It’s great that you’re still getting your workouts in; 10-hours 6 days a week is tough.
Hey!
Glad you made it safe…
Now make the time go by faster so we can meet up and train together!!
Trying, Nikki! Didn’t happen yesterday, but I have to just let it go sometimes. Getting into a routine the first week is always tough.
Workin’ on it, Mimsie.
Nice training with the bands and other improvisations!
Have fun at the wedding!
Kristoph- Thanks for posting the vid. I was not familiar with Epic Meal Time. Their use of meat is astonishing. Since I’m a veg I can’t imagine what the allure is, but I’ll take everyone’s word for it that bacon is delicious. The chili mountain with assorted other stuff reminds me of some of the amazingly creative food items that are available at the grease trucks in New Brunswick, NJ. I went to Rutgers and that is the best place to go eat at 3 am when you’re drunk. Man vs Food did an episode there. And fwiw they even have vegetarian food concoctions that are crazy too.
Oh yeah… Ran this morning (same 4-ish mile run), hotter than the last time! Also went to a Cameroonian/Ethiopian wedding today, which was nice. Just a very simple ceremony for one of my coworkers and a dinner at someone’s (gorgeous) house. I hadn’t been in any of the fancier houses here before, but I was quite impressed by this one. I would love to see what the embassy houses look like inside, but of course, you can’t even peer in the windows because each is surrounded by a tall wall topped with barbed wire. One of the men I ran past this morning had no fewer than 5 bodyguards. I wondered who he was since it must be someone important. Even though there were a lot fewer people there this morning, I think I’ll try to go in the evenings when its cooler. Sleep is still off, so hopefully that will fix itself soon.
Sounds like a blast L =)
crossing my fingers you sleep returns to normal quickly XX
SLEEP VIBES ARE SENT…sleep bomb on its way!!!
It was fun, Nikki! Thank you, Main and Brute! Last night was definitely better than the past couple of nights, although still quite tired when I wake up. I think I’m getting a “second wind” around 8 or 9 PM, so it’s making getting to sleep difficult. I would think I’d be better adjusted by now! Anyway, it was super hot yesterday, but thankfully my air conditioning worked the whole time. Although at the office, it did not… Real feel in Kinshasa yesterday was 101, rather humid. I went for a run after work.
I had intended to do my normal two laps, but when I called the driver, he was busy dropping other people off, so I did a third loop… maybe just under 6 miles? Ugh, I was disgusting afterwards! At least it was cooler by the time I ran my last lap. There was one guy who lapped me several times and appeared to be in really good shape. I wanted to ask where he works out! Probably at one of the embassies. This morning I did a band circuit again.
My computer seems to be on the fritz at the moment, which is not a good sign… A coworker of mine is coming out next week, so I guess worst case scenario is that he brings another out for me. I’m so jealous of all the weights everyone else is lifting! It’s hard enough keeping up with logs with the internet connection and busy work schedule, but it breaks my heart just a tiny bit every time I read about the heavy weights. 
sigh But I have to say this trip is off to a much better start than the last!
Hope your drinking extra water with all that running in the heat…
take care… the weights are waiting for you
Oh no, not more computer problems in PW =(
Don’t be discouraged by the weights others are lifting, have fun. The gym and weights are going anywhere.
wow major props for running in the humid ass heat. bravo!
x 2 what deja said. mad props!!
Yeah (wo)man, keep it in the moment. The weights, as mentioned, will be there waiting for you when you return. Just get in what you can while you’re there and rip it up when you’re back stateside.
It sounds surreal honestly. The heat and humidity I’m easily able to imagine, the super fancy houses and bodyguards would trip me out a little. Dawn/dusk runs are best in those conditions, yes. nods Weddings are fun, simple ones filled love with especially so.
