Happy Saturday!
This morning I woke up after 8 hours of sleep ready to conquer my first long run on my new, shortened training schedule. Gia and I started fresh this week with a 5-6 day a week training schedule that will get me back on marathon track in no time. I only 8 miles on the plan but was still excited to get outside since the weather was absolutely perfect!
I started around 8:30 and enjoyed 8 miles along Lake Geneva keeping about a 9:55 pace most of the time. I tend to go out too fast on long runs so I made a conscious effort to keep the pace slower. The run was great until around mile 5 when I realized how thirsty I was. I forgot that even when it’s 70 degrees and humid water is an integral part of any long run. Running along the lake was like torture as I couldn’t find a single water fountain anywhere!
Luckily, around mile 6.5 I found a little shop along the water just opening and begged the owner for some water. My French skills are still very basic but luckily I know how to ask for tap water! Next week’s long run will include water, regardless of temperature. I took out my running water bottle from last Summer this afternoon and am currently soaking it in the sink so it’ll be fresh and clean!
After a quick trip to the local farmer’s market where I stocked up on produce, bread and cheese for the week I spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up sun at Geneve- Plage with my friend Sara. Two acres of park along Lake Geneva this is a Summer destination for locals as it offers a swimming pool, a water slide, large grassy area for sun bathing, and 1,3,5, & 10 meter diving boards!
As many things are very expensive in Geneva Sara and I were surprised to see that a day pass is only 7 CHF per person! Even though it was sunny and 85 degrees the area was only about half full. This was perfect as it was quiet enough to talk and catch up on magazine reading but busy enough to feel like you were at the right place for today’s weather. For lunch we both tried something from their self service restaurant, the cheaper of the two restaurants on site. The tomato, pesto and mozzarella sandwich was perfect when enjoyed on the beach towel under the sun!
The lake water has warmed enough that it is pleasant to swim in and as I showed Sara, it’s very different than swimming in most US lakes. Lake Geneva is crystal clear which is refreshing considering I’m accustomed to swimming in Georgia lakes or the Atlantic Ocean, neither of which are clear! By the end of the afternoon I overcame my subtle fear of heights to make it off the 3 meter spring board but look forward to jumping of the 5 meter platform next time! Unfortunately it was closed today while the 10 meter platform was open. There is nothing like relaxing on a floating dock watching people overcome their fears jumping off the 10 meter platform. Some people did cannonballs or pikes while others awkwardly sprawled their limbs while dropping into the chilly lake.
Diving boards? Love em or hate em? I can’t remember the last time I was on a diving board as I feel they are rare in the US these days. However, I love a platform board as the spring on the other boards makes me scared shitless, regardless of the height!
Tip: I always run with a credit card or $20 in my phone’s case so that I can buy a drink if needed 😉
I’m the same! Always have card & some cash on me (and sometimes a bus card just in case I’m not feeling so good). I don’t think I have ever encountered a water fountain on any of my European runs but apparently Zurich has 1,200 drinking fountains… Need to verify that next time I’m running around the lake there.
Looks like a fun Saturday! I think if I were living there I’d be spending a lot of time at that beach.
my country club’s pool in KC has the only high dive left that I know of! I used to love it and hate it all at the same time! It was fun to jump off but usually painful if you hit the water wrong!
Wait, 10m as in 30 feet??? AHHH that sounds scary! But also awesome. How deep is the lake around there?
Wow, that looks like a fantastic spot to enjoy a perfect summer day! I would definitely be too chicken to try out the diving platform though, no matter what the height — I still have a picture of Greg Louganis hitting his head on the diving board at the 1988 Olympics that I just can’t get out of my head!
It was pretty amazing Mandi! I didn’t even know that about Greg Louganis! Now I want to look it up on You Tube!
The pool in my grandma’s town had diving boards, but that tall one (I have no idea how tall it was) was too much for me! I hope you get your water bottles, hydration is important!
Thanks Katie – I am definitely using my water bottle from now on! I didn’t conquer the tall diving board either!
So great! Did you and Bo get to reunite this weekend? How is his transition to London? Will all of your weekends be spent in Geneva or will you travel to London as well? Thinking of you still as you get your “sea legs” in a new country!