Category Archives: travel

Day(s) before the London Marathon

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And here we are, the day before the London Marathon.

Here are some highlights from the last day and prep for tomorrow’s race.

I walked to Whole Foods yesterday (yes, Whole Foods in London, I’m a sucker) to buy bagels and peanut butter for race morning and saw street performers in Piccadilly Circus.

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I later walked to meet Josh for dinner at Great Queen Street Restaurant in Convent Garden. It was so yummy and had such great service. I ordered a beef stew type dish and Josh the Roast Cod and Janssen’s Temptation. I ate a lot of bread (carb loading) and we ordered the yoghurt pudding and wild strawberries for dessert. All yum! I don’t remember the name of my stew and I can’t look it up on the menu any more because it changes each day! Usually when I order beef at restaurants and Josh orders the fish, the waiter gives me the fish and him the beef. (P.S. that bothers me… why can’t the girl eat beef?) This restaurant was one of the first to not do that. Thank you, Great Queen Street Restaurant for not following stereotypes.

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We walked the mile or so back to our hotel and zig-zagged through Chinatown. Chinatown London is right by Piccadilly Circus, which according to my friend, Lizzie who spent a bit of time living and working in London, is the NYC-equivalent of Times Square. When I last visited London, Lizzie described the city to me in the form of NYC neighborhood analogies. Anyway, Chinatown in London is by Times Square, not downtown.

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This morning, James and I made our way out for a short shakeout run. The roads around The Mall and Buckingham Palace were closed off starting this morning at 6AM until Monday at 6AM which made for a very scenic run. We ran around Green Park, Buckingham Palace, The Mall (marathon finish area), and St. James Park. Josh was also out taking pictures and we caught the start of the changing of the guards too.

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After the run, we wandered around Green Park on the way to find breakfast. James showed us the awesome cherry blossom tree (I think) in the park. I walked underneath of it and felt like I was in the movies.

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The rest of the day was spent preparing for the marathon – figuring out what time we need to leave the hotel , viewing areas for Josh, downloading the Big Sur International Marathon app so I can track Julio after our race, getting my gear in order, and eating a lot of carbs.

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IMG_2868And now it’s time to get ready for bed! I’m running my first international race in the morning!

Friday Favorites (Favourites) #7 – London Edition

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It’s already Friday and it’s the start of my 3rd day in London. With Josh at work yesterday and today, I’m trying really hard to not exert myself. I love London and would love to walk all around the city like I did the last time I was here, especially since the weather is so nice but I am reminding myself that I don’t want to be tired and repeat what happened in Chicago. We have a couple of days in London after the race, so hopefully I will be well enough to sightsee then. Regardless, I’m loving my casual time in London and attempting to keep my marathon nerves at bay.

Carb loading

It’s too bad I can’t be as creative with food options, but I am enjoying the hunt for carbs in the city.

Smoked haddock risotto with spinach and a poached egg

Smoked haddock risotto with spinach and a poached egg

Steak and arugula (rocket) pizza

Steak and arugula (rocket) pizza

Mushroom and arugula (rocket) filled pasta with mozzarella and pesto sauce

Mushroom and arugula (rocket) filled pasta with mozzarella and pesto sauce

Light walking around the city

I walked all around the Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street area the last time I was here but it just never gets old. It’s a short walk from our hotel and I ventured in that direction for lunch yesterday. I love the architecture of the buildings and double-decker buses. I just really love London.

Such neat architecture on Regent Street and beautiful blue sky

Such neat architecture on Regent Street and beautiful blue sky

I love the buses. I'm a dork but they look cooler than the MTA ones.

I love the buses. I’m a dork but they look cooler than the MTA ones.

Morning yoga in the hotel room

Josh had to carry my new travel yoga mat in his suitcase since mine was overweight. I needed to keep up with my morning yoga routine and was too lame to just use a towel on the hotel room floor, hence the travel mat. It folds nicely into a suitcase but is still two pounds and when every pound matters, two pounds is still too heavy. However, I love it and works perfectly over the carpeted room floor. In addition to yoga this morning, I was able to foam roll on it a little as well.

See the iPad/YouTube set up and me being a dork taking the picture in the mirror?

See the iPad/YouTube set up and me being a dork taking the picture in the mirror?

Short run and Hyde Park

It’s fun to meet up with someone you know in a foreign country and go for a run. James and I went on our short run yesterday afternoon in gorgeous 60 degree weather in Hyde Park. There was so many people out on bikes, horseback riding, and just lounging around.

I love the phone booths too.

I love the phone booths too.

New Hyde Park Gardens

Hyde Park Gardens

Just chillin’

And for now, I’m just chillin’, getting caught up on the blog, work emails, and relaxing.

View while blogging, except all the toast is gone now since I am carb loading.

View while blogging, except all the toast is gone now since I am carb loading.

Happy Friday and weekend everyone!