Projects and Peanuts

My trainer Mike, me, and Kelly pre-race

After sprinting across the half-marathon finish line on Sunday, I looked down to my shoes that have two symmetrical holes where each of my big toes have been slowly pushing through, and muttered to myself (with the breath I had left) that running season was officially over. I suppose one might question my sanity to train outside during Berlin's excruciating winter only to switch to indoor basketball once the weather gets good, but that's what's happening, so deal with it.

So that project is over, and a few others are gaining speed. Some are smaller - finally purchased and put together a real bed today! - and others are bigger - the "side project" I mentioned earlier this year is almost ready to be shared.

Café Engels in Neukölln

In other news, on Saturday, Kelly, Marko, and I met at Cafe Engels for a quick coffee before picking up our race materials at Berlin's famous Tempelhof airport. It was my first visit to the cafe, and I found it quite pleasant. I thought they did a great job with little touches, like mint in the carafe of water and chocolate covered peanuts that accompanied our creamy cappuccinos. Marko wasn't so pleased with the peanuts though considering he's allergic and unassumingly popped one into his mouth. Thankfully he didn't have a strong reaction. Also thankfully I got to gobble up the remaining ones on his saucer.

As a side note, I'd like to give a quick thanks for the lovely comments and messages on my last post. It's very encouraging to know all of you read, respect, or even relate to what I write on this thing. So, DANKE!

Fortnight

  

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since my last post! I really don't mean to disappear like that. Things have been kinda busy I guess, partly due to my resolutions that I've been following through on. Primarily #3 has kept me busy outside of my normal routine, and I have to admit that dating is hard work! I'm not used to going out with guys I don't really know and most of the time it feels like an interview that I thankfully get to mitigate with a couple glasses of wine. I don't think actively hunting like this is going to last for long, but it's an interesting experience for the time being. Resolution #2 has also been moving slowly but surely, and #4 will get a kick-start in a few days when I commence a weekly study schedule. As for #1, a potential trip to Croatia and Macedonia is in the works for the summer (Kate!), I have my eye on a three day weekend at the end of March for a possible getaway to Scandinavia (actually just thought of that as I was writing this, pretty good idea though right?), and the 2013 PJS reunion weekend has been booked for London in April. All in all not bad for a few weeks work.

Otherwise it's business as usual. A few little surprises at work, half-marathon training in the persistently below freezing temperatures (though running through the deserted and snowy Tiergarten last night amongst the bunnies was nothing short of spectacular), and lots of meeting friends for dinner and drinks. My Opa was also just in town for a few days which was lovely, and now I have a few leftover hunks of wurst in the fridge to remember him by. Anyone want some chunky pork products?

Oh, and the picture. That's just an advertisement I saw weeks ago at the S-Bahn that never fails to make me giggle. Hehe.

Half-Marathon High

Training group pre-race

Well, I spoke too soon on the weather. Saturday we were exposed to bouts of snow and hail (and rain). It was quite the day weather-wise. Temperatures have cooled down considerably, but thankfully the sun came out and we had perfect 45 degree temps for the half-marathon yesterday.

Our trainer, Mike, and I

After completing one half-marathon in the US and one in Germany, I am certainly no expert, but here are some differences I noticed.

German race = way more fun. There was music, there were bands, there was partying, and, there was beer. Alcohol-free beer, but beer nonetheless. And lots of it. After the race people flocked to the beer stands and guzzled down the stuff. I looked on in not-so-mild amusement but didn't partake for fear it would make me nauseous. Instead I opted for lots of water and a nutella crêpe after abstaining from the über-fattening spread all week. And then a celebratory curry at my favorite Thai place. And then a BBQ at a friend's apartment. What? I was hungry!

I will also take this opportunity to brag considerably about my time. I finished in 1:59:56 which was seconds better than the goal I already thought unattainable: 2 hours. After all the difficulties with the job search and other uncertainties in my life, I really needed this victory. A few of my Berlin gal pals also came out to support me, which was so nice.

Today, I am sore as a mo-fo. But it was totally worth it.