domingo: un día perfecto para comer paella con la familia

I have officially decided that for me, this month has been "No Luck November." After weeks of Moroccan Fever, I finally returned to running this past Tuesday. Tuesday I ran 10 minutes, Wednesday I ran 20 minutes, and Thursday I ran 30 minutes. Thursday afternoon I started having pain in my left foot, and experienced difficulty walking. Since I live in a city, not being able to walk is not an option. Being that I've become an expert with diagnosing my own injuries after having worn two (yes, two!) air casts this year due to stress fractures and shin splints, I can confidently say I believe that I have a stress fracture. All of the signs & symptoms are there: swelling, hot to the touch, and sharp pains. For the first time I'll admit that I miss being booted. 

More upsetting than having an injury is the fact that I had to miss running the race I had been looking forward to for months. I understand that all runners experience injuries, it's a natural part of the sport, but I just don't understand why here, and why now. Although it was devastating to watch from the sidelines, it was a reminder of how much I'm craving a marathon finish. I think it's a feeling that most people wouldn't understand. For me, there is no greater feeling in the world than crossing that finish line and exclaiming, "I DID IT!" It has nothing to do with the expo, the pictures, the swag bag, the medal, or the sake of being able to say I ran 26.2 miles, (although I think it does grant you bragging rights!) yet has everything to do with the months of preparation through the blistering heat, pouring rain, and failing snow. It has everything to do with waking up before the sunrise and doing more in an hour than most people do in a day, maybe even a week, or maybe even a month. It has everything to do with all of the times that your head told you no, but your body defeated those obstacles anyway. For me, running has nothing to do with the actual motion of the running. Although I was able to witness a record breaking finish, I want to be able to run across the finish line breaking my own record. Even though today was not my day, I just have to continue to look for the positive (I'd say paella is pretty positive!), and know that my record breaking marathon finish will come.

"That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is."

-Kara Goucher

Rose park in Valencia!

Race start of over 20,000 runners!

A record breaking marathon finish in Spain!

Wishing my GOTR girls luck on their upcoming 5K!

It's Sunday: paella making day!

Roommate and Padre!

Roommate and Madre!

La familia completa! (Wearing your favorite outfit, Kimmy!)

MOROCCO

I can finally say I have safely returned after conquering four cities, two continents, and one desert in 10 days. Despite the ups and downs of traveling, I can honestly say it was the best experience of my life, and I am certainly not the same person I was when I boarded the train to Sevilla two weeks ago. The trip started in the capital city of Fes where we stayed for two nights. It was the first time in my life that I have ever felt as though I physically do not belong somewhere. All of the women, the few that I saw at least, were completely covered, and of course, not blonde.

 This is the port where we left from Spain to go to Morocco.

 The King's palace.

In Fes, we spent the day in the Medina, which is a huge market where people sell and buy anything you can imagine. The streets are narrow, dirty, and have a horrible smell. Often, donkeys pass through the streets. Luckily we had a guide that took us to a jewelry, spice, carpet, scarf, leather, and pottery stores. Otherwise we would have been lost on our own for sure!

At the leather store we walked to the top floor where we could oversee how the leather is made. The smell is horrific, so they gave us mint leaves to smell.

 In the scarf store I tried on a traditional moroccan dress.

And tried traditional mint tea!

Picture of our group from Valencia!

Sunset in Fes.

The following day we left for the Sahara Desert. We traveled all day by bus, then took 4x4s to the campsite where would stay for two nights. The desert was incredible. It looked as though it was a movie set that could be knocked over if you pushed it hard enough. 

Our tents!

 The first morning we watched the sunrise.

After the sunrise we hoped on top of our camels to take a ride through the desert.

Sahara Desert by day!

Sunset in the desert.

Despite being terribly sick, the trip was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience. I enjoyed being in a completely different culture, on the continent of AFRICA! Luckily and happily my illness has passed, but I will always remember the positive memories I made in Morocco.