I can't believe it but I actually had a run in Venice and it was absolutely bloody fantastic!
We arrived on Saturday evening and were staying on a little island across the canal from the "mainland" Venice. St Mark's Square was a 5 minute water taxi across! So rather than battle with the hordes of tourists on the other side I thought I'd run along our little island. I'd already found a running route that someone had previously done and there wasn't much room to go running anywhere else anyway!
So, my plan was for a yummy meal out on Saturday night, a good night's sleep and a lovely run the next day. But the gods of running clearly did not want me to run on Sunday.
When I was getting ready for bed I realised my left big toe was feeling a bit odd. When I looked at it closely I saw that a mosquito had bitten me right on the top of the toe near the nail! Ouch! It was really red, puffy and itching like mad. I didn't have any cream with me so I tootled off to bed hoping I would be able to get my running shoes on the next day.
An hour later, the music from a private party was still pounding through the walls of the hotel. Two hours later hubby had dressed and was making his way to reception to complain! Very long story short, I had about an hour's sleep the whole night!
I was like a zombie the next day, my toe was throbbing and I didn't have the energy to go for a run. I was so disappointed. Still, I had Monday.
We spent the morning sightseeing and walking (my warm up!) and eating (pizza) and by early afternoon we were back at the hotel. I waited 2 hours for the pizza to go down (it was delicious), drank lots of water, got dressed, switched the Garmin on and eventually headed out for my Run in Venice! I was so excited.
I started with the 5 minute walk. The Garmin was trying to get a signal. The temperature was perfect. Not too warm, a little sea breeze and most of our little island was in the shade! The Garmin was still trying to get a signal.
In the end I couldn't wait for the watch. I just wanted to run. And run I did. I got into a rhythm immediately, my pace was perfect, my breathing perfect. I glided along the sea front. It was effortless. My legs were working perfectly, my footsteps were quiet. It was magic!
I was loving this! I saw people eating and drinking on the pavement, I passed a beautiful white coloured church with ornate spires, I glanced in the windows of a few shops, I saw boats galore on the water, I sprang up a few sets of steps and down the other side, thinking of MilesYonder! It was easy!
I reached the end of the island (literally as another step would have me in the sea) and turned to run back again. It was still magic! Think I was "in the zone". I was grinning at this stage because I was so happy. If you could bottle this feeling then you'd make a fortune.
I reached the other end of the island and had my cool down walk, still grinning from ear to ear! I felt invincible! Ran for about 25 minutes. Don't care how far.
The only downside is that I had no stats for the record. I would loved to have the run recorded on my Garmin page because it was in Venice, but hey oh maybe next time!
It was a beautiful, magical run in a fairytale city. Why this was so I have no idea. Perhaps it was a perfect alignment of everything that is needed for such a run and in the end the gods of running decided I'd suffered enough the day before!
I don't get it
I am Hardcore - running in thunder and lightening
I ran for a train!
