Last week I was doing a fairly admirable job of keeping my log up to date while out of the country...that is until I moved from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and couldn't get my laptop to connect to the hotel's wifi. So, I'm doing one big download of the remaining workouts completed last week. For sure this is nothing to write home about. The air temperature combined with humidity continued to keep things slow and rough. I'm looking forward to getting back into my grove on American soil this week, with great temps and low humidity. Happy trails!!!
Stats -
Miles: 8.18
Time: 1:16:40 (average pace of 9:22 per mile)
Location: Abu Dhabi, The Address Hotel, Fitness Center treadmills
Feeling: Blah, sluggish and hot
Showing posts with label Abu Dhabi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abu Dhabi. Show all posts
09 April 2012
02 April 2012
Places I wouldn't become a marathoner...
As I struggled through another tough, hot, slow jog on the treadmill at the hotel today, it occurred to me that there are a number of places in the world where I would be highly unlikely to attempt be a marathoner if I lived. First and foremost...anywhere in the middle east. So, it's only early April, and the heat/humidity are slowing me down royaly. While I was visiting an air base today the commander reminded us that the summer months bring temps in the 120s - 140s with 90% humidity. Are you kidding? I can barely stand up for two seconds in that type of weather let alone jog a marathon. I guess I'm glad I'm only subjected to these temps for a few weeks a year.
Anyway, it has been an interesting couple of days here in Abu Dhabi. Its unfortunate that I didn't get the opportunity to run outside much. Perhaps I'll find a better opportunity up in Dubai or I'll have to play a little catch up on miles next week. Happy trails!!!
Stats -
Miles: 3.28
Time: 30:00 (average pace of 9:08 per mile)
Location: Fitness Center, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi
Feeling: Like I'm pulling teeth. Can't wait for easier conditions
Anyway, it has been an interesting couple of days here in Abu Dhabi. Its unfortunate that I didn't get the opportunity to run outside much. Perhaps I'll find a better opportunity up in Dubai or I'll have to play a little catch up on miles next week. Happy trails!!!
Stats -
Miles: 3.28
Time: 30:00 (average pace of 9:08 per mile)
Location: Fitness Center, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi
Feeling: Like I'm pulling teeth. Can't wait for easier conditions
01 April 2012
Metric to American....
I'm seriously having a tough time gauging my running, mid workout, using the metric system here in Abu Dhabi. I don't want to overdo it and push too far, given that I'm still pretty tired with jet lag and the gym here seems to be about a gazillion degrees, but I also don't want to slow down so far that I'm losing my usual pace. That said, while I"m running on the treadmill, I can't quite figure out exactly what speed I'm going to slow down or speed up. Bless it all, can't the world just work on the miles system? Okay, now that I've gotten my narrow-minded American rant out of the way, I truly am struggling with figuring it out. Realistically I know that 5k is 3.1 miles and so 10k is 6.2 miles, but moderating the speeds (I'm a typical 7 mile per hour runner) just isn't so easy. I think if I had to do it regularly I'd eventually figure it all out. Since I'm only here for a week, I'll just deal with slower runs.
Aside from the metric confusion, today was a pretty active day. I split my run between morning and evening because I didn't have much time this morning but also did not know what the evening would look like. Hence I settled for a shorter run in the a.m. to at least log something. The evening was just a bonus then. I also got in a 3ish mile (or potentially 5k) walk own the Corniche after strolling from the Madinat Zayed souk to the Central Market souk and then out to the Corniche and circling back to the hotel. I won't count the miles, but deep down I know I did them. It was a failry cool day in the afternoon, so pleasant for walking. Yesterday I indicated I might try to run on the Corniche...let me rephrase...heck no. My colleague and I had the darndest time getting from the Corniche to the Intercontinental so I couldn't imagine worrying about getting from the Intercontinental to the Corniche when I was on a time crunch. Oh weel, better luck next time. Happy trails!!!
Stats -
Miles: 5.64
Time: 50:29 (average pace of 8:57 per mile)
Location: Fitness Center at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi
Feeling: Much better than yesterday, but still hot
Aside from the metric confusion, today was a pretty active day. I split my run between morning and evening because I didn't have much time this morning but also did not know what the evening would look like. Hence I settled for a shorter run in the a.m. to at least log something. The evening was just a bonus then. I also got in a 3ish mile (or potentially 5k) walk own the Corniche after strolling from the Madinat Zayed souk to the Central Market souk and then out to the Corniche and circling back to the hotel. I won't count the miles, but deep down I know I did them. It was a failry cool day in the afternoon, so pleasant for walking. Yesterday I indicated I might try to run on the Corniche...let me rephrase...heck no. My colleague and I had the darndest time getting from the Corniche to the Intercontinental so I couldn't imagine worrying about getting from the Intercontinental to the Corniche when I was on a time crunch. Oh weel, better luck next time. Happy trails!!!
Stats -
Miles: 5.64
Time: 50:29 (average pace of 8:57 per mile)
Location: Fitness Center at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi
Feeling: Much better than yesterday, but still hot
31 March 2012
Blogging in Arabic....
Not really, but it did take me several minutes to figure out how to get the prompts at the top of the page into English so that I could write today's entry from Abu Dhabi. Yep, UAE. I arrived last night and muddled through a restless night of trying to sleep then proceeded to get up at 7am to go to the gym for a run on the treadmill (affectionately the dreadmill). I really wanted to take to the seaside for a real run, but am not yet sure of how to get to the Corniche and settled for the gym.
Do not get me wrong, the gym is plenty nice. My treadmill faced out over the marina so I had a fantastic ocean view. The view, however, did little to help my run. The combination of lack of sleep, dehydration, cramped legs from a 14 hour flight and the general warmness enveloping the room equalled a less than spectacular venture, but it was movement. All I really wanted, afterall, was to stretch out and readjust my body to the time zone.
Tomorrow I don't think I'll get to run the Corniche either...we have morning meetings so it will likely be the treadmill. That said, I may venture out in the evening or at least Monday morning for that seaside run. Happy trails!
Stats -
Miles: 3.36 (not quite the 3.75-4 I wanted to get in)
Time: 30:00 (a miserable 8:55 per mile pace)
Location: Fitness Center at the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental overlooking the Marina
Feeling: Ugh...hopefully tomorrow is better
Do not get me wrong, the gym is plenty nice. My treadmill faced out over the marina so I had a fantastic ocean view. The view, however, did little to help my run. The combination of lack of sleep, dehydration, cramped legs from a 14 hour flight and the general warmness enveloping the room equalled a less than spectacular venture, but it was movement. All I really wanted, afterall, was to stretch out and readjust my body to the time zone.
Tomorrow I don't think I'll get to run the Corniche either...we have morning meetings so it will likely be the treadmill. That said, I may venture out in the evening or at least Monday morning for that seaside run. Happy trails!
Stats -
Miles: 3.36 (not quite the 3.75-4 I wanted to get in)
Time: 30:00 (a miserable 8:55 per mile pace)
Location: Fitness Center at the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental overlooking the Marina
Feeling: Ugh...hopefully tomorrow is better
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