MARATHON DAY
It was today, the Amsterdam marathon. I watched it on telly. I felt sad and a bit sick.
The good news is that I have, cautiously, started training again. Nothing big, but half hours on Wednesday, Saturday and today is a nice start.
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Sunday, 9 September 2007
SURRENDER
Since 15 November: 120 hours 48 minutes, 1150.8 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
This is a sad post.
Ever since coming back from India/China, I've been feeling particularly not fit. The family's chickenpox epidemic seems to have affected me a bit, too, in spite of childhood exposure. The trip wore me out completely, because of the mad schedule and a horribly irritated right eye. My GP had stuck to his diagnosis of conjunctivitis, in spite of me telling it felt like there was a tiny object in my eye and in spite of seeing me again after his prescribed medication had failed to work. Finally, when I went to the hospital they removed the folded-over wing of an insect from my eyeball.
So I have been spectacularly weak for weeks now. It became fully apparent during the much-awaited 10k in my mother's town which had turned into a family happening: I struggled to get to the finish line in a bit over 56 minutes, whereas I've done a 10k previously in 50.
Also, I've lost the will to run. Knowing that this is the period where I should be doing my most extensive training for Amsterdam, but also realising that it is equally crunchtime for getting the new house in order for moving in at the end of October, there's only one solution possibly. I'm giving up on running the Amsterdam marathon this year. Sad, but necassary.
Instead, I will pick up running again slowly after giving myself a break, and I'll play a bit of football. I can still meet my target of running - and completing - a full marathon before I turn fifty. No need for pushing myself completely over the edge now.
Since 15 November: 120 hours 48 minutes, 1150.8 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
This is a sad post.
Ever since coming back from India/China, I've been feeling particularly not fit. The family's chickenpox epidemic seems to have affected me a bit, too, in spite of childhood exposure. The trip wore me out completely, because of the mad schedule and a horribly irritated right eye. My GP had stuck to his diagnosis of conjunctivitis, in spite of me telling it felt like there was a tiny object in my eye and in spite of seeing me again after his prescribed medication had failed to work. Finally, when I went to the hospital they removed the folded-over wing of an insect from my eyeball.
So I have been spectacularly weak for weeks now. It became fully apparent during the much-awaited 10k in my mother's town which had turned into a family happening: I struggled to get to the finish line in a bit over 56 minutes, whereas I've done a 10k previously in 50.
Also, I've lost the will to run. Knowing that this is the period where I should be doing my most extensive training for Amsterdam, but also realising that it is equally crunchtime for getting the new house in order for moving in at the end of October, there's only one solution possibly. I'm giving up on running the Amsterdam marathon this year. Sad, but necassary.
Instead, I will pick up running again slowly after giving myself a break, and I'll play a bit of football. I can still meet my target of running - and completing - a full marathon before I turn fifty. No need for pushing myself completely over the edge now.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
HARD TIMES
Since 15 November: 116 hours 50 minutes, 1109.7 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
Been out of shape terribly. Since my 23k of two weeks ago, I've managed only 4 or 5k runs, incapable of getting any further. It's been very frustrating. Only yesterday I realised that it's probably connected to the chicken pox virus in our family (Sanna had it, Chui Hsia has it now big time). The ongoing eye infection I've been suffering from is a sure sign that I too have something under my skin.
So today I told myself that if I was not able to complete six laps in the park (11.4k) I would definitely not run Wednesday's half marathon in Zaventem. Which would be a pity, because Zaventem is where we move to in October. I finished my task with great relief, and with a fair bit of breath to spare.
Wednesday it is, then. Provided Chui Hsia is fit enough to look after Sanna for a couple of hours.
Since 15 November: 116 hours 50 minutes, 1109.7 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
Been out of shape terribly. Since my 23k of two weeks ago, I've managed only 4 or 5k runs, incapable of getting any further. It's been very frustrating. Only yesterday I realised that it's probably connected to the chicken pox virus in our family (Sanna had it, Chui Hsia has it now big time). The ongoing eye infection I've been suffering from is a sure sign that I too have something under my skin.
So today I told myself that if I was not able to complete six laps in the park (11.4k) I would definitely not run Wednesday's half marathon in Zaventem. Which would be a pity, because Zaventem is where we move to in October. I finished my task with great relief, and with a fair bit of breath to spare.
Wednesday it is, then. Provided Chui Hsia is fit enough to look after Sanna for a couple of hours.
Sunday, 29 July 2007
DOWN, NOT OUT
Since 15 November: 113 hours 29 minutes, 1075.7 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
Tuesday's training was good. As was Wednesday's until after 13 kilometers I tripped over a tree root. Mainly to reassure the worried looking eye-witness I picked myself up and stumbled along until I was out of sight. But the fall had broken my stride and scratched off bits of skin on my left arm and leg.
In combination with an infected eye, it didn't make for the best of weeks. But I rebounced a bit today by doing 23 kilometers non-stop in the park in Tervuren.
Since 15 November: 113 hours 29 minutes, 1075.7 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
Tuesday's training was good. As was Wednesday's until after 13 kilometers I tripped over a tree root. Mainly to reassure the worried looking eye-witness I picked myself up and stumbled along until I was out of sight. But the fall had broken my stride and scratched off bits of skin on my left arm and leg.
In combination with an infected eye, it didn't make for the best of weeks. But I rebounced a bit today by doing 23 kilometers non-stop in the park in Tervuren.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
GOING STRONG
Since 15 November: 109 hours 9 minutes, 1031.8 kilometers
Weight: 77 kilos
Not much to report, apart from that training is going very well. A good 19 kilometers on Wednesday, a nice 15 on Sunday in Holland through the dunes near Katwijk.
