New travel post on Answering Oliver:
Just some pretty pics to kick off your Friday!
Side note: It’s really fun watching Tumblr wake up right before I go to sleep. East-coasters and early risers are reporting their runs and breakfasts and such; they’re my bedtime stories!
Hmm, that sounds weird… just back away slowly… g’night!
It’s official: evening running > morning running.
Someone slept in today and missed the window of opportunity to run before it got too hot, but that same someone made amends later with a nice sunset 5-miler.
Mile 1 — 9:29
Mile 2 — 9:12
Mile 3 — 9:11
Mile 4 — 9:08
Mile 5 — 9:03
46:04 — 9:13 pace
I felt more like my old self on this run.
There was less struggling, more flying.
The air was nice and cool, and it reminded me of home. (Seattle has the perfect climate for running, minus the rain.)
I’ve always enjoyed evening running much more than morning running. I know a lot of people like to get their days off to a good start with morning workouts, but I’d rather end on a high note. I also have a thing for sunsets.
And it’s always pretty cool when you catch sight of the first star in the night sky (last photo).
Lagooning.
It’s shallow enough here just to sit and cool off on this scorching day. There’s a fake beach around that corner, and plenty of deep spots to swim and do handstands and stuff. The only thing missing is a swim-up bar.
Hmm, now who do I speak to about that?
Helloooo. This is where I’m living for the next few days.
This was the peaceful hostel at 8:45 a.m. Now imagine guys and gals tanning, swimming and listening to vulgar rap music. Welcome to Airlie Beach!
I set out for a four-mile run a little late. I meant to wake up at 7:00, but my phone died overnight (poor thing can barely hold a charge anymore) and I woke up closer to 8:00. After a pre-run breakfast of a sliced apple with peanut butter and a granola bar, then slathering on my sunscreen, I was off.
I passed the popular lagoon, where I have a feeling I’ll be spending quite a bit of time…
…plus lots of pretty boats along the running path.
I had to take several little breaks to hang out in the shade and to chug water from water fountains. Even though it was only four miles, I think this run was on the brink of being dangerous because of the heat and humidity. Must. Wake up. Earlier.
Second breakfast after cooling off:
Greek yogurt mixed with rolled oats, half an avocado, prunes and lots of water. Don’t hate on prunes; they’re so good. This probably counts as an early lunch, even, since it was so filling!
Now, I’m gonna go see about that lagoon…
Feel free to hate me for this:
I know. Do the ridiculous running routes ever end?
I just spent two days on Fraser Island playing on beaches and hiking barefoot and flying in sketchy little planes and being eaten alive by mosquitos. Now I’m back in Hervey Bay, and I busted out three miles early this morning to try to beat the sun and heat.
I can’t run as far or as fast as I used to now that I’m traveling, and that’s definitely frustrating.
Instead of beating myself up for my lost fitness and slower pace, I’ve decided to focus on what I can do: push myself at my current level, and at least try to speed up throughout my runs and finish feeling like I really had a workout.
And, on the bright side, I can still do three miles without stopping! I hopped onto the beach and took this pic right after finishing, which is why I’m so red (not sunburned, Mom).
I want to run at least three times a week, if possible, but I’ll definitely have to get up early and make it a priority. It’ll only get hotter and more humid as I continue up the east coast of Australia, and I just booked my flight to Singapore today. Might as well try to run inside a sauna.
Aaaanyway. Still having a great time in Oz! Check out the sunset I caught a few days ago on this same beach:
Australia really knows how to do sunsets.
How to run while traveling without getting lost:
1. Find water with a path alongside it.
2. Run.
4 miles along the Noosa River as the Australian sun set – 39:30 (9:52 pace).
This was my first run in, ohh… 11 days or so? I set out to run 3 miles in Melbourne, but got lost in my friend Charles’ neighborhood, so I actually ran 3.75 and didn’t write about it because it was embarrassing. As in, I had to stop at a gas station and ask for directions. Lesson learned!
Last night, I felt my legs having to work harder than usual, and I can tell my shoes are definitely shot (still using my marathon training/running shoes – nice and shin-splint inducing).
And, obviously, I’m slower than I used to be. Ah, well. The slower pace allows me to take in the sights more. I’ll get back to where I was once I settle down somewhere and stop eating so much gelato (not anytime soon).
I sweated more sweat than I ever knew my body was capable of sweating on this run thanks to Australia’s sauna-like humidity. It felt good, though.
Onward to Hervey Bay today! I’ll likely have no Internet access as I tour Fraser Island over the next few days. Whee!
New travel post on Answering Oliver:
Day 46: Something to Aspire To
Even if you don’t click over, at least take in this passage from Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain, which inspired the post. I think it’s just lovely.
To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live.
To feel the joy of life.
To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day.
To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am.
I am.
That is something to aspire to.
Here’s a glimpse of puffy-eyed backpacking at 6 a.m. : )
I was in rainy Brisbane for less than 24 hours, but I made good use of my time and saw The Hunger Games yesterday! People are nuts for it in the U.S., but in Australia? Not so much. I enjoyed a blissfully uncrowded theater. If you enjoyed the books, I’d say the movie is definitely worth seeing – but it doesn’t measure up to the original, of course.
Where to next? Noosa! Not too sure what to do there, but the Google Image results look quite promising for continued beach bumming if the weather clears up!
Maybe I’ll even run or something. Hm, I used to do that, right…?
Dev on Running 