Saturday was a dreary and rainy day, so I didn’t want to do my 11 mile run.  I would wait and do that Sunday.  It would be sunny, but slightly chilly.  Instead on Saturday, I went for a quick 2 mile run, just to do something.  As I started running, my right ankle starting to hurt.  I hadn’t even gone half a mile when it started.  I almost decided to turn around, but I did not.

After I got home, it still hurt, which was unusual.  I had felt this same pain before, and had even pointed it out to Larry, who is an expert runner, back in February.  Usually the pain went away after I was running for a bit, or at the latest, once I was done running.   It is now Sunday, and it still hurts.  I’m not sure if it really hurts, or if I’m just thinking that it does, and psychologically making it hurt.  The pain could very well be psychosomatic.  I could just be worried about being in pain and not being able to run my marathon.  Especially with a $50 race fee that isn’t refundable (another reason why I hate  money - it makes me worry about things).  Nevertheless, I went out today and bought an ankle brace, which I will start wearing while I run for extra support.  I also bought Salonpas which a woman at church recommended.  They are Japanese and they “relieve aches and pains in the muscles and joints, particularly those associated with backache, arthritis, strains, bruises and sprains.”  In Japanese, the pain or stiffness in your neck or shoulders is called katakori. I currently have them on my neck and shoulders, and it feels GREAT!  I got 40 pads that stick on for only $4!

But anyway, I’ve been icing my ankle on and off for two days now, and elevating it when I can.  I took the day off today, and also plan on resting tomorrow, too.  I will go back to running on Tuesday, to allow myself with enough time to rest.  Shauna said that if I’m up to 10 miles already, I should be ok taking a week off on my long run.  I have four weeks left until my half marathon, and I think that’s plenty of time to get up to 12, and then work my way down again before the big day of 13.1.  They say if you can do 12 in training, you can do 13 in a race.  But I feel like if I can do 10 in training, then I can do 13 in a race.  After 10 miles, another 3 would be nothing!  Especially if the race is pretty flat, as I hear this one is.

So now, I’m using a heating pad to see if that makes it feel any better.  I’ve been trying to do some research on what to do, and even IF my ankle is sprained.  I can walk on it just fine, it just feels weird.  I’m not even sure if it hurts or not, it just doesn’t feel right.  I will elevate it tonight while I sleep, and I’ll wear my ankle brace all day tomorrow.

Here’s hoping that it will be in perfect condition when I wake up tomorrow.

That is my itinerary for my summer trip to England this summer.  Last August when I went, I blogged that I wasn’t there long enough.  Well, this trip is FOUR WEEKS long.  That’s plenty of time!  Megan and I are planning on going to Paris, and also to Belgium.  The only reason for Belgium is because I looked at a map of Europe and looked at what was physically close to England.  We could also go to the Netherlands, but I’ve already been there!

What else is awesome about this trip is my flight.  The other times I’ve been to England (three times now, I think), I always left at about 6pm, and got to England around 6am.  Everyone was just ready to start their day, and I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed.

This time, however, I leave at 9am, and get to England at 8:45.  I’ll probably arrive at Southampton (where Megan and Mac live) around 11:30 or so, which will be 6:30 my time.  Since I’ve been traveling all day, and probably had to wake up early, I’ll probably be ready for bed soon after I arrive.  Then, I will go to bed with everyone, and wake up refreshed with everyone.

Then, on the way home, I get to spend the afternoon not rushing to the airport, and perhaps can wander around London (or not, since I’ll have my luggage).  Then, I’ll arrive in Boston at 8:35, and home to Fitchburg by 10:30, where I will be exhausted, and again, going to bed with everyone else.  It is the perfect trip, time wise.

Before booking the flight, I asked my parents “Now, I don’t have anything to do this summer, right?  Nothing I’m going to miss?”  After all three of us decided that there was nothing we could think of this summer, I booked the flight!  $717, and my parents paid for it as my early graduation present!  Now, I just need to start saving up spending money so Megan and I can travel while I’m there.  I want to start doing more babysitting, and possibly more hours at Macy’s.  I also talked to Megan about babysitting for one of her friends in England while I’m there, to earn some pounds while I’m there.  I wish there was something I could do for part time work while I’m there, but I don’t think there is.

Now that I’ve booked my flight and I know when I’m going, Megan and I can start to book our trips very early.  That way we can save money!  I’m also going to get a young person’s rail card so that way I can save money on taking the rail.

I am soooo excited!  I also just found out that a family friend’s daughter (who is 15) is going to Europe and is going to be in London on July 15th.  On the 17th, they’re doing a Harry Potter tour.  I would LOVE to do that trip!  They’re going to look into seeing if I can do the trip too, and that way I can check up on the teen.  It’d be fun to see someone I know, PLUS, Harry Potter is my favorite.  If I don’t go with her, I will definitely do a tour some other time.

Their apartment is very small.  It has a living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.  There are two smallish hallways…. but they’re very tiny.  Here is the living room, which includes the futon where I will be sleeping.  I slept there last summer while I stayed at their house for their wedding.

That is the wine from their wedding, but this summer Mac and I will have our own awesome drinking collection.  Megan doesn’t drink so it will just be the two of us!

Hopefully it will be sunny, so we can wear sunglasses every day!