With a weekly total of 44 kilometers, or four-and-a-half hours, I cannot complain.
If nothing unexpected comes up, I will run a half marathon in a week from now, in Bellingen just a bit southwest from here.
Since 15 November: 109 hours 9 minutes, 1031.8 kilometers
Weight: 77 kilos
Not much to report, apart from that training is going very well. A good 19 kilometers on Wednesday, a nice 15 on Sunday in Holland through the dunes near Katwijk.
With a weekly total of 44 kilometers, or four-and-a-half hours, I cannot complain.
If nothing unexpected comes up, I will run a half marathon in a week from now, in Bellingen just a bit southwest from here.
Sunday, 15 July 2007
ON TRACK
Since 15 November: 104 hours 42 minutes, 987.8 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
A week ago I went along the canal to Vilvoorde again, and back. This route is more or less exactly 20 kilometers. After 1 hour 45, I had to walk a bit but I still managed to get home in about two hours. A good training pace.
Somewhere along that training I also passed the point where I'd been running for 100 hours since I started logging my marathon trainings on 15 November. And early in the coming week I will reach the 1,000 kilometers point.
The past week started not so good. On Tuesday I ran my normal office track at lunchtime again, but on Thursday I had to stop after 5 kilometers due to a mini-injury at my left ankle. It was obviously time to toss away my old shoes and switch to the new pair of Asics Gel DS Trainer 12.
This weekend has been good, with 2 runs of 14 kilometers each.
Since 15 November: 104 hours 42 minutes, 987.8 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
A week ago I went along the canal to Vilvoorde again, and back. This route is more or less exactly 20 kilometers. After 1 hour 45, I had to walk a bit but I still managed to get home in about two hours. A good training pace.
Somewhere along that training I also passed the point where I'd been running for 100 hours since I started logging my marathon trainings on 15 November. And early in the coming week I will reach the 1,000 kilometers point.
The past week started not so good. On Tuesday I ran my normal office track at lunchtime again, but on Thursday I had to stop after 5 kilometers due to a mini-injury at my left ankle. It was obviously time to toss away my old shoes and switch to the new pair of Asics Gel DS Trainer 12.
This weekend has been good, with 2 runs of 14 kilometers each.
Sunday, 1 July 2007
A TOUGH ONE
Since 15 November: 96 hours 27 minutes, 909.9 kilometers
Weight: 77 kilos
Two trainings only this week, of 10.5 and 14 kilometers respectively, which went quite well.
Today's race was the first since the Brusssels 20k. I was ill-prepared. We had a barbecue last night, with the neighbours of our new house. One of them had cooked a brilliant gado gado and I ate lots of it. Alas, it was low on carbs and the beer and wine didn't do much for my race preparation either.
To call the course - 14.8 kilometers through the forest - hilly would be a grandiose understatement. The difference between the lowest and highest point was 130 meters. I knew that the biggest, as in longest climb was in the first two kilometers. But I was not aware of the sleep slopes further down, and they all seemed to go up.
At 12 kilometers I was walking when a woman passed me and urged me in french to try and follow her. I picked up her speed and managed to keep it up till the finish line, where I thanked her. That's one of the nice things of such races: you really experience the kindness of strangers.
In the coming week I will attempt a two-hours training run again. At a very slow pace it should be doable. I'll also go shoe hunting; my pair of Asics are ready to retire after 800 kilometers and the sales are on.
Since 15 November: 96 hours 27 minutes, 909.9 kilometers
Weight: 77 kilos
Two trainings only this week, of 10.5 and 14 kilometers respectively, which went quite well.
Today's race was the first since the Brusssels 20k. I was ill-prepared. We had a barbecue last night, with the neighbours of our new house. One of them had cooked a brilliant gado gado and I ate lots of it. Alas, it was low on carbs and the beer and wine didn't do much for my race preparation either.
To call the course - 14.8 kilometers through the forest - hilly would be a grandiose understatement. The difference between the lowest and highest point was 130 meters. I knew that the biggest, as in longest climb was in the first two kilometers. But I was not aware of the sleep slopes further down, and they all seemed to go up.
At 12 kilometers I was walking when a woman passed me and urged me in french to try and follow her. I picked up her speed and managed to keep it up till the finish line, where I thanked her. That's one of the nice things of such races: you really experience the kindness of strangers.
In the coming week I will attempt a two-hours training run again. At a very slow pace it should be doable. I'll also go shoe hunting; my pair of Asics are ready to retire after 800 kilometers and the sales are on.
Monday, 25 June 2007
SEBAS WAS BACK
Since 15 November: 92 hours 28 minutes, 870.6 kilometers
Weight: 76
Found out that it was not so much the training volume that ground me to a halt, but more the intensity. So this week I took it easy in terms of pace. Had some nice results with my heartbeat: an average of 131 over 7 kilometers on Saturday.
I should also further increase my fruit and water intake, and not only on training days.
Sebas was here for the weekend, as his little niece Sanna was celebrating her second birthday. It was real nice running with him again.
Tomorrow I should do 10 kilometers. But the heavy rains we see these days may stop me.
And I've still got my eyes set on the race in Auderghem this Sunday.
Since 15 November: 92 hours 28 minutes, 870.6 kilometers
Weight: 76
Found out that it was not so much the training volume that ground me to a halt, but more the intensity. So this week I took it easy in terms of pace. Had some nice results with my heartbeat: an average of 131 over 7 kilometers on Saturday.
I should also further increase my fruit and water intake, and not only on training days.
