Panamania

While those of you in the US were celebrating the end of summer with a holiday, I was on a plane to a new country (for me at least). I really didnt know anything more about Panama other than there is a canal here, and I cant say if I am 100% certain what goes on in said canal. But after another stamp on my passport and 4 days in Panama I can say that I have still not seen this mythical canal. I have seen 4 conference rooms, one hotel room, three hotels, 3 restaurants, 1 gym, and a mall. All were very nice. Except the gym. I tried really hard to workout while I have been here, but it has been a little tricky. Monday I went to the swim before I got on the plane, knowing that would be my last swim for a while. Tuesday I woke up early to a gym that houses 2 treadmills a stairmaster and a recumbent bike. I got to running (I had 400s on the schedule) and quickly realized that the tready wasnt calibrated quite right. After upping the speed to what said 4 minute miles I felt like I was actually going 7ish min miles. I stuck the speed there and just ran 2 minutes instead of 400s. Yes I know that 7/4 does not equal 2, but counting by 2s was a lot easier for me than counting by 1:30s. Day 2 I had a bike on the schedule, but since there is only a recumbent bike, I was told to just do an easy run. I was going to attempt to swim this AM, but the pool is exactly 4 meters long. I asked the front desk if I could swim in the canal (it is water after all), and they looked at me like I was crazy, and I didnt want a repeat of what happened in Cancun where I got pulled out of the water because the hotel was scared I would drown in the waves. So instead of swimming, I am sitting in my room eating jelly beans and watching tv pretending that this is all good training for sunday's race.
Mixed in with this non training in Panama were a few parties. Here is a photo of what goes on when you mix people from all over Latin America and give them glasses of champagne with ice cream at the bottom. I am in the back. I guess I am pretending to hold my hands up to catch her in case she falls.



Next stop is the Chicago and then a week in NYC where I will be able to swim, bike and run to my heart's desire. Although it is more likely the swim bike and run will be replaced with walking from store to store. I will through some running in if I see some really cute shoes and the stores are about to close.