bonjour!

greetings from MONTREAL! Squeezing in a few seconds to comment on my running epiphany of the week. Since I began training in April, I have slowly come to accept and embrace the fact that running isn't just something I do in my life; it's a part of my life. What does this mean? Many things impact my running and visa versa. It's not an isolated activity. I now think about my schedule for the week and adjust, if necessary/possible, to make room for my running. I have altered night-before-long-run plans to ensure I am able to do my best/not cry. I take time to consider what I eat before/after my runs. Yet somehow, in a manner that is really true to myself, I still don't quite get it completely.

On our first full day in Montreal, Ryan and I decided to do some heavy walking. We walked in the blocks around our b&b. We walked down to Old Montreal and then up to Mont Royal Park...literally up. It was an incline. So it was wonderful to see the city, to be outside in weather that was NOT brutal, but it would have been SO MUCH BETTER if I wasn't an idiot and wore real shoes, instead of sandals that I know won't do the trick.....yes. I knew this, yet still did it! About half-way through the walk (and not even at the peak in height!), I had to stop to get band-aids in a poor attempt to ease the pain of a blister. Really? Was it worth it? ALSO, and this seems really ridiculous, but I should have stretched when we were done. I woke up the next morning really sore! AH!

I hate to be negative; it was wonderful! My point is that I need to be constantly mindful and aware of how these things impact my training....of course not crazy over-the-top, but clearly wearing sneakers to walk miles is pretty basic....

Andd...I luckily felt better this morning and was able to have a nice run (after painfully dragging myself out of bed). I was reluctant to run in the park because it is up a mini-mountain (just calling it a "hill" doesn't do it justice...), but maybe I will feel ambitious before the week is out :O)!