Sebas was here for the weekend, as his little niece Sanna was celebrating her second birthday. It was real nice running with him again.
Tomorrow I should do 10 kilometers. But the heavy rains we see these days may stop me.
And I've still got my eyes set on the race in Auderghem this Sunday.
Thursday, 21 June 2007
WHAT FOLLOWS HAS NO CONNECTION TO RUNNING
I just want to have it on record... I am extremely fond of both Chui Hsia and Sanna. Chui Hsia is a much better parent than I am. More organised and much more creative in finding solutions to Sanna's problems (like her refusing to go to sleep). Besides that, Chui Hsia is an amazingly beautiful woman.
Sanna is, objectively speaking, the cutest almost-two-years-old in the world, by a mile. She'll have a new way of making me fall in love with her every day.
Don't tell anyone about this confession please... I have my masculinity to protect.
I just want to have it on record... I am extremely fond of both Chui Hsia and Sanna. Chui Hsia is a much better parent than I am. More organised and much more creative in finding solutions to Sanna's problems (like her refusing to go to sleep). Besides that, Chui Hsia is an amazingly beautiful woman.
Sanna is, objectively speaking, the cutest almost-two-years-old in the world, by a mile. She'll have a new way of making me fall in love with her every day.
Don't tell anyone about this confession please... I have my masculinity to protect.
Monday, 18 June 2007
OVERTRAINED
Since 15 November: 88 hours 15 minutes, 832.1 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
I think I overdid it a bit. Six trainings in eight days, just after returning from Oslo where I trained in the mountains twice in three days. It has been good for my speed. In the park, my track record over six laps went down by five minutes. Similarly, my best time over three laps came down from 30m29 to 28m54. So that's all pretty good.
But both on Saturday and Sunday, I was not able to run any longer than half an hour. It sure feels like I have been trainig too much, not allowing for enough recovery time in between. Today and tomorrow are therefore set aside for resting. On Wednesday and Friday I should then be able to do ten and fifteen kilometers respectively.
The big challenge will be to build up to longer distances. I should start working on that soon.
Since 15 November: 88 hours 15 minutes, 832.1 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
I think I overdid it a bit. Six trainings in eight days, just after returning from Oslo where I trained in the mountains twice in three days. It has been good for my speed. In the park, my track record over six laps went down by five minutes. Similarly, my best time over three laps came down from 30m29 to 28m54. So that's all pretty good.
But both on Saturday and Sunday, I was not able to run any longer than half an hour. It sure feels like I have been trainig too much, not allowing for enough recovery time in between. Today and tomorrow are therefore set aside for resting. On Wednesday and Friday I should then be able to do ten and fifteen kilometers respectively.
The big challenge will be to build up to longer distances. I should start working on that soon.
Thursday, 7 June 2007
AND CHANGING PLANS
Since 15 November: 83 hours 28 minutes, 781.6 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
It's always a good idea to check your agenda before signing up for races. The first on my list (Izegem) is on the very day that we have a neighbourhood barbecue party where our new house is. It'll be strange - we won't be living there yet - but we got invited and it's a good chance for meeting the hood.
So I swapped Izegem for a 14.8k race the following day, through the Zonien Forest on the outskirts of Brussels. It'll be a heavy track, but I'll still aim for finishing in under 1h20.
Sunday's training was not good. I struggled to get to 5.5k in a very slow rhythm, and then called it a day. Made up for it though, with 10.5k on Monday night and 10k Wednesday at lunch. Tomorrow I fly to Oslo, and I'll take my running gear.
Since 15 November: 83 hours 28 minutes, 781.6 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
It's always a good idea to check your agenda before signing up for races. The first on my list (Izegem) is on the very day that we have a neighbourhood barbecue party where our new house is. It'll be strange - we won't be living there yet - but we got invited and it's a good chance for meeting the hood.
So I swapped Izegem for a 14.8k race the following day, through the Zonien Forest on the outskirts of Brussels. It'll be a heavy track, but I'll still aim for finishing in under 1h20.
Sunday's training was not good. I struggled to get to 5.5k in a very slow rhythm, and then called it a day. Made up for it though, with 10.5k on Monday night and 10k Wednesday at lunch. Tomorrow I fly to Oslo, and I'll take my running gear.
Saturday, 2 June 2007
MAKING PLANS
Tomorrow I should start training again. I'm planning to go for a leisurely 10k run, to get back into the rhythm. From there on, I'll need to build up to Amsterdam.
Here's some races I'm looking at for the coming months: the Izegemse Kastelenloop (21k) on 30 June, the Zestorenjogging in Bellingen-Pepingen (21k) on 28 July, Dwars door Zaventem (which will be our new home town) on 15 August (21k), and of course the 10k Heideloop in Ermelo (my mother's home town) on 1 September.
Towards the end of September I hope to do another half marathon with Sebas, possibly in Alblasserdam in the south of Holland. Sadly Sebas is injured - we pushed it a bit too fast, I guess - but he has not lost his running spirit so he'll be back on track soon.
In between all of this, I envisage many lunch runs from work (6, 8 or 10k) and longer runs on Sundays (up to 35k by mid-September).
Tomorrow I should start training again. I'm planning to go for a leisurely 10k run, to get back into the rhythm. From there on, I'll need to build up to Amsterdam.
Here's some races I'm looking at for the coming months: the Izegemse Kastelenloop (21k) on 30 June, the Zestorenjogging in Bellingen-Pepingen (21k) on 28 July, Dwars door Zaventem (which will be our new home town) on 15 August (21k), and of course the 10k Heideloop in Ermelo (my mother's home town) on 1 September.
