Fall Marathon Frustration!

When asked to describe characteristics about me, I would think any of my friends would include on that list the fact that I am a planner. 

I like to know what I'm doing and when, and when I make plans, I can be counted on to follow through.  I'm not saying I always have a plan, there are plenty of weeknights like last night where I come home from work, we eat dinner at home and watch tv, and then go next door to visit with our neighbors, or just go to bed.  But there are also many nights with plans.  Tonight, a social run followed by dinner with running buddies. 

But in terms of long term plans, I'm also very good about those.  When something is important to me, it gets put on the calendar, and I plan around it going forward.

Well, as you know, I am planning to use 100% of my work vacation days (and likely a few personal days) in October and November for our trip to China. 

The rough plan is to fly to Beijing, be there for a couple days to explore, run the marathon, then head out on travels, going to Xi'an, Chongqing, Yichang, and then Shanghai. 

After Shanghai, we figured we would probably fly straight to Chicago and spend a few days in Chicago and Milwaukee for my brother's early November wedding.  Then we'd fly home from there. 

But if the marathon was a bit earlier, we may fly directly home from Shanghai (well, not direct of course, since there are no such flights, but as close as we can), and then just fly up to Milwaukee or Chicago the following weekend for the wedding. 

Either way, lovely plan. 

But then lately, we've been seeing in the WSJ the fares to go to China on Emirate.  Not too expensive.  And we'd possibly be able to do a few days layover in Dubai, which is also on our list of places to go.  Sweet! 

Yesterday, hubby spent several hours tinkering with searches, routes, dates, etc.  Everything in the WSJ about it seems to be true -- competitive fares, decent routes. 

Definitely seems like we could layover in Dubai at the end of the trip and then get back to Milwaukee for the wedding.

Part of me wants to just buy the tickets now.  Even though I know what a pain it is when you have international travel involving multiple flights booked many months in advance -- it seems like once a week, you get some email about a change to your itinerary.  Sometimes it's just the flight number.  Sometimes arrival or departure time changes by a few minutes.  Sometimes it's the technical operator of the flight.  But dozens and dozens of emails "changing" that itinerary. 

But like I said, part of me just wants it all booked.  I can deal with reading the changes every week. 

But I can't book tickets because ... I STILL don't know when the Beijing Marathon will be!!!

Yes, in all likelihood less than 8 months before the marathon, and they haven't announced the date yet.  WTF?  Don't they know people kind of like to plan marathons many, many months in advance.  Most people need at least 4 months to train, and since many good marathons fill up quickly, most runners lock in the one they want to run as soon as they can. 

I'm sure it will either be Oct. 14 or Oct. 21, but it's kind of critical to know which. 

I have been checking the website, boldly announcing the race on Oct. 16, 2011, for months now.  I've sent a few emails to the "contact" email address, and received an automated response in Chinese indicating my inquiry has been received.  But no response.  I go to the website at least once a week to look for the 2012 date.  Nada. 

This week, there is finally a countdown of days posted (227), and a cool logo that says 2012 (no actual date, but at least indicates they're planning to hold a 2012 event), and this makes me 90% certain I know the date (Oct. 14), but I'm reluctant to completely rely on that, particularly when the two other sites that list the date aren't official sites (but both didn't have any date listed as of last week, so maybe there's an official announcement only in Chinese?).  Why won't they just announce it already and put up a registration link??!!  Or at least publish the date so we can book travel??

Sometimes I wish everyone liked calendars and planning as much as me. 

The funny thing is though, for my fall 2013 marathon (Berlin), not only have they already announced the date for Sept. 2013, they've announced when registration opens for the 2013 race (in October 2012).  Beijing still doesn't have the date clear, let alone the registration date, and race day is about 7.5 months away...

Forging Ahead

So I'm officially getting sick for the first time in 2012.  Not too bad, considering I usually seem to get a few bugs over the average winter.  Went to the doc in a box last night and was given antibiotics.  I had assuemd there would also be steroids, and was a bit disappointed there weren't.  I want to get over this as fast as I can -- and I'd assumed a shot or pills would help. 

I need to be better by Saturday to be exact! 

Today feels about the same as yesterday, certainly no worse, which is good.  I had a very restless night last night, as did hubby, but he seems to be a bit better today.  He actually went back to the doctor yesterday and they ended up doing chest x-rays and all because he has some fluid in his lungs.  But if he's finally turning the corner and starting to improve, hopefully it won't hit me quite as hard, and I'll be just a couple days behind him. 

