Marathon preparation

So I have been doing my long runs the last couple of weeks. I was very stressed about it thinking it was an impossibility to run more than 2 hours straight especially since I hadnt done it before. My first long run was 3 hours and a half-28 kilometers or 16 miles-hard work. I ran into a few problems, my ipod was out of juice although I charged it and I started aching in places where I hadnt before. It was challenging but I kept running into people I knew so I took little breaks to talk to them. It was like taking a break for 2 minutes or 5 minutes every 7 kilometers or 4 miles which gave me enough of a break to keep going. It wasnt as hard as I thought.

My 4 hour run was more challenging-claro! I asked a friend of mine to bike with me...Nandi(from California)! She biked 16 miles of it with me...and I ran 19 miles or 33kilometers, only 3 miles alone. My friends Camila and Mette (danish )ran with me 8 miles of it with me or 14 kilometers and Will, another american friend of mine sang me a song for me with his guitar to encourage me at the end of 16 miles. Nandi even went to my house afterwards to cook me dinner so when I got home, I could eat right away. My knees, ankles and hips have been hurting for three days straight now. Im exhausted. I bought my flight for 330 euros...a bit expensive but worth every penny. I found a couchsurfing host for a week so I only have to pay for one night in a hostel. Im excited about that. Prague-here I come! Im so excited!

Running

So the marathon is in a month and a five days. I m way behind in my running and every time I try to run more than an hour, my sugar drops. Im hypoglycemic and when I run, its worse. I get dizzy and can´t talk-especially in spanish, sometimes I cry and even faint. I was close to fainting a couple of times but I did faint when my parents were here during Semana Santa last year. I am really nervous how my body will react when I push it to do the marathon. I might be going alone which makes me realize I cannot push myself too hard...have to take it easy. My coach, Cristina may not make it- a friend of mine that has been teaching me and helping me learn how to run a marathon. I think she will though. Shes been training too hard to not go. Its in Prague and I have been waiting to see this city for two years now. Back in Alabama, a friend of mine went and brought back a book on Prague, I knew I was heading to Europe at the time and made it a goal to see it. Last year, I saved as much as I could to go to weddings in Madrid, Lithuania, Germany and in Key West on a cruise. I couldnt make it to Prague but this year I have been saving all year long, staying in Fuengirola to see it and Italy. Im super excited and can´t wait to go. Also, I will be running a marathon, maybe the only one in my life. I will run for myself, my sisters, my aunt and my country. It will be my olympics although its not. The goal is to finish the race without fainting. I have to carry glucose tabs with me and gel packs of sugar. I plan to eat those gross protein bars before and after the race. Today I ran 7 kilometers or 4 miles. In a few minutes, I will go run another 7k or 4miles. Will and I ran 3 and a half yesterday and up the castle...that is a big hill to run up. He just quit smoking but beat me up the hill. He told me he´s going to train me for the marathon which will be nice but its me that has to make sure the miles get run. Some days are harder than others...sometimes I just don´t feel like running. If I miss a week, my body is still in shape to run which is nice. Anyways, I have to go run.

Semana Santa

The first two days of Semana Santa, I went into Málaga to watch and learn more about the processions. The culture of it all and the environment really is quite interesting to learn about and watch. I was surrounded by spaniards with a few different accents which made it hard to listen to the conversations. Two girls were from Cordoba and a couple was from Málaga. They are quite different. It is like two people from Cinci and two from Kentucky. For a foreigner, I was quite confused at times but they were sweet to repeat themselves. I stayed with a friend in Torremolinos so I could get out of Fuengirola a bit. Asún y Sol were quite hospitable and I loved staying with them.
The next night my spanish chico came over and we went out to a Danish party. So we were speaking english, danish, and spanish at the party. It reminded me of our (Milda´s y yo) parties with lots of foreigners and all types of different languages. I loved it. We went out all together for a night on the town after sipping on sangria and eating the fruit that was soaking in it. It was quite fun but we went to the same place we always go to-TRAMPS! Its a local bar that we always go to. Its a bit old but we seem to end up there anyways. Im excited to change the environment soon which will happen with summer....i believe its here.
I went over to Malaga with mi chico español and spent a relaxing night with him after running a 14 Kilometers without eating properly. My sugar level dropped and I couldnt function to do anything. I think my spanish is improving after spending some time with mi chico but I hope it improves more. The next four days, mi chico took me up to Antequera where I met his family and friends. I was so nervous. I have never met parents or family of a boyfriend before. I passed with flying colors...they liked me! This is what I was worried about...Anyways, we went camping, had tons of fun. I watched the spaniards dance and be crazy with songs that they listened to from their childhood. I was lost in translation. It was interesting and I enjoyed every moment of it. We spent some time with his family, on Easter and it wasn´t as hard. I always get so emotional on holidays but being around a family and lots of people made it easier. I noticed my spanish was worse because I was emotional. I had a really good week up there in Antequera. We went out for the night as well and Tomás taught me a few more salsa moves. I love when we dance together, everyone watches. Its awesome. I am living my dream daily. I will head off to Barcelona for the weekend and then to Torox, a small white town next to Nerja, my favorite Andalucian city where the beaches are so awesome.