It really isn’t that bad…but I can’t say I enjoy this whole
day-before-a-race thing. I’m trying to
keep it a low-key day, and I’m nervous that I didn’t train enough this past
winter, and I’m nervous because I’ve never raced a marathon in my Skechers Go
Mebs (they’ve been fantastic for a couple of half-marathons, so I have reason
to think they’ll continue to be stellar), and I’m generally nervous about everything
right now.
On any normal day while in another country, I’d be embarrassed
to admit that I’ve spent pretty much the whole day in my hotel room - listening to Humble and Fred podcasts,
watching some videos on YouTube, Skyping, blogging (I have had no urge to check
work emails…sorry OntarioMD). Outside of
a brief run this morning, my short venture outside today was to go to the
grocery store for routine and boring food that will go down easy, and a return
to the race expo. Paul wasn’t working at
the compression sock booth today, and I didn’t manage to find anyone else to
chat with for an hour. Probably a good
thing, as my heart-rate was elevated just from the walk there:
I trust that the barriers won't be in the way tomorrow ...
Although Paul wasn’t out, I did get a less overt example of
Dutch kindness today; admittedly, not so out of the ordinary anywhere
else. As I ran alongside the bike lane,
I noticed a cyclist slowed and kept pace with me for around 30 seconds. I glanced over and he said something to me in
Dutch. I relied on my usual “smile and
nod”, at which point he started saying something else (or maybe the same thing
again…I really don’t have a clue). I
smiled apologetically and told him I don’t speak Dutch. He responded in English: “Good luck
tomorrow. You look very smooth.”
Ok, I lied. He
actually told me I look “supple”, but I’m attributing that a point in
translation.
Otherwise….it’s one thing
for a random guy I’ve known for 10 minutes to invite me to hang out with him at
his place in another city next week. It’s
something else altogether for a random guy on the street to say I look
supple. THAT is just WEIRD!
Here I am, back in my hotel, getting ready to stretch before
an early night. Tomorrow night I’m staying at the five-star Hilton, brought
into my price-range by Hotwire. :) It’ll
either be a celebration or a consolation.
I wonder how many marathons it takes to eliminate the post-marathon
let-down. I haven’t even raced yet but I think I can feel it coming. (Um...that little jaunt throughout Europe may take the sting off of it...) It takes so much time to prepare for one of these, and the
reward is hours of discomfort and a Gatorade-stained singlet! Then again, they
punctuate the racing season so well! Oh, my love-hate relationship with
marathoning!
Then again, maybe I just shouldn’t spend so much time alone
in my hotel room! :P
Good night.
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