Towards the end of September I hope to do another half marathon with Sebas, possibly in Alblasserdam in the south of Holland. Sadly Sebas is injured - we pushed it a bit too fast, I guess - but he has not lost his running spirit so he'll be back on track soon.
In between all of this, I envisage many lunch runs from work (6, 8 or 10k) and longer runs on Sundays (up to 35k by mid-September).
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
1:57:41
Indeed, it took me less than two hours. And if I correct the official time for the three-minutes wait before I could cross the finish line due to the runners jam, I've even made my target of 1h55. Reason enough for happiness, no?
Well, no, not completely. I started too fast and then could not keep up the pace in the second half of the race. At 12k I developed a serious pain high up in my right leg. Between 14 and 16k I had to walk bits.
With a better build-up, I could have finished more comfortably and faster. And I should have seen it coming.
I've also learned that in the coming months I need to do many training runs of two hours or over. It still feels like 20k is way too far for me. But if I want to run a marathon in October, I need to have no difficulty with a half marathon by August.
Sebas has now left. He found out that there is a 10k race in Ermelo, where my mother lives, on 1 September. The plan is now to get several family members to participate.
Indeed, it took me less than two hours. And if I correct the official time for the three-minutes wait before I could cross the finish line due to the runners jam, I've even made my target of 1h55. Reason enough for happiness, no?
Well, no, not completely. I started too fast and then could not keep up the pace in the second half of the race. At 12k I developed a serious pain high up in my right leg. Between 14 and 16k I had to walk bits.
With a better build-up, I could have finished more comfortably and faster. And I should have seen it coming.
I've also learned that in the coming months I need to do many training runs of two hours or over. It still feels like 20k is way too far for me. But if I want to run a marathon in October, I need to have no difficulty with a half marathon by August.
Sebas has now left. He found out that there is a 10k race in Ermelo, where my mother lives, on 1 September. The plan is now to get several family members to participate.
Saturday, 26 May 2007
THE DAY BEFORE
Since 15 November: 78 hours 46 minutes, 735.8 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
Tomorrow's 20 kilometers of Brussels is what started it all. Well, not exactly tomorrow's... More the same race in 2004. It was the first time I took part in this mega-event and signalled the start of what has become a running addiction.
In the first two races I finished in 2h25. Last year, with more training, I did it in 2h12. This year I'm aiming at a time under two hours, say 1h55. That'd be major major progress, but then I'm fitter than I've been at any time in the past 20 years.
Predictions are for temperatures way below 20 degrees C. That's very good. But they also predict rain. And the prospect of standing in the crowd of 28,000 runners for half an hour waiting for the race to start, is hardly appealing if it comes with rain.
We shall see. Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Amine has suggested he will join my training for the marathon. First time I ran with him was in Cambodia, where we went through (and sometimes over) the Angkor Wat temple complex, early in the morning. A bit surreal, but very pleasant. Amine is considerably faster than I am, so maybe training with him will help my speed develop further.
Since 15 November: 78 hours 46 minutes, 735.8 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
Tomorrow's 20 kilometers of Brussels is what started it all. Well, not exactly tomorrow's... More the same race in 2004. It was the first time I took part in this mega-event and signalled the start of what has become a running addiction.
In the first two races I finished in 2h25. Last year, with more training, I did it in 2h12. This year I'm aiming at a time under two hours, say 1h55. That'd be major major progress, but then I'm fitter than I've been at any time in the past 20 years.
Predictions are for temperatures way below 20 degrees C. That's very good. But they also predict rain. And the prospect of standing in the crowd of 28,000 runners for half an hour waiting for the race to start, is hardly appealing if it comes with rain.
We shall see. Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Amine has suggested he will join my training for the marathon. First time I ran with him was in Cambodia, where we went through (and sometimes over) the Angkor Wat temple complex, early in the morning. A bit surreal, but very pleasant. Amine is considerably faster than I am, so maybe training with him will help my speed develop further.
Monday, 21 May 2007
AMAZING RACE
Sebas' target on the 5k in Ninove was 31 minutes; he finished in 28:30. Great job! I know he can go faster, but first I hope he'll train at going farther.
As for my 10k, I was aiming at 54 minutes and got to the finish line in 50:06! That's over 8 minutes off my previous personal best on this distance.
We did not see the tourist attractions of Ninove, but we sure had a great time. Both of us.
Sebas' target on the 5k in Ninove was 31 minutes; he finished in 28:30. Great job! I know he can go faster, but first I hope he'll train at going farther.
As for my 10k, I was aiming at 54 minutes and got to the finish line in 50:06! That's over 8 minutes off my previous personal best on this distance.
We did not see the tourist attractions of Ninove, but we sure had a great time. Both of us.
Sunday, 20 May 2007
SEBAS GETS SERIOUS
Since 15 November: 76 hours 41 minutes, 712.8 kilometers
Weight: 77 kilos
In a few hours we'll be in Ninove, half an hour west from Brussels. Sebas will run the 5k loop through the city once, hoping to finish in around 31 minutes. I'll do the loop twice, trying to better my 10k time significantly. I hope the race will go past the touristic highlights of the town, like the Town Hall and the Koepoort.
Meanwhile, Sebas is just setting up his own running blog, in Dutch. He did not write anything yet, but I'm sure he will tonight after finishing his first 5k race.
Since 15 November: 76 hours 41 minutes, 712.8 kilometers
Weight: 77 kilos
In a few hours we'll be in Ninove, half an hour west from Brussels. Sebas will run the 5k loop through the city once, hoping to finish in around 31 minutes. I'll do the loop twice, trying to better my 10k time significantly. I hope the race will go past the touristic highlights of the town, like the Town Hall and the Koepoort.
