Flew into San Jose, CR on the redeye getting in about 6am this morning. I read Scott Jurecks book on the flight that Rob loaned me. Absolutely loved this book. If I had the determination that this guy did, I would change my diet and live much healthier! He describes running exactly as I see it. Otherwise very boring flight. As usual, I couldn't understand a word of what the Costa Rican Air Traffic control said. How anybody survives flying in Central America is a mystery.
For three days now I am planning on long slow trail running. Yesterdays race gave me confidence that I can start mileage again. I don't plan on running faster than 8 minute miles anywhere, but I'm going to get some distance on soft surfaces.
Got to the hotel, slept 3 hours and picked up a rental car. It took a $1,000 deposit. Son of a *&%$! On the walk-around the antannae, hub caps, and emblems were missing. Otherwise a new car. When I asked the agent about the missing things he showed them to me behind the desk. Since they would just get stolen anyways, they take them off for the rental period. :-) I stopped several times along the way to explore, there is just too much to see here.
When I got up to the Arenal Observatory Lodge it was dark already. Old Smithsonian Observatory, very Spartan. No TV, no AC, but clean rooms. I threw my stuff on the bed, grabbed a headlamp, and went for a run. The lodge is at the end of a 5 mile dirt road and I swear everything was chattering out there. Eyes all over whereever I turned my head. Freakin howler monkeys yelling back and forth across the road. It was all I could do to keep running. I found the trail after 3 miles and things got much harder. Nothing here is flat, worse than the Grand Canyon running I've done. Bats all over flying inches from your face and something real big crashing through the forest. It felt real good to be back at the hotel! | 