GVT is interesting. Bench/Squat/MP we have maxes to work off of, the rest we have to sort of feel out. This week has been less crushing than last week but it’s still an ass kicker. I went to do some pushups a few hours after the workout today (incline bench 10x10) and could get four and they hurt so, so much. My partner got a lat cramp yesterday (neutral grip pulldowns 10x10) afternoon. laugh
Thanks, Nik, MiM, Deja, Brute, and Kris! I’m still alive! Computer is off and on ok, but I got a colleague to bring another out; he arrives Tuesday. MiM, I’m probably not drinking enough water. 
It’s hard to, since I can only drink bottled and I can only go to the store when I can get a driver to take me. I’ve been trying to keep a lot on hand, but I’m busy and I have to make sure I have some for stuff like brushing my teeth… Ahhh, the things we take for granted! That’s one of the things I appreciate most about these trips is the sense it gives me of how fortunate we are in the US. It really is surreal, Kris. I was in this “Grand Marche” the other day… I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. Incredible traffic, people, trash, smells… What I didn’t realize at the time (since they were speaking Lingala and not French) and what my driver told me afterward was that the people around me were asking whether I could be living in the Congo because I was so white. The Grand Marche isn’t exactly where most of the white people go… Still funny though. I am super white. lol
Anyway, I’m actually kind of enjoying running in the heat. I think I like that extra “challenge.”
This week has been hectic with work. I believe I got in three band workouts and three days of running. I broke a band on Wednesday. It was the lightest one, so it’s just a sign for me to go heavier. Also had a close call with some hip extensions this morning… I was centimeters away from some serious pain as the band snapped back! I’m apparently more of a danger to myself with rubber bands than weights. Hah!
I hafta say, I’m just super psyched right now that I haven’t gotten sick yet. (Hope I haven’t spoken too soon…) I have three weeks left, which I’m sure will pass quickly. I’ve been overseeing construction work at our new office space. So not qualified for that! I wouldn’t know what to do in English, let alone French. Well, it’s getting done anyway. This week I’m finishing planning for a conference, and next week is the conference. Week after will be wrap up. I’d like to increase my running to 5x week, but I have very little control over my schedule. We’ll see if we can make it happen… One of the drivers noticed that I was actually running and explained that most people just walk. He said he wanted to run with me “for motivation” and that he’d take me to the Kinshasa stadium, which is the biggest stadium in central Africa. Should be interesting!
Barely catching up with other logs, so my apologies!!
Kris, how was the rest of week with the GVT? Totally killer, I hear ya! Glad you’re having fun. 
Oh yes, be careful about drinking water when traveling. Maybe boiling tap water will make it safe? But bottled water is the safest bet.
Aww sorry about the band problems. I broke a band that belonged to an old gym. I felt so bad!
Yay for 3 more weeks. Very exciting that your driver wants to run with you as well.
Continue the fun =D
Hey Lanels - Just following your trip! Running in that kind of heat and humidity is brutal. I’ve always been an early morning run person because I just wilt out there. Be careful. It’s easy to get some dehydration or heat stroke. I’ve made myself sick before.
have you tried taking some probiotics? I usually get the runs bad when travelling down south and popping those little beauties on my last 2 trips was a life saver…I don’t imagine diving and he runs EVER being a good combo.
Just a quick update to let everyone know I’m still alive. It’s 2 am and I’m just wrapping up work if that gives you an indication of why I haven’t been posting! Anyway, thanks ladies. Nik, I only drink bottled water. I’m trying to be careful about it, Puff. Thanks for the words of wisdom! Main, I’ve never tried that. Haha, actually, last time it was more than just stomach troubles. I had an allergic reaction and then they thought I had malaria (still not sure whether it was). Again, still 10 days left, but so far so good in terms of sickness! Not so happy about my workout sitch, but dealing with it. At least I’m getting in a few workouts a week. Will be so nice to be back!
Hooray still alive! Kudos for making time to exercise in what seems like a pretty crowded schedule. You’ll be back before you know it.