Amazing to be on Day 18 and to have passed through so many countries. We are igniting and spreading the word! Last night we roamed the streets of Prague and had a great dinner on the main square. Prague was spared from bombing and so remains intact and very old. It has amazing cultural and architectural gems as well, including a large clock tower in the square appointed in gold. The clock chimes every hour, when two little doors open and figures rotate for view to the outside world. The crowds wait for that moment patiently and stand awestruck when it happens for all of about two minutes. From our dinner seats we got to experience it twice, a very German thing. Speaking of Germany, I’d forgotten to mention that I ran yesterday to the scent of honeysuckles which brought me back to my youth. Just wonderful!

Prague has great beer and awesome crystal. We are paying in crowns. Although the Czech Republic has joined the Euro group, it has not yet moved into using Euros as its currency, but that is coming soon. Prague is also a city of bridges and a wonderful immense old castle marks its horizon. After dinner, a few of us took the subway back to our hotel, marveling at the underground stations, each in its own color scheme. Unlike the USA, the coin machines for tokens and for coffee work as they should and the coffee in Czech Republic is pretty good.

Our bodies are holding up well, despite all the sitting and times when we don’t get in our regular stretching. Team Green is really looking forward to our day off tomorrow in Vienna. My past week’s mileage was over 67 miles. I say over because we don’t have the miles computed for the times when the satellite is out, or when we go off course to route around construction and closed roads. Even if the runner can get through, we don’t go where the pilot car or a bike or the vespa cannot join us. The internal logistics motto of our run is safety, security and smiles.

We started this morning locked in the hotel garage, some malfunction. Luckily it was figured out in time for us to make it to our exchange. It is raining again and the traffic is intense. I would not want to live here. I am the third runner this day and hoping the traffic peters out before I take off.

So far we have not needed much in support, except to be kept safe and on route. We have a variety of hydration systems available including waist and back packs. We are staying well fed in between. In fact, I expected to lose some weight and think I’ve put it on instead. Given the relatively short legs, 10 miles each, we don’t need to carry food. I have been taking a gel before each run and, on the hot days, when the scooter is on the course with us, I plant a bottle with him and drink at the top of long hills about every 2 or 3 miles. Our hydration will be more critical when we get into the hotter regions and deserts, and especially for the day shifts. This is the Green Team’s last day on the 9am to 3pm shift. Next we go 3pm to 9pm and then back on two rounds of graveyard.

After today’s running, Team Green will be off to Vienna, Austria, yet another country, for a day off. We are drinking lots of water. More on that issue tomorrow.