I’m counting! Man oh man am I counting.
I’m in Berlin doing a project with long hours, so I have to say I’m happy to taper. I had a good long run around the Tiergarten, which is a fantastic place to run. Lots of great dirt surfaces, pancake flat. I ran the first six miles easy, and the last six at 7:25 or so, and I felt good throughout. Here’s a map of my hotel just to rub in how close it is to the park. I think it might be, in terms of running, the best place I’ve ever stayed.
The scene in the park is quite different than say New York’s central park. I hate to generalize, but the German runners seem a bit more relaxed. I mean, relaxed as in healthy. Everyone looked happy. No one doing speed workouts. Everyone well balanced, happy with their life and all that Western Europe brings them. OK, I realize I’m making all of this up — but indeed I think it is a bit more mellow here.
Which in a way is what I need. I’m getting totally stressed out about Boston — as it’s my first and I do feel like this year’s training as bit a bit more European than I’d like! I know I’ve been working hard, but my confidence isn’t where I’d like it to be.
Saturday, a 12 miler was my last long run — the last six run at marathon pace. Sunday I did an easy 45 mintues through the Brandenburg Gate and then east — this is a great running town, but at 6:00am on a Sunday I saw zero other runners. I’d suggest that the German runners were all sleeping. Which is very healthy indeed.
Hoping to get out today — long flight home tomorrow. Ah, jetlag. Something else to be stressed about!
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