Meanwhile, Sebas is just setting up his own running blog, in Dutch. He did not write anything yet, but I'm sure he will tonight after finishing his first 5k race.
Thursday, 17 May 2007
RUNNING WITH SEBAS
My nephew Sebastiaan came over on Friday; he'll be staying for a couple of weeks and wants to run. Sebas use to run a fair bit but that was over a year ago, so we more or less started from scratch. And with good results.
On Saturday we set out to run 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 minutes consecutively, with 2 minutes walking intervals. We ended up including an extra 4 and 3 minutes. On Sunday, Sebas ran a full round in the park (about 1.8 kilometers).
When I got back from Athens on Tuesday, we did another interval run, this time with the sequence of 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 minutes. I pushed Sebas a bit by speeding up occasionally, and he cold only just keep his food in towards the end. But he completed this tough assignment. Yesterday, he did two full Park laps, about 3.6 kilometers.
So we've decided not to waste time (or let any grass grow over it, as we Dutch would say). This Sunday, Sebas will compete in a 5k race in Ninove, half an hour from here. I'll do a 10k in the same town, hoping to bring down my personal best from a bit over 58 minutes to under 54. It'll be a good challenge for the both of us.
Meanwhile, the Brussels 20k is only ten days away. So I set out alone this morning, went down to the city, around the city centre and up to our house again. Took me about an hour.
And tomorrow's training (with Sebas) will be 15+10+5 minutes, followed by a day off on Saturday.
My nephew Sebastiaan came over on Friday; he'll be staying for a couple of weeks and wants to run. Sebas use to run a fair bit but that was over a year ago, so we more or less started from scratch. And with good results.
On Saturday we set out to run 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 minutes consecutively, with 2 minutes walking intervals. We ended up including an extra 4 and 3 minutes. On Sunday, Sebas ran a full round in the park (about 1.8 kilometers).
When I got back from Athens on Tuesday, we did another interval run, this time with the sequence of 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 minutes. I pushed Sebas a bit by speeding up occasionally, and he cold only just keep his food in towards the end. But he completed this tough assignment. Yesterday, he did two full Park laps, about 3.6 kilometers.
So we've decided not to waste time (or let any grass grow over it, as we Dutch would say). This Sunday, Sebas will compete in a 5k race in Ninove, half an hour from here. I'll do a 10k in the same town, hoping to bring down my personal best from a bit over 58 minutes to under 54. It'll be a good challenge for the both of us.
Meanwhile, the Brussels 20k is only ten days away. So I set out alone this morning, went down to the city, around the city centre and up to our house again. Took me about an hour.
And tomorrow's training (with Sebas) will be 15+10+5 minutes, followed by a day off on Saturday.
Thursday, 10 May 2007
REMARKABLE RUN
Today's lunchtime 6k was memorable for a number of reasons. First, it marked the moment when I exceeded a total of 500 kilometers since January 1st. Second, I improved my track record on the "big office loop" by almost 2 minutes, signalling amazing progress on speed. Third, and connected with this: I took on average less than five minutes per kilometer.
In the greater scheme of things, this means little. For me it means much. No longer is my long-distance speed more than two times slower than that of world champions. This kind of speed should allow me to finish in the top half of the table at many recreational runs.
But the difference with the ever-so-recent past can be expressed in even starker terms: no longer do I feel as if I am trying to get there I now truly feel that I am running.
And I enjoy it to the max.
Today's lunchtime 6k was memorable for a number of reasons. First, it marked the moment when I exceeded a total of 500 kilometers since January 1st. Second, I improved my track record on the "big office loop" by almost 2 minutes, signalling amazing progress on speed. Third, and connected with this: I took on average less than five minutes per kilometer.
In the greater scheme of things, this means little. For me it means much. No longer is my long-distance speed more than two times slower than that of world champions. This kind of speed should allow me to finish in the top half of the table at many recreational runs.
But the difference with the ever-so-recent past can be expressed in even starker terms: no longer do I feel as if I am trying to get there I now truly feel that I am running.
And I enjoy it to the max.
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Sunday's run in Brugge was highly successful. Though my preparation was less than optimal - painful left knee in the days prior and a heavy football match on Saturday followed by the club's end of season bash - conditions conspired to make it a good day. It was so hard to find parking space that I only arrived at the starting area fifteen minutes before GO, leaving me little time to fiddle around nervously. The weather had changed to a wonderful 16 degrees C with a slight breeze for additional cooling. And all along the 14.3 kilometers circuit spectators were flanking the roads in large numbers, contributing to a great atmosphere.
Of course, with over 5,000 runners on the small roads, the start was slow. Just before leaving home, I had decided to adjust my target from finishing in 1h30m to finishing in 1h24m. That meant an average of about 5m50s per kilometer. As it happened, I did the first in 5m45s and the following four or five kilometers in about 5m30s each.
And then I really got into my stride.
Head down for most of it, floating on the rhythm of my pace and breath and the noise from the audience, I ran lighter than ever before. Not each kilometer point was marked, and much to my surprise I reached the 11k point in 58m40s (that's about the best time I had previously run over 10 kilometers!). I even picked up pace further to finish in under 1h15m. That's 19 minutes faster than a year earlier on the same run.
And I wasn't even that tired...
Promising. If I'm fit and conditions are right, I should be able to make my target for the Brussels 20k on 27 May: finish in less than 2 hours. At Sunday's pace, I'd even get close to 1h45m. But that'd really be pushing it, also because Brussels is much hillier than Bruges.
