Run It Off Travel

 What. A. Race! As I am writing this recap, I am sitting with both legs elevated, trying to ease my very sore muscles.  You know what though, it was absolutely worth it!! As they say: "Better sore, than sorry!"  Well, I am definitely sore, and I am definitely not sorry! I was very nervous for this race.  Just two weeks ago, after a 12 mile training run - which went perfectly well - I ended up straining my right calf.  I had felt fine during my run, and even that entire day while at work, but when I got on a plane that night something must have happened.  Some time between getting off that plane and getting to bed, something caused my calf to strain.  I thought I was just sore and needed to massage the muscle out, but as it became more and more uncomfortable to walk, especially down hills or stairs, I knew it was more than a sore muscle, it was a strained muscle. Of course, I was so careful this entire training course not to get injured and bam! Two wee...

  What an experience!  I had never been to China before this race, and that visit was an experience in itself, without including the marathon.  We booked this race through an organization called   Albatros Adventures , which organizes a week long program that incorporates sight seeing with the marathon.  Albatros was on top of everything. From hotel reservations, to excursion; they even picked us up from the airport! The first few days in China we explored Beijing.  Day one included tours of Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. My favorite was the Temple of Heaven, which is so beautiful! It was quite hot this day, which did not bode well for race day. On day two we had what was called an "Inspection Day". During this day we traveled the three hours (via bus) to the Great Wall and received our pre-race pep talk from the organizers.  They talked about the course, what to expect, and gave us tips and tricks to surviving.  Af...