The other side of my trips down under (I just winced, writing that), is family time:
Lots of quality time with my ridiculously cute nieces and nephew:
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| This is Piper, also known as the little Terrorist, the little Savage, the little Viking, El-Tornado etc. |
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| This is my darling Mima |
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| These three (twins and older sister) tearaways are my brothers kids; stationary for but a brief moment in time. |
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| This is actually a miracle: all five paying close attention to this extremely depressing "childrens" book. |
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| When you arrive in Australia, they should just hand you a cask as you go through customs. Every time I return my liver = pickled. |
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| Raspberry Chocolate Layer Cake |
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| Earl Grey Tea Cake with Lemon Buttercream... or something |
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| This was an orange-ginger cake with cream cheese icing. |
So lets just say I have plenty of carbs to fuel some running. Speaking of which.... another couple of weeks closer to Philly:
July 28-August 3, 2013
Sunday: 13 miles easy, somewhat hungover from wine and cake at my Pa's birthday on Saturday. Nevertheless, I ran 3 miles with my best friend and her baby stroller! I took the stroller, and believe me, my fellow childless friends, that thing is NO JOKE. Especially up hills. Round about 10:30-11 min miles, followed by about 10 miles at 8:30.
Monday: rest and cake.
Tuesday: 10 miles with 8 at MP pace. Splits were 7:26 (had to stop as got lost briefly), 7:08, 7:14, 7:09, 7:13, 6:59, 7:03, 7:08. Ran along the Yarra River Trail. About the most perfect tempo weather ever. 40 degrees, no wind, so I got a bit carried away on the pace!
Wednesday: 8 miles easy (8:15 avg) around the Tan in Melbourne.
Thursday: 40 mins elliptical + leg strength
Friday: 11 miles on treadmill, 1.5% incline, noooo idea about pace because it was all in km. Felt officially wrong and American, being tied to the Imperial System. Cummon America, get metric!!
Saturday: Rest
Total: 42 miles
August 4-10, 2013
Sunday: Flight back from Aus. Had been awake for 24 hours, so 4 miles easy was all I could manage.
Monday: Rest. Tired, jet lag, with a disgusting plague-like cold, to the development of which Im certain every member of my family contributed their delightful bacteria.
Tuesday: 9 miles (felt only half like death) at around 8:00 pace
Wednesday: 11 miles easy, around 8:20 pace
Thursday: rest
Friday: 8 miles treadmill, 1.5% incline, building up speed, last mile at MP (7:20)
Saturday: 8 miles easy at 8:20
Total: 40 miles
So yeah, thats what happens to my general diet and health when on these trips. Doesn't make it any less awesome to be back home with my family and friends though. Worth every single drippy nose, sugar crash, hangover and midday narcoleptic episode!
I am most impressed with your 4 mile run after being awake and traveling for 24 hours. Seriously? I have travelled back and forth from Asia often and I cannot imagine getting off a plane and running! I usually save my running for when I wake up at 4 am and I am wide awake, but then I am still exhausted and can only get a few miles in. And I would visit Australia if they offered me a cask upon entry.
ReplyDeleteIf you visit Australia (and Im there) I'll meet you with a cask!
DeleteHa, I actually had a tactic similar to yours - I was trying to beat jet lag. By the time I made it in, it was 6pm EST, so being up that long, plus a run, was meant to ensure I stayed asleep the whole night. Still had a 2am insomnia attack though :S
For me, running after a flight is the only way to make the post-long-flight shower even sweeter. [I think flying is incredibly dirty, and can hardly wait to get in the shower once I land.] It's also a good defense mechanism against late-afternoon drowsies. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to channel your good Australia running mojo - heading over for the Perth Marathon later this week! [Only from Singapore, though, not from the US. Much easier flight!]
I know exactly what you mean about the grimyness of plane-rides.
DeleteMy you are the jetsetter! Have fun in Perth - its beautiful!
~Penny
The kids are cute, but it's the cakes that caught my eye!
ReplyDelete