Back from Europe

I haven't written anything for a couple weeks not for any of my usual litany of excuses, but because I went to Europe with my mom (and seven other ladies from my hometown). It was a lot of fun, but not from a running perspective. We were on a tour that took us on a mad dash through seven countries. My initial goal was to run in every country we went too, I ended up running in three. Not bad when I look back on it, I got four runs in. All of them were pretty short as we were always late in getting off of the bus and slow getting our rooms in order. My running partner didn't get much running in either while I was gone and she was in Baja for a week. So our long slow run on Sunday was mostly slow. But that is fine, we'll get back into it. It is amazing how three weeks of combined vacations sapped the conditioning out of us. We did six miles yesterday and it felt like a lot more. If it wasn't for the French bakery at the end of our run we may not have made it.

I followed that run up this morning with another six miler. I felt really good through the first half, but then started to bonk a little bit. Not bad, but I was wishing I had brought water with me. The cool air helped me quite a bit, made the run completely bearable!

My favorite run in Europe was in a valley in the Alps in a small town called Giswil. The town had just brought all the cows down from the mountains for the winter and their was a huge celebration getting ready to happen. I had managed to get back to our hotel early and before most of the others who were going to top of one of the alps. I left our hotel (which was a renovated barn) and headed out through the small town. I passed several small shops catering to locals and a resort crowd and found myself in front of a large hill with a church on the top. I figured since this was going to be my marker for the hotel, I might as well go to the top and then down. Next I found a long dirt road in between cow pastures, the sound of chiming cowbells was heavy in the air. I followed the road and moved to the side to let a slow tractor pass. The road ended at an old and small hydro electric plant that barely looked to be running. Close by a waterfall cascaded off the wall of the mountain making our valley. I found a cow trail up the side of it and got a short hill run in. After marveling at the view, I headed down and found another road that appeared to head to the main road through town. On the way, I saw a cow look up and upon seeing me let out a huge MOOOOOO followed by turning and moving my way. In moments the cow couldn't contain his excitement and he broke out into a sprint towards me which inspired the rest of the herd to do the same. Soon I had a whole contingent of running partners as they reached the edge of the pasture and the electric fence. A corner in the fence ended our fun and I stopped to say hello before continuing. About a half mile later I came across two locals running, but they were not interested at all in tourists (as was later evident in our group pointedly NOT being invited to their celebrations.) I followed them down another road and decided it was getting dark and I should head back. I decided not to backtrack completely and that I would find the hotel by following the main road, plus I always had our church on the hill to lead me home. The church turned out to be ineffective once dark quickly set it. But I continued on the main road figuring I would get back eventually. Well, on and on it went. Nothing looked familiar. Just as I was about to backtrack, there was the hotel. My great run was over.