New cities = exhilaration!

I meant to write this a couple days ago, as I don't know how many of these posts are really positive, and this one, when I was thinking about it on my run, was positive. (I did two posts this time, so the one from today was actually below, and this should have been on July 3rd).

I am in Geneva now, for a conference at the UN (look at me!). And one thing I consistently love about running, and always being in a constant state of training, is that I HAVE to get out there and do it, and running in a new place is really one of the best ways to familiarise oneself with new surroundings, and get out and get a feel for it. I cover SO much more ground when I am running, and I get to take in sights, smells, people, weather - all of it - at my own pace and in my own time. It is great!

Sometimes the cities are dull, and I am often relegated to major roadways that are visible on the map or will offer a relatively easy-to-follow route so as not to get stranded. But often times, I feel that these runs give me a more intimate appreciation for the city than those I am with - I get to see more and experience more in a given time period.

Either way, my first run in Geneva was great! I had missed my long run the day before, so I wanted to give it a good effort, and the map made it look like I could cover some good ground in a relatively short time that would allow me to see lots of the city. I set off with my little Spibelt (CDA 1/2 prize!) with some money, hotel key, ID, bus pass, and camera - the camera is sometimes bulky but the number of times in new places that I have wished for it have been too many to set out for the first time without it. (I will post pictures when I have my cable!)

The first two miles weren't very interesting, but at least gave me a sense of direction as to where the hotel was in comparison to the rest of the city. It was a gorgeous, hot Sunday afternoon. I came to the river (Rhone) and I was hoping there would be a trail along it. Well, there was, manned by warning signs about possible flash floods and a bit forboding, as it led into fairly dark woods on a dirt path.

I thought about sticking to the (boring) road, but thought I might as well try the trail for 5 min, and turn around if I was still tentative. It is an adventure, right?? It was great though - only a couple minutes in, I came to a vista off the cliff of the amazing river, which was the most fantastic colour!! It seems that the water flowing from Lake Geneva is clear and blue, and the water flowing from the other side is brown, presumably from mountain silt, or something, but the two mix in the city, making an amazing turquoise colour - it was breathtaking with pristine wooded banks on the other side.
Running down the hill to the water, I heard all kinds of noise and came to find dozens of people out enjoying their Sunday - BBQs, drumming, jumping into the water from the trees on the banks - it looked great, and really made me wish I had friends to enjoy the summer sun with and just enjoy the surroundings.

I ran on. Into the city, following the river, past a sort of outdoor reggae concert with lots of revellers, and people everywhere soaking up sun on any tiny piece of beach or cement jutting out into the water. Around the bend and into the lake area, onto a boardwalk running alongside the lake that was jammed with people, again enjoying the great weather! I awed at the huge water fountain in the middle of the lake, shooting water up like a geyser, and ran through the lovely park, darting around the passerby.

On I went into the botanical garden, housing a wonderful carousel - I always thought Spokane had the best one, but now I am not so sure - this one is incredible!!


On I went, now outside the reach of the park users, as I searched for the UN complex to find out where I needed to head this week. It is, of course, impressive, and massive - compulsory picture outside the gates, sweaty though I was!


Anyway, I am rambling now....I carried on back 'home' via the same route, for a total of 12.75 miles. It wasn't very fast, and I stopped a lot to take pictures and just soak it up and look around. This is necessary too - if it is supposed to be a cultural opportunity, I have to take in a bit of the culture! It was great - and I finished feeling that while I am going to be stuck inside all week, I at least can say I have seen a bit of the city and I got a good laugh out of it, plus got the run out of the way. It makes me grateful that I can use my running to help me experience new places and sights, on roads less travelled (by me).

As for the rest of things, all is going all right. I am settled back in London, I suppose, but still missing home a lot. I feel out of touch with Dad - with him off to dog trials, Hawaii, me here, our chances to speak have been few, and I miss him and knowing how he is doing day to day. I don't like it, since I have no real grasp on how he is holding up, plus I don't think he has slowed down even for a minute since I left - I suppose I haven't either! - which is maybe good for both of us. Keep running and keep experiencing, I guess....

Pushing on

Some days I just want to quit all of this. The days that it just feels too hard, I am too tired, I would rather be doing anything else - these are the days when I just want to pack it all in, become a social runner who doesn't wear a watch and doesn't have to do it every day, doesn't have to sacrifice doing fun things with friends because she has to do a long run or go to a race. I wouldn't have to get nervous or beat myself up over some silly 5k performance, or skipping a run here or there. Sometimes I just want to be in it for the fun of it, for the love of running.

These days often fall on speed workout and race days, when I decide I don't like running at all. Today was speed workout day.

The next to last thing I wanted to do when the alarm went off 6 short hours after I got to sleep, at 6am, was to get up and run. The LAST thing I wanted to do was to get up and have to run hard. Plus, being somewhere new that I don't know, and don't know where I can 'let it all out' on the road is always tough. I am in Geneva, spending a straight week at long conference sessions (that are not in any way interactive!) and they are demanding on my psyche - as such I didn't feel I had it in me to focus or push hard.

But I had a glimmer of hope - on the map it looked like there was a small park with a loop that I thought might work. So off I went, grumbling all the way! Turns out, the loop was very small - smaller than a lap around the track - but as I started, it actually was coming together rather well, about which I was surprised. While the loop was tiny, it at least allowed me to shut off my brain and not have to think about the roads or traffic or anything else. It wasn't even either, with a bit of a hill up one side, but that meant it was downhill on the other side, and I didn't have to push too hard against resistance. If my Garmin was accurate (sometimes I think it wants to conspire against having to run as well!) then I did pretty well, averaging about 5:40 mile pace on the 6 min reps (x3) and 5:30 on the 3 min reps (x4). I didn't know how many laps there were going to be, so there was no counting down, there was just listening to music and getting to the next rest period.

Things get hard and we have to find a way to get through it, and sometimes that means shutting off and just pushing on without thinking too much about it. It might hurt like hell, but there will come a time when it is over.

Some days running seems unusually difficult, like I have never been good at it, and I will never be good at it. It is days like these that I need to have a good run, that I enjoy, or hurt but feel accomplished by the end. Today was one of these - I hated starting, but I loved finishing, and I could congratulate myself on going hard and finishing, without cheating or quitting early (which are also too easy on hard days on my own). There will come a day when my running will be just for fun, without pressures applied by myself. Or maybe there won't. But today isn't one of those days - today I kept pushing on.