Still, it feels like I've reached the next level indeed. I used to finish my races among the last 20% of the runners. In Bruges I finished number 2,530 out of the 5,000 that started. Pretty soon, I'll rank among the 50% fastest runners.
Sunday's run in Brugge was highly successful. Though my preparation was less than optimal - painful left knee in the days prior and a heavy football match on Saturday followed by the club's end of season bash - conditions conspired to make it a good day. It was so hard to find parking space that I only arrived at the starting area fifteen minutes before GO, leaving me little time to fiddle around nervously. The weather had changed to a wonderful 16 degrees C with a slight breeze for additional cooling. And all along the 14.3 kilometers circuit spectators were flanking the roads in large numbers, contributing to a great atmosphere.
Of course, with over 5,000 runners on the small roads, the start was slow. Just before leaving home, I had decided to adjust my target from finishing in 1h30m to finishing in 1h24m. That meant an average of about 5m50s per kilometer. As it happened, I did the first in 5m45s and the following four or five kilometers in about 5m30s each.
And then I really got into my stride.
Head down for most of it, floating on the rhythm of my pace and breath and the noise from the audience, I ran lighter than ever before. Not each kilometer point was marked, and much to my surprise I reached the 11k point in 58m40s (that's about the best time I had previously run over 10 kilometers!). I even picked up pace further to finish in under 1h15m. That's 19 minutes faster than a year earlier on the same run.
And I wasn't even that tired...
Promising. If I'm fit and conditions are right, I should be able to make my target for the Brussels 20k on 27 May: finish in less than 2 hours. At Sunday's pace, I'd even get close to 1h45m. But that'd really be pushing it, also because Brussels is much hillier than Bruges.
Still, it feels like I've reached the next level indeed. I used to finish my races among the last 20% of the runners. In Bruges I finished number 2,530 out of the 5,000 that started. Pretty soon, I'll rank among the 50% fastest runners.
Sunday, 29 April 2007
BACK AT IT
Since 15 November: 70 hours 12 minutes, 649.2 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
The week after the failed first attempt at finishing a marathon, I did not train. Only in the weekend, when we were with my family on the lovely island of Texel, did I run a few kilometers.
Since, I have picked it up again. I have to, as the 15k of Bruges is now only a week away. And I've set myself a cautious speed target: finish in less then 90 minutes. Last year I took 93 minutes and a bit, so it should be doable.
Secretly I hope to get close to 85 minutes. After all, I'm much better trained than I was a year ago.
Since 15 November: 70 hours 12 minutes, 649.2 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
The week after the failed first attempt at finishing a marathon, I did not train. Only in the weekend, when we were with my family on the lovely island of Texel, did I run a few kilometers.
Since, I have picked it up again. I have to, as the 15k of Bruges is now only a week away. And I've set myself a cautious speed target: finish in less then 90 minutes. Last year I took 93 minutes and a bit, so it should be doable.
Secretly I hope to get close to 85 minutes. After all, I'm much better trained than I was a year ago.
Monday, 16 April 2007
THE MADNESS CONTINUES
Apparently close to half of the runners did not finish yesterday's marathon in Rotterdam. I may not have been in good company, but I was in a crowd. Some other telling statistics: 125 people were put on drips along the track, 30 were hospitalised - runners and spectators - for hyperthermia and heart problems. Reanimation was necessary in two cases.
People like me would still have had to run / walk for over two hours after the race was "neutralised". Eventhough the last bit was more shaded, it would have meant a much higher number of victims.
One thing that many runners do not appreciate is the starting time. Rotterdam starts at 11am, whereas most other big marathons begin earlier, thus avoiding the hottest part of the day. Much be commercial reasons; revenues from live TV take priority over the health of competitors.
It was really sickening to see the organiser on TV claim that there was, contrary to what people say, no shortage of water at the drinking stations. Get real and face up, Mr Organiser! I was there running and the first station, after 5k with no shade, was completely dry. Not a drop. Believe me, we searched every corner of the stalls. At all following stations there were buckets of water, but no clean cups or sponges. I was forced, like thousands of others, to pick up dirty cups and drinks from them.
So that was it, then.
But wait a sec... Are you kidding? I just registered for the Amsterdam marathon, on 21 oktober. Hopefully the weather will be kinder, and at least I'll be able to train for higher temperatures.
I can't just give up, can I? Moreover, Amsterdam is what feels closest to a home town for me. I've never been a fan of Rotterdam anyway.
After the 20k of Brussels, on 27 May, I will start working on a training routine that'll get me through my second attempt in better shape. Again, there'll be almost five months to prepare. And that's on top of what I built up for Rotterdam already.
Apparently close to half of the runners did not finish yesterday's marathon in Rotterdam. I may not have been in good company, but I was in a crowd. Some other telling statistics: 125 people were put on drips along the track, 30 were hospitalised - runners and spectators - for hyperthermia and heart problems. Reanimation was necessary in two cases.
People like me would still have had to run / walk for over two hours after the race was "neutralised". Eventhough the last bit was more shaded, it would have meant a much higher number of victims.
One thing that many runners do not appreciate is the starting time. Rotterdam starts at 11am, whereas most other big marathons begin earlier, thus avoiding the hottest part of the day. Much be commercial reasons; revenues from live TV take priority over the health of competitors.
