cough. I got in a little running before I left, but not much. The nine days I spent traveling in Assam and Meghalaya were wonderful (pics to follow when I get home - I saw tigers!!), but I was not running. Now, in the last few days before the race I've been climbing hills and running - not exactly a normal taper before a big race. (usually you want to taper off on training a little in the last week or two to give your muscles time to recover and your body rest.)

This is the strangest training plan ever! It's just the way things worked out.

And it's been cold and rainy up here - not what I was hoping for. My first day here, I stopped into a temple. The monk interrupted his chanting to talk to me (in English). When he heard what I was doing, he said he would pray for good weather. I thought he should add in some prayers for world peace also, but I'll take prayers for good weather!

But no matter what, I'm off to the races.

- BY Julie Goodale | 04.26.2013

• Share This :
• Next »

Comments : (0) | Post Comment