No more 'bigging up' my runs in Nairobi

Recently I wrote about running in Nairobi and how I love these times to feel that I live in Africa. The week that I published that post, my buddy and I were spat on while running by a child and then a rock (more like a small boulder!) was thrown at us and bashed my ankle (honestly, I got such a fright, I thought I was bitten by a dog and I was worried that I would be off running for a while, but it is fine, thankfully). Rubbish, right!

Looking forward to some runs on the back road at home in Cove this summer, although, I still get frightened running past cows...really, who knows what they are thinking..?

Anyhow, saying that, my buddy and I ran 19.5km on Sunday; the weather was perfect and I nearly (nearly!) enjoyed all of it!

Pre-race nerves

This time next week, I will have finished the Lewa half-marathon...and be home in bed.

After my long run last weekend, my runny buddy and I felt strong and ready (ish) for Lewa. Then it was announced in assembly at the 'w' place that we were running the race and the nerves set in. Everyone seems to be chipping in with their race techniques, talking of the last few km of Lewa having the toughest hills, the heat and the dreaded altitude (Lewa is 5, 500 ft above sea level).

Runner's World Magazine has named this tough run as 'One of the top ten races to run in your life'. Two helicopters will be guarding us runners as we run through the conservancy that is home to lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs. Pretty cool huh? Maybe  it will help me keep my pace up, like when I ran for my life at Lake Mburu in Uganda!

I am SO nervous!

Not just about the run, but the logistics of it all. I have not had any confirmation from Lewa that my replacement or a team member has been accepted, it is a Saturday run, so we are making a mad dash up on the Friday, and after the 5 or so hours drive, set up tent, light a camp fire and cook some pasta before dark. Not the most restful pre-race evening, but I have heard it is beautiful, so hopefully it will be worth that little bit of effort!

Tomorrow is going to be my last run. I plan on doing 18km and then just do some yoga during the week. I worry that I have not done enough short and fast runs, or hill training for the race-but I am going for fun and the experience...so I keep telling my self!

It's Friday!

Dear Mr Goodwin, It was so much fun playing tennis, drinking 'Pimms' and eating cucumber sandwiches with you this afternoon, to wish you a Happy Retirement. I think my doubles partner and I did well, but I thinking it is fitting you won the 'G' Cup! Dear 126 pupils in my production, You did a great job today, performing to your first audience. I was like a proud mummy! Dear Kind Colleagues, Thank you so much for your kind words and glowing praise today. It (nearly) made all the crazy work worth it! Dear Knees, Yesterday you were so sore on my 11km run. Please enjoy your two days of rest before your last long run, then please please please behave yourself next weekend! Dear Surf Buyer, I am still waiting for you to show up with some money. Haraka haraka! Dear Kenya, I have less than 3 weeks here. I can't believe it! I will miss you!

Lately

Last weekend I visited  Diamond Plaza, (known as‘Little India’) for the first time since I arrived in Nairobi. It reminded me of Fahaheel in Kuwait. More of a souq than a ‘mall’. Shiny plastic statues of Ganesha, ‘cheap-cheap’ DVDs and sparkly synthetic dresses that would stick to you as soon as you walked outside. Places to get your Kindle fixed and to buy an ‘almost real’ Blackberry. I liked it. 

I was there hunting for 'cheap cheap' make-up for my production. It made a change from writing reports and marking test papers. As that is all I seem to do lately, that, or rehearsing with Witchy Girls and Hunks or running, trying to rack up the last few kilometres, before the ‘Toughest Marathon (Half!) in the World’! (Not the best selling point of the run in my eyes!) Other people seem to have more time; time to send me e-mails. (12 days and they still want to spend the time writing emails!) 

12 days!

So friends. I am sorry if you have not heard from me in a while. I’ll see you on the other side!