It was really sickening to see the organiser on TV claim that there was, contrary to what people say, no shortage of water at the drinking stations. Get real and face up, Mr Organiser! I was there running and the first station, after 5k with no shade, was completely dry. Not a drop. Believe me, we searched every corner of the stalls. At all following stations there were buckets of water, but no clean cups or sponges. I was forced, like thousands of others, to pick up dirty cups and drinks from them.
So that was it, then.
But wait a sec... Are you kidding? I just registered for the Amsterdam marathon, on 21 oktober. Hopefully the weather will be kinder, and at least I'll be able to train for higher temperatures.
I can't just give up, can I? Moreover, Amsterdam is what feels closest to a home town for me. I've never been a fan of Rotterdam anyway.
After the 20k of Brussels, on 27 May, I will start working on a training routine that'll get me through my second attempt in better shape. Again, there'll be almost five months to prepare. And that's on top of what I built up for Rotterdam already.
Sunday, 15 April 2007
NOT
The title of this blog stays.
Just my luck: today was the hottest April day on record in the Netherlands. They measures 28.7 celsius in the home town of the Meteorological Society, De Bilt. Beat the previous high by almost a full degree.
Running (and sometimes walking) along two-thirds of the track, I found no shade from the ruthless sun.
The race organisers were smart and brave enough to stop the marathon after a bit over three hours. There's a point in the circuit, at about 28k, where you are very close to the finish. From this point, they now led all runners traffic straight to the recovery area after the finish line. I got there at 3:13.
So now I still do not know whether I can do a full marathon. Need to think a bit. It's tempting to schedule another attempt in autumn (Amsterdam or Brussels).
Pity, though. Been training for it, off and on, for five months.
The title of this blog stays.
Just my luck: today was the hottest April day on record in the Netherlands. They measures 28.7 celsius in the home town of the Meteorological Society, De Bilt. Beat the previous high by almost a full degree.
Running (and sometimes walking) along two-thirds of the track, I found no shade from the ruthless sun.
The race organisers were smart and brave enough to stop the marathon after a bit over three hours. There's a point in the circuit, at about 28k, where you are very close to the finish. From this point, they now led all runners traffic straight to the recovery area after the finish line. I got there at 3:13.
So now I still do not know whether I can do a full marathon. Need to think a bit. It's tempting to schedule another attempt in autumn (Amsterdam or Brussels).
Pity, though. Been training for it, off and on, for five months.
Saturday, 14 April 2007
TOMORROW
They predict temperatures of over 25 degrees! Normal marathons start at 9am, and then these temperatures are doable. But Rotterdam, with a 11am start, is going to be sheer hell.
I won't force myself too much. If I cannot finish, then at least I'll have tried. And I'll try again.
Would save me the trouble of having to rename my blog, too.
Good luck, me!
They predict temperatures of over 25 degrees! Normal marathons start at 9am, and then these temperatures are doable. But Rotterdam, with a 11am start, is going to be sheer hell.
I won't force myself too much. If I cannot finish, then at least I'll have tried. And I'll try again.
Would save me the trouble of having to rename my blog, too.
Good luck, me!
Friday, 13 April 2007
THAT'LL BE IT THEN
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 63 hours 50 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 588.2 kilometers
Time left: 2 days
I'm done training. Nothing left but being prudent with food and drink stuffs, trying to sleep well, relax, stretch a bit. I don't feel well prepared, but maybe that comes with a first marathon. And I should stop comparing myself with people who brag on their blogs about rourinely running 160 kilometers weekly. Even if it's true, at least I still have a life.
My train leaves at 6:44, so I'll have to get up real early for the two-hours-plus ride to Rotterdam. Once there, I'll have to pick up my numbers and other stuff. Then get changed, and then... Wait, dribble a bit, wait, find my Pacing Team, wait some more, get nervous, try not to get too nervous, and just generally wait impatiently for the thing to start.
The start is at 11am. They predict real warm wheather (compared to recent weeks), seriously over 20 degrees Celsius, and I'm not trained for that. I'll drink as much as I can and protect my skull with a pirate hanky. But still: assuming I take between 4 and 5 hours for the marathon, the hardest part will come at the hottest time of a hot day. Not looking forward to that...
(Note to myself: bring sunblock!)
My strategy is simple: try to stay with the Pacing Team as long as possible. If I manage to stick with them for the first 30 kilometers, I'll have enough time left to finish at my own pace: 1 hour 35 minutes for the last 12 kilometers.
That does not take into account the 195 meters that lie between the 42k point and finish. But then, if I get there this last bit will be heaven. It'll hurt, like all of it beyond the halfway point. But finishing must be pure bliss.
And then I get on a train back, try to make it home, collapse but with a good and well-deserved Leffe Brune. Followed by two days of extreme pain in my legs and back, slowly morphing into stiffness.
That's how I imagine it to be. If I finish.
Alright then, bring it on!
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 63 hours 50 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 588.2 kilometers
Time left: 2 days
I'm done training. Nothing left but being prudent with food and drink stuffs, trying to sleep well, relax, stretch a bit. I don't feel well prepared, but maybe that comes with a first marathon. And I should stop comparing myself with people who brag on their blogs about rourinely running 160 kilometers weekly. Even if it's true, at least I still have a life.
My train leaves at 6:44, so I'll have to get up real early for the two-hours-plus ride to Rotterdam. Once there, I'll have to pick up my numbers and other stuff. Then get changed, and then... Wait, dribble a bit, wait, find my Pacing Team, wait some more, get nervous, try not to get too nervous, and just generally wait impatiently for the thing to start.
The start is at 11am. They predict real warm wheather (compared to recent weeks), seriously over 20 degrees Celsius, and I'm not trained for that. I'll drink as much as I can and protect my skull with a pirate hanky. But still: assuming I take between 4 and 5 hours for the marathon, the hardest part will come at the hottest time of a hot day. Not looking forward to that...
