Training Log - Monday, June 7, 2010 (Berlin, Germany)

My 100th blog post. What better way to celebrate than to run. I finally went for my first morning run while in Europe. I guess I am finally getting over my jetlag. It's about time. I decided to run through the park again. This time, I opted to run a larger loop. This allowed me to do some more sightseeing. This time, my run led me past the US Embassy (which, to my surprise, is literally attached to the Brandenburg Gate), through the "Brandenburger Tor" (Brandenburg Gate, see picture above) into the park along ponds and streams, past the "Zoologischer Garten" (Zoological Garden), across the "Strasse des 17. Juni" (Street of the 17th of June), around the "Siegessaeule" (Victory Column) and past "Schloss Bellevue" (Bellevue Castle, the home of the German President) and "Haus der Kulturellen der Welt" (House of the Culturals of the World), and finally past the "Bundestag" (German Parliament) before passing through the "Brandenburger Tor" back to my hotel for a total of close to 6 miles. The sky was slightly overcast with a light drizzle, perfect for a morning run. The streets and park were not yet filled with tourists, making my run a little faster, minimizing the zig-zagging required to dodge people. It was still little more than a slow run, but hey, I managed to do some sightseeing along the way. The most impressive part of the run was the passing of the "Bundestag" with its large inscription "Dem Deutschen Volke" (To the German People) above the main entrance to the building. I have to admit, I was a little moved. My muscle strain is still there, but it only flares up when I try to pick up the pace. Reason enough for me not to pick up the pace;-) The countdown continues, only 5 days left until the big race.