First Impressions (days 1-3)

I'm here... as my flight's seat back screen will attest. I haven't been in touch much since landing safely in Iten - bar for the odd Facebook post to say I'm alive. It's been a whirlwind first few days! 

It's a strange thing to adjust to altitude, as just by being up here you're achieving everything you need to in your first week but with no real sense of accomplishment. I feel like my days are full enough (though based consistently around meal times), yet at the same time I'm doing only an hour of 'running', and in real danger of being overtaken by kids on their way to school or 60 year old farmers ploughing at the side of the road. I don't think it's all about me being really slow however; everyone here looks like they're born to run - it's no myth. 

First impressions of the camp are really good. The room is fine and weather not too hot at night. The food is pretty tasty and nutritious. I haven't quite worked out all the different types of meat we're eating, but it's best just to get on with it.  

It's a really nice group of people here - staff and athletes. The British team have been over for a while, and I recognised a few faces from TV. It was a shame the majority left the day I arrived though. I was keen to meet a possible distant relative, my namesake and top international runner, Charlie Grice - but he'd just left for another camp. Instead, I've been hanging out mainly with a group of German guys who know the place pretty well and happy to share their knowledge. 

I will update this more when I'm actually able to run some sessions, though in the meantime It was really nice to get the news from home that I had won runner of the year for MBH. It has definitely added motivation for me to put in some 'proper' training in the coming weeks -

when I'm able to. 

Training done (with notes): 

31/1/17 - 5 miles 'easy' (bloody hard) 

1/2/17 - 7 miles 'easy' (hard) 

2/2/17 - 5 miles 'easy' (easier)