Saturday is my last big day of walking.  This week I'm lining up friends to meet me and keep me company for the 9 hours. 

There are so many things I'm going to try to do differently from last time.  While this walk will be likely identical to my last one in terms of time (and it will be completely identical I'd expect for mileage), I am going to try to wear what I'd like to wear on race day (and that means wearing the weighted pack for the entire 9 hours; last time I wore the pack for 6 hours and the weighted vest for 3), and finally, I am going to work very hard at getting my hydration and nutrition down.

Last time my hands swelled like crazy after about 7.5 hours of walking.  By the time I got to 9 hours, I was worried my wedding band would either split or cause permanent damage to my finger.  So this time I'm going to hopefully take in more sodium, more water, and more calories.  I'm also going to attempt to keep my arms somewhat bent, more like in a running position, which will hopefully stop some fluid from pooling in my hands.

I'm also going to leave the rings at home, and I'm going to wear one of those funny hats with the little brim all the way around, since I've been advised to wear something similar to that on race day.

Today I'm going to take the final step in preparing for the marathon -- I'm booking my plane tickets.

And I'm officially going alone.  I was hoping a friend of mine who lives in San Antonio would be able to join me, but she can't.  Hubby can't because he leaves for Italy 2 days after the race.  And most of my friends here are either busy that weekend (there is a big half in Dallas), or male (and hubby would be peeved if I went with a guy, no matter how platonic it is). 

The idea of going alone doesn't really bother me that much.  I don't know that anyone else would want to have the same experiences there that I do -- I want to go hear the survivor stories, and spend most of the day before doing stuff like that.  And I like the idea of being able to wholly set my own schedule.  The time when I'll most miss having a friend there will be when I actually strap on the pack and set off.  Most mornings here my bestie tightens all my straps and everything.  I will likely have to rely on a stranger to do that, but I don't think that will be too difficult. 

But after plane tickets are booked, there's no going back in my mind!

FMM: Beauty

I had a non-weekend.  I spent ALL day each day in a running coaching certification class.  It was fun and informative.  But it didn't feel like a weekend.  I cooked both nights.  I'm worried I'm getting sick, hubby has been sick for about a week with an upper respiratory infection, and I fear I'm getting it.  Sore throat, stuffy nose, ugh.  But I'll plow through this week because Saturday is my last long (9 hour!) walk with my pack. 

So, time for Friend-Making Monday. If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: http://www.alltheweigh.com/ so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Take a few minutes to share what makes you beautiful, and don’t be shy! I know we’re often our own worst critics, but there’s something beautiful about every single person reading this. And today seems like a good day to reflect on what makes us beautiful so let’s do it together. (Come on…this will be good for all of us!)  Leave out all of the negative stuff, and concentrate on the beauty that’s within you – seen and unseen.


FMM: What makes YOU beautiful?
I am very reliable.

I guess I like my wrists.

My husband says the sparkle in my eye and my shiny personality and my loving smile.

I do like the color of my eyes. 

I try hard to do a lot. 

Ummm, this list is kind of lame.  I might have to add to it later today -- not feeling very beautiful right now...

Now it’s your turn to share what makes you beautiful! Don’t forget to go to alltheweigh.com and post your link in the comments! Happy Monday friends.

Okay, coming back after lunch.  Definitely afraid I'm getting sick, may swing by the urgent care place on my way home from work tonight in hopes of getting a shot and a prescription. 

Here's my supplement:

I am almost always able to see both sides to anything

I can be very analytical

I am loyal to my friends and family

My legs (without thinking about shape) have been able to accomplish so much more than I ever would have expected 10 years ago in terms of running and fitness

My teeth are pretty straight and pretty white in spite of myself...

My skin is generally clear (again, in spite of myself)

I am good at planning and being efficient

Hyper-critical

I think I can be very critical sometimes, and I have trouble deciding if it's appropriate or too much in some situations. 

This morning on the Today Show, the direct quote was (this was discussing a woman from Pakistan who was nominated for an Oscar):  "her ailing father suddenly passed away." 

Is it just me, or is that incredibly stupid and nonsensical?  I feel like I should be able to expect more in a prepared clip that is broadcast nationwide by professionals.  Either he was ailing and he passed away, or he was healthy and he suddenly passed away. 

Arrr... does this even bother normal non-critical people?  It's probably just me.  The grammar on the Bachelor drives me crazy too.  The people always "I" when they mean to say "me."  As in "I see a future for Ben and I." 

Ah, deep breaths.  I should go back to yoga more often and maybe I'll be so calm I don't even notice stuff like that!