[u]Paris was nice but tiring and injury-related !! Overall a ‘good’ experience though.
Just to give all the statistics of the conditions (and a video too!), Thursday night I traveled to Bergamo and then slept 3hrs. Then I took the train(40min) to Milan, and we got on the bus, and 16hrs later (:p) we arrived to Paris. But what a wonderfulll ride!!! The sceneries were beautiful, especially around the Italian-French borders; a route that I’ve heard much about in the past, but got the privilege of experiencing it for the first time with this great opportunity. The team was also wonderful, and I never thought that 16hrs would cruise along my conscience so smoothly and un-noticeably!
When we arrived, we got settled in, and then only had time for 5hrs of sleep until the next day’s meet.
Needless to say, how AWFUL we all felt the next day 
But the meet was just ridiculous =P, with lots and lots of noise, mascots, soccer games going on in the infield, lots of food!! (nutella crepes, cakes, juices, cookies, granola bars and candy, which we had to ‘wisely’ consume, hahaha).
My 800m was at 11 in the morning, and I only cared to finish ahead enough for the finals, so I stuck behind the first lady, and comfortably finished in 2:32.
Here is my race. I’m in the bright yellow shirt and short tights, starting second from the right, and always in second place. My 400 split was 68, which was surprising to me to be honest, as it felt rather easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQyr_gorWY
But in the end I wasn’t so relaxed, my hamstrings were too tight (well I guess it’s natural), and I had a mini-allergic reaction 5’ later (not so natural !) , with constant sneezing, runny left eye, runny nose, sun-sensitivity, and a vast headache… for the next 5 hours… I honestly started thinking that another 800 would be a baddd idea (I really felt SICK, I suppose all the stress accumulated after the 800). But the more bad news appeared while warming up for the 10x800m (yes, you read right =PPP ), as I felt my ankle really bother me.
Anyway, I told the captain before the relay that the relay would be my last race, and as I felt extremely bad (I would have to be substituted for the final in the 800, and the final in the 10x200, which we were sure we would make). He told me not to be silly and that I should take care of myself. So unlike U.S.-colllege-philosophy; “leave your body on the track”.
The 10x200m was so much fun !! I also felt fast, because I was going against guys and although I did have a head start when I got the baton, against guys, no one managed to pass me, yipee…
(I don’t know my split… ).
Then I waited for 1 hour on the line for the orthopedist, who made me jump through the roof when he pressed hard on the spot that hurt, and he thought that I could have a stress fracture. How nice.
So now I am pretty much working on strength, EMS and not running for the week, keeping track of the pain, and then I will resume with some grass, which seems to feel fine.
Looking back, as my foot didn’t really hurt before the 800, it was probably a very bad idea running in sprinting spikes for 800m.
And now that I’m in race-mode, let the recovery begin… How lovely.
Staying in Milan for a week, and then Athens on Tuesday. Probably Dejan will fix me up =)))
To wrap up:
Friday, May 27th, 2011
no running
16hrs bus ride
Saturday, May 28th, 2011
-warm up
Sunday, May 29th, 2011
- no running
- 6hrs walking around Paris!
Monday, May 30th, 2011
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
- 15min biking
- 20min biking
- 1hr and 15min weights (including >1000 abs)
- 15min biking
(EMS to follow)
