Training Injuries and Travel Details

The last two week have been a little rough.  Right calf strain and a little bit of plantar fasciitis in my right foot.  I have been resting up for the last week and due to some odd work travel I will not be running for a week more.  The calf is almost good to go but the foot I am going to have to watch.  This will put me behind the curve for the Rockledge Rumble in Texas the first part of November.  Oh well, better to heal now.

Most of my reservations for travel are set.  Lisa and I are working through Complete Morocco to get a package deal for her to be at the finish line.  The plan is to arrive in Paris on March 30th and then I will be heading to Ouarzazate on the 2nd of April.  This will give me plenty of jet lag days and some fun time before the race.  Lisa will be spending time with our previos exchange student Maureen in Belgium than departing to Morocco around the 9th.  We are planning to return to Paris on the 15th.  I will continue on home the next day and Lisa will spend a week in England with her mother doing geneology research.  The pieces are coming together!

Hitting the Beach!

On travel out to Virginia Beach this week and I am taking advantage of the location to start some sand training.   Been out for the last three days on the beach here in the soft sand for about five miles at a crack.  Definitely a calf workout even for a mountain runner!  You readily fall into a slightly different form and pace that optimizes speed/effort.  While there are some washes and arroyos around Los Alaoms that can provide similar training, I am going to have to put on the list a trip or two to The Great Sand Dunes National Park close by in southern Colorado and/or White Sands National Monument down south for some real sand DUNE workouts.  Most likely I will try these with a full gear load out especially gaiters.

Now if I could only find a bucket of Corona's and a lime...

Gear Notes: Mess Kit

In order to assure a pleasant breakfast routine, I have opted to bring a little more gear.  This should allow me to have a cup of coffee and a warm/hot breakfast throughout the event.  Below is my mess kit.