Equinox

With our move from Chicago to Dallas coming immediately after our trip to London and Disneyland Paris, I haven't had a chance to post here lately.  But that doesn't mean I haven't been running.  I thought our new gym in Dallas deserved its own post since we spend so much time there each day.

I am in love with Equinox.  It is less than half a mile from our home.  From the gym, it's less than half a mile to the Katy Trail which is where we have been running each day (I'm planning a separate post on the Katy Trail).  The gym doesn't come cheap, but it's loaded with amenities.  It has a heated, salt water lap pool.  I have been swimming more here than I ever did in Chicago.  After I go for my run, I will come back and swim laps for another hour.  It's such a great cross training method that builds my cardiovascular endurance without adding any more impact forces to my legs.  If I'm not swimming, I'll ride one of the bikes.  Although I have yet to try their classes, there is no shortage of offerings.  They always seem to be packed with people who look like they're getting quite the workout.  And of course the Kiehl's products in the locker room are a very nice touch.

As new members, we each get a functional mobility assessment with a personal trainer and then 3 training sessions.  I had my assessment last night and wasn't surprised that it revealed no real issues.  I am looking forward to working with the trainer to develop a strength training routine that will supplement my running and (hopefully) prevent future injuries.  We also get a complimentary Pilates session in their Pilates studio.  It has been almost 20 years since I last did Pilates so I am looking forward to getting that scheduled very soon.

Hopefully my time spent here will continue to push my training and fitness to higher levels and prepare me for a great year of races in 2019!

Equinox Highland Park Dallas

London

We arrived in London yesterday morning exhausted from our overnight flight.  After resting most of the day and getting to bed early, I woke up this morning energized and ready to go for my run and see some of the city.  We are staying at a Marriott just across the river from Big Ben and Westminster Cathedral, so that is where my run started and ended.

Sadly you can't really see Big Ben right now

Just past Westminster there are several parks with numerous pedestrian and bike trails throughout -- St. James's Park, Green Park and then the very large Hyde Park.  I had a general sense of where I was in the city at all times, but I loved just exploring the different trails and running wherever I felt like.  It was a great run this morning -- not too hot or cold.  There were lots of runners, walkers and bikers out with me (and even a few riders on horseback).

Kensington Palace on the western side of Hyde Park

Buckingham Palace -- sadly I was too sweaty by this point to visit the Queen

I spent much of the afternoon walking around and exploring different parts of the city.  I have a much more positive response to London than I did when we visited four years ago.  As I was walking, I imagined what it must be like to run through some of the streets during the marathon.  There must be so much to see and take in.  Hopefully I'll get to experience it for myself in the next few years!

We are in for Berlin!

Today we received the email that both Mike and I have been accepted into the 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon through a package with Marathon Tours and Travel!  I was beyond excited when I received this.  Berlin is one of the largest and most famous races in the world and is known to have the fastest course.  We were unsuccessful getting into Berlin through their lottery for the 2018 race (which actually turned out to be a good thing with my injury).  We are entered in the 2019 lottery, but I wanted a way to guarantee that we could do it.

Marathon Tours and Travel is the primary provider in the United States of guaranteed entries into major world races.  I had previously signed both of us up for their Seven Continents Club, which gives us better access to spots in their packages.  My plan is to use them to get into Berlin next year which will then hopefully pave the way for us to get into Tokyo and London the following years (since the odds of us getting into those races through their lotteries are almost non-existent).

I can't imagine what it will be like to run through the Brandenburg Gate as we near the finish line of the marathon!  2019 is shaping up to be quite a year with some big races and hopefully a few more stars toward becoming an Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher!

We are running 2019 Berlin!