Track and Field Blogs - Jenny Barringer

I'm just ending my 21st birthday and everyone back at home is just beginning it :). I'm writing a little bit later today because I had a little chance to celebrate.

Starting from the beginning: I woke up this morning to run with Heather. It was the most industrial run I've ever been on in my life!!! I think it took us 25 minutes to run the first 12. We ran in downtown Osaka and it was madness. I only had to run 5 miles easy so I thought going to the track would be kind of silly. I dont think I'll be running from the hotel again though!!!

Next Heather and I got some lunch and went to the Aquarium. It was ok, but not too eventful. Lots of fish....

We hung out at the two hotels for a while waiting for my real birthday present... Dax arrived today! My boyfriend from all the way back in Boulder flew the 13 hour flight just to be here for my 21st birthday and my races. What a supportive guy huh? He apparently had quite an adventure traveling here (like everyone does) and he got to share all of his stories over traditional sushi! Dax and I really enjoy sushi back in Colorado so we thought that would be the perfect birthday dinner; a traditional sushi bar. When we got there we knew the chef wouldn't know much English but we knew enough of the Japanese foods to order what we wanted. At first we had a little bit of trouble but Dax was a pro. We got exactly what we wanted (on the first try!) and ended up forging a great friendship with the sushi chef! He took the two of us up to his counter where he displays all of his seafood and started teaching us how to say everything in Japanese. He was so sweet and so small! :). After a long and very broken conversation with us about where we were coming from and who we were he asked if either of us were runners! He was so excited that I was running in the championships and he asked me for my autograph! haha. He says he's going to be watching the TV on Saturday and cheering for me. :)

Never a dull moment here. I'm having such a great time and really looking forward to the actual racing to begin. Tomorrow is one day out. I'm nervous but more than ready.