Running Challenges

I made it to Germany safely on Wednesday morning, and now, Friday morning, I'm exhausted. They say jet lag hits the third day. I think staying up too late and getting up early doesn't help! I'm here with two co-workers, working in our Deggendorf manufacturing plant each day. We work 8 to 5:00, then I've been coming back to the hotel and trying to catch up on emails and do work with all the people back home that are working until midnight Germany time. So it's pretty tiring! This weekend I'm hoping to get out and do some fun stuff, and I'll post pictures!

The title of this blog is "running challenges." Two have hit me this week. First, see above. I'm in Germany, without any of my running buddies, with TONS of yummy food and beer that I want to try and without my normal routine or gym/pool access. I'm afraid I'm going to come home fat, slow and lazy. Second, after several years of running I've finally come within 2 1/2 minutes of my Boston Qualifying time. For years I didn't have qualifying as a goal, even, because it seemed impossible. Now it seems possible. Until yesterday. The BAA announced that in 2013 qualifying times will drop by 5 minutes. I could probably still get that fast (3:35). But they've also implemented a new registration process starting in 2012 that allows the faster runners to register first. So I'm at a point where yes, I can probably qualify, but I may never be able to register before it is full. Very frustrating! So, naturally, I want to run faster to increase my chances, but that's going to be tough. Especially when I'm in Germany eating, drinking, working too hard and hopefully playing some instead of training.