It keeps me running...
I've started running again - just short jaunts about a mile at a time at my field down the street (it's mine because I'm the only one who ever uses it), but it's a start. I realized the other day that I have been wearing the same pair of running shoes since 1998, so I treated myself to a much-needed pair of new shoes this afternoon and immediately went out for a run. I've never had much love for running, even though it is something I have periodically returned to again and again throughout my life. The time when I ran the most was in high school, but that was specifically to stay in shape for crew and even though I could run fast and far, I still didn't like it and I was not a runner...I was a rower who ran. These days I really don't have any room in my schedule for organized sports, but I still love that feeling that comes from being super fit (not that I'm there yet, but I'm working on it!). Earlier this summer, I joined the gym again on a "pay as you go" basis, which is pretty much the only option that works for me and my crazy schedule. I love lifting weights, and it really does make the running easier.
My biggest running challenge of the moment will be keeping it up while I am on tour. I tend to have a bit of trouble finding the fitness center at the hotels I frequent. However, I'll have a chance to test my mettle pretty soon because I leave for a long tour on Monday. I'll be gone until 30 September on two tours. The first is that posh Caucasus tour I wrote about earlier (and it looks like we probably won't be meeting Saakashvili, boooo!), and the other is an Iran tour. It's really annoying to pack for two tours like this, because Iran requires a whole entire wardrobe of its own. Between these two tours, there is a three day gap in which I will take a private scouting trip to a region in southern Armenia I have not yet visited. I'm very excited about that.
I'm not sure how I will keep up my running in Iran...I've actually tried to google specifically for this, but I haven't had any good results yet. The Islamic dress code must be observed in all public places, even within the confines of the hotel. So even if the hotels I use do have fitness centers (and most of them don't), I'll have to run in a getup that resembles this:
Iran is a hot place. And I do all my work laundry in the sink, so there's little chance that I'll get some quality running done there. But if I do, I'll let you know.
My biggest running challenge of the moment will be keeping it up while I am on tour. I tend to have a bit of trouble finding the fitness center at the hotels I frequent. However, I'll have a chance to test my mettle pretty soon because I leave for a long tour on Monday. I'll be gone until 30 September on two tours. The first is that posh Caucasus tour I wrote about earlier (and it looks like we probably won't be meeting Saakashvili, boooo!), and the other is an Iran tour. It's really annoying to pack for two tours like this, because Iran requires a whole entire wardrobe of its own. Between these two tours, there is a three day gap in which I will take a private scouting trip to a region in southern Armenia I have not yet visited. I'm very excited about that.
I'm not sure how I will keep up my running in Iran...I've actually tried to google specifically for this, but I haven't had any good results yet. The Islamic dress code must be observed in all public places, even within the confines of the hotel. So even if the hotels I use do have fitness centers (and most of them don't), I'll have to run in a getup that resembles this:
Iran is a hot place. And I do all my work laundry in the sink, so there's little chance that I'll get some quality running done there. But if I do, I'll let you know.