It’s been a while!
I’d meant to get back to the routine of regular updates of the blog – including my weekly training log posts – as soon as I returned from Peru, but between recovering from a nasty chest cold, trying to get my feet back under me with work, and a family emergency, well, here we are on September 7. I’ll give a quick recap of the past few months and then we’ll be back to regular weekly training blogs.
I ran the last race of my spring season at the Green Bay Half Marathon on May 15. After that, I had planned an extended break from structured training. I took a few days to relax, but also had to pack for an upcoming three month trip to South America. I’d spend the first two and a half weeks on vacation, hiking and exploring the mountains of Peru’s next-door neighbor, Bolivia, before heading to STRIVE’s home-base in Pisaq, Peru, where I’d be spending the majority of my summer working as a group leader and program director for the 7th consecutive summer.
Packed up for 3 months in the Andes. RP wants to come too!
Mariana and I left for La Paz, Bolivia from Washington Dulles on the night of May 19, where I bid farewell to the USA (and along with it, flushable toilet-paper, potable tap water, and our dearest Richard Parker) until August 19. I was enjoying myself and my running-break and we found ourselves in breath-taking La Paz with the world (and mountains) at our fingertips.
We spent those two and a half weeks balancing a need for the mellow with bursts of extreme physical activity. A few days in hammocks on the shore of Lake Titicaca, a few days hauling 60 pound packs over high mountain passes in the remote Andes. A few days of city life in La Paz, a few days scaling the 21,000 ft glacial peak of Illimani. On our final morning in Bolivia, with Mariana heading back to the USA and me on to Cusco, I was sure we’d gotten the most out of our time.
Hours of travel to get to the literal end of the road before beginning a journey into the mountains.
In Peru, I hit the ground running. I met Alejandro, my partner and co-leader for the first 5 weeks of the STRIVE College Intern Program, outside the Cusco airport and we became fast friends. In less than 24 hours, we were back at the airport picking up the first of our interns.
I then spent the next 5 weeks living, running, and learning with this fantastic group of young people. Whether we were preparing lesson plans for STRIVE’s free after-school programs, helping a local family harvest potatoes, or hammering miles out on the hilly dirt roads through the mountains, it was a joy to be surrounded by such passionate young people.
STRIVE College Interns (and leaders) on top of the world!
My own training was progressing even better than I’d expected. There was always someone who wanted to run, someone to help push me through a session, someone to provide conversation and company on an easy morning run. I’ve often struggled to balance my own training with the needs of the group while being a leader at STRIVE, but this summer I seemed to strike that perfect balance. I even took a trip down to Lima to run in a road race with some of my students – a fun and welcome change of pace after nearly a month at 10,000 feet.
Finally, in mid-july, our high schoolers arrived, along with the remainder of our staff. It was great to see a few familiar faces and meet a whole lot of new ones. As always, the high school program required a lot more structure (and, thus, time and energy from me) and my own training took a bit of a back seat. Still, I managed to maintain my undefeated streak at the world-famous STRIVE Mile, setting a new meet record of 4’32.
STRIVE high schoolers finally arrive in the mountains!
The trip culminated with a hike through the Andes finishing at Peru’s Wonder of the World: Machu Picchu. The trip was fantastic, as always, and we were all sad to leave as we made our way back to the airport to bid farewell to our students and interns – some of whom had been on the ground with us for nearly two months at that point.
Normally, this would be the end of my time in Peru as well; but this year, we’d planned one final coda – a 10-day trip for adults focused on exploring, running through, and learning about the Sacred Valley. Our group of “grown-ups” meshed together well and I learned an enormous amount from them (and hopefully imparted some information about Peru as well). The only downside was that I’d picked up a nasty virus just before the adults’ arrivals. By the time we were back at the airport (for the last time), I was ready to go home and say “hasta luego” to Peru for another year.
Last stop: Machu Picchu (until another many-hour stop-over in the Lima Airport)
And so, here I am. Three weeks removed from that red-eye from Lima back to Miami back to DC. It’s been a real whirlwind, partly of my own making as I’ve just tried to tackle a bit too much immediately upon my return: catching up on work, recovering from an illness, running 20+ miles per day in 90F heat, helping with some family stuff. It’s been a lot to take on and a lot to take in.
But, I finally feel like I’ve got my feet back under me. I made it through my first big 3-week block of training and now have a few days of rest. My to-do list is shrinking. And, I’m finally starting to feel like I have enough hours in the day to manage everything I have planned.
Time to train for redemption after a disappoint race at the 2015 World Championships
Now, I’ve got an exciting stretch of road in front of me. On November 11, I’ll be racing at the 50K World Championships in Doha, Qatar, representing Team USA for the second time. Beyond that, I’m hoping to run a fast half marathon and marathon in spring 2017. Despite a busy summer, I’m beginning this long block of training and racing in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I’m extremely excited to continue pushing myself and striving to be the best that I can be.
Thanks for following along in this journey and stay tuned for many more updates.
