Update...

Training. It’s all I do. Really. Can’t seem to find the time to do much else! Well, that’s an exaggeration, surprising for me, exaggerate? Ha.

Let’s see, March and April were good and busy months, what did I do?
In March I went to Cirque de Solei, Mojo Blues, helped host Steph’s Murder Mystery Dinner Party and took my soccer girls out for a “reunion dinner” at TGIF’s, I hate to admit it, actually enjoyed the American food and atmosphere, if I was in the states, I would have hated it, but… while out of the country anything that reminds me of the U.S. of A, I LOVE! Work weeks fly by and the weekends are basically taken up with training.

April was a busy month, did an Olympic Distance “race” and felt really good afterwards, could I do it all three more times? Who knows. Went out to Bad Ischil to do a long ride with hills, had to get off my bike twice and walk it. I am terrified of the hills during the race in France, I am googling it and watching Youtube videos of the bike part, I really should stop doing that. So many of the things I read talk about how it is the longest climb, not necessarily steep, but hours long and 7.5 km per hour, I can run faster than that… and people that normally finish the bike portion in 6 hours are finishing a bit over 7, which means, experienced cyclists are adding over an hour to their times, what does that mean for the beginner????????? So many parts of me just wants the race to be OVER, but I have enjoyed the routine of the training and can’t imagine what I will do with all my free time when it is finally over! 53 days to go. Crazy. I also ran the Vienna Half Marathon, it felt good and was a really fun day, the weather was perfect so we just relaxed at the end and waited for our friends to finish the marathon and then went and grabbed some lunch at Charlie P’s. Steph, Anika and I went to Mallorca for our Spring Break. I just LOVE that I still get a break, not sure how I could cope with M.S. students without getting a break though! We rented a car and spent the first couple of days in Valldermosa, which is on the Eastern mountainy side of the island. We had lazy, long breakfasts in the mornings, then toured around some of the different towns, they were all so cute and the food and wine was delicious! We also found some great markets and shops. There were a few stores that I really wished were in Vienna because there were so many things I wanted to buy for my house, but I wouldn’t have been able to get it home. We then went up to the Northern part of the island, Puerto Alcudia and it was AWESOME! The place we stayed was great and the weather was hot and sunny. Laying by the pool and getting a tan was wonderful. Steph and I had coffee and croissants every morning at the same place and walked on the beach, rented bikes, ate delicious pardon peppers, paella, tapas and drank Rioja. What could be better! We also watched a few soccer matches and the Royal Wedding. I LOVE vacations. I also really enjoyed being part of the Spanish culture for a while, everyone was so friendly. When I got back it was part of our training schedule to do a half ironman. On what planet is it part of training to do a half ironman? Isn’t that enough to train for? Anyways, I did a “race” but it was swimming in a pool, indoor biking and then I ran the 13.1 miles outside. It actually felt really good, but I just CANNOT imagine doing twice as long for the distances and the hills, they just terrify me! It just takes SO long, I did half the distance and it was about 6 ½ hours. The idea of working out for over 15 hours seems insane. Oh, I also had a crazy anxiety attack. Steve and I were out having a coffee at Starbucks and when we came out I looked up and down Mariahilferstrasse and just freaked out. Nothing looked familiar and I knew where I was and didn’t know where I was all at once. It was awful. We sat down and I had some water, it was the weirdest thing. I ended up going back to Steve’s and just laying down for a bit, I never sleep during the day, but who knows. Hopefully it won’t happen again. According to an article in the NY Times, rats that exercise a lot it actually increases anxiety levels, maybe I’m part rat.

Oh, and I bought a new couch and somehow that makes me feel like I’ll end up staying a fourth year here. I have no idea why I think that. I’m also really considering buying a scooter. The fact that school is less than 10km from my house and I have to allow at least an hour to get here by public is just irritating. I can run faster but then would need to shower and change and all that. ANNOYING. Everyone says, oh, you’ll get used to the commute, read a book, listen to music, relax. Whatever. Two hours a day is too long to be wasted, I’ve got too many things I would rather do with my time. None of which involves standing on a corner waiting for the bus/tram and then getting on dirty public transportation… Vespa shopping soon…

This weekend training is a 5 hour ride and 1 hour run on Saturday and a 90 minute swim and a 2 hour run on Sunday. Doesn’t seem like I ever really get a break! Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and I’m going to a friend’s house for fresh tortillas and margaritas, Friday is a run with a girlfriend, Saturday is a Kentucky Derby Party and Sunday there is a food festival that we went to last year that was fun, so it’s a really busy weekend!