Oh vacation how I love thee. But contrary to what images the words "Mexico" and "vacation" conjure up, there was no pool, no tan and no umbrella-topped drinks. (Sorry Sam!) This trip was to Mexico City, the lovely Distrito Federal.
There were several challenges for training runs while there. There's the 7,349 feet of elevation. There's the dodging of people and cars. And then there was all that mescal to drink. In preparation, I did almost my entire week's worth of runs before I left, which I'm not sure was the smartest thing to do. Still, my goal was to simply get in two longish runs while there.
As it turns out, there was one run. After mapping it from my computer here due to Garmin failure, I now see it was 12.5 miles. Then there may have been a bit of yarfing (Vomiting? Barfing? Why is there no lady-like word for this?). And then there may have been a bit of a Mexican bug (OK, so it's possible I brushed my teeth in the shower sans bottled water).
The intent was excellent. The running shoes were on, purified water in the hydration belt and a GU smacked down. But my Garmin Forerunner 305 could not find its satellites. What is up with that? A friend was internationally text flirting from her cell phone and the Garmin can't find a satellite from Mexico?
I decided to run for what I estimated to be two hours around the Alameda Central, a park made famous by a Diego Rivera mural. The fun part of going around and around the same park was that I kept passing the same vendors and the same police officers who began cheering me on and counting my laps ("Siete Chinita!" "Ocho!" "Vas y vas!" "Doce! Trece!"). I love Mexico.
Fifteen laps around and I decided I'd had enough of being the strange foreigner who runs for recreation. I felt good, didn't seem bothered by the altitude and headed on to a day of sailing along the canals of Xochimilco and sipping tequila. But it all caught up to me that night. Ah well.
It turns out the break may have done me good. I did a four mile training run this morning and felt strong. We'll see how good it treats me on Sunday's 22 mile run. Wish me suerte.
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