(Note to myself: bring sunblock!)
My strategy is simple: try to stay with the Pacing Team as long as possible. If I manage to stick with them for the first 30 kilometers, I'll have enough time left to finish at my own pace: 1 hour 35 minutes for the last 12 kilometers.
That does not take into account the 195 meters that lie between the 42k point and finish. But then, if I get there this last bit will be heaven. It'll hurt, like all of it beyond the halfway point. But finishing must be pure bliss.
And then I get on a train back, try to make it home, collapse but with a good and well-deserved Leffe Brune. Followed by two days of extreme pain in my legs and back, slowly morphing into stiffness.
That's how I imagine it to be. If I finish.
Alright then, bring it on!
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
TARGETS
Forgot to mention my targets for the coming three races. Here they are.
The Marathon I originally set out to do in under 5 hours (~7 minutes per kilometer), but I'm hoping for 4.45 (=6min45 /k) and the Pacing Team I joined goes for 4.30 (=6min23 /k).
Then, three weeks later in Bruges, the idea is to run 15k in 90 minutes (=6min /k).
To top it off, the 20k of Brussels on 27 May (which is actually 20.7k) should see a real improvement of my previous best (2.12). It'd be lovely if I can finish that one in under 2 hours (=5min48 /k).
Dream on? We'll see.
And oh, yes... We bought that house I wrote about earlier!
Forgot to mention my targets for the coming three races. Here they are.
The Marathon I originally set out to do in under 5 hours (~7 minutes per kilometer), but I'm hoping for 4.45 (=6min45 /k) and the Pacing Team I joined goes for 4.30 (=6min23 /k).
Then, three weeks later in Bruges, the idea is to run 15k in 90 minutes (=6min /k).
To top it off, the 20k of Brussels on 27 May (which is actually 20.7k) should see a real improvement of my previous best (2.12). It'd be lovely if I can finish that one in under 2 hours (=5min48 /k).
Dream on? We'll see.
And oh, yes... We bought that house I wrote about earlier!
READY OR NOT...
Weight: 77 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 63 hours 28 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 584.7 kilometers
Time left: 5 days
With only one, short training session left (tomorrow), I know that I'll have reached roughly two-thirds of my training targets by Sunday, aka Marathon Day. Almost 600 kilometers (instead of 900) and almost 65 hours (instead of 100). Travels and a long-lasting flu are the culprits. Does this mean that on Sunday I'll be able to do the first 28 kilometers but not the last 14?
Mind you, the distance I trained is not that much short of the crow's flight from Brussels to Berlin. And as for the total time: If I'd started on a Friday night at 7, I'd not have finished before midday on Monday.
Meanwhile, my weight has gone up again. Last night's barbecue at Tanja's place certainly did not help. And with only minimal running this week, I doubt I can bring it down to 75 kilos.
It all matters little. There's no way back for me, and nothing I can do still to improve my readiness beyond eating and sleeping well this week.
And reading some motivational stuff, like the site of Alexander Vero. It includes a quote by Theodor Roosevelt, which is just what I need now to feed my unjustified confidence:
"It is not the critic that counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Not sure whether my madness qualifies as a worthy cause, but apart from that...
Weight: 77 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 63 hours 28 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 584.7 kilometers
Time left: 5 days
With only one, short training session left (tomorrow), I know that I'll have reached roughly two-thirds of my training targets by Sunday, aka Marathon Day. Almost 600 kilometers (instead of 900) and almost 65 hours (instead of 100). Travels and a long-lasting flu are the culprits. Does this mean that on Sunday I'll be able to do the first 28 kilometers but not the last 14?
Mind you, the distance I trained is not that much short of the crow's flight from Brussels to Berlin. And as for the total time: If I'd started on a Friday night at 7, I'd not have finished before midday on Monday.
Meanwhile, my weight has gone up again. Last night's barbecue at Tanja's place certainly did not help. And with only minimal running this week, I doubt I can bring it down to 75 kilos.
It all matters little. There's no way back for me, and nothing I can do still to improve my readiness beyond eating and sleeping well this week.
And reading some motivational stuff, like the site of Alexander Vero. It includes a quote by Theodor Roosevelt, which is just what I need now to feed my unjustified confidence:
"It is not the critic that counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Not sure whether my madness qualifies as a worthy cause, but apart from that...
Sunday, 1 April 2007
UPS AND DOWNS
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 61 hours 2 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 560.9 kilometers
Time left: 14 days
The post 25k week started with downs. I had to go to Rome for two days, which in itself is hardly punishment but it meant leaving the family behind and the running. Just as well, as I should not have run anyway following The Race. The real down bit was the owner of the B&B, a not too chirpy guy who speaks nothing but Italian. On Tuesday morn, when he brought me my breakfast, all of a sudden his face lit up and he started rambling about... Mick Jagger!
I have this often, especially when I'm tired and the fatigue has both deepened and multiplied the lines in my face (wish I could still call them mere wrinkles...). People look at me and see the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. I hate that. Had it for at least fifteen years, but I still cannot get used to it.
But Mr Landlord was happy, bless his soul; he gets to see me... sorry, him in real life in summer when he's playing in Rome.
No training Wednesday, but there was good news. I went to the hospital and did a cardio endurance test. There's heart trouble in my (mom's) family and I have a tendency for high cholestorol (under medication) and high blood pressure. But the results were perfect. Nothing to worry about.
I ran a bit on Friday and then again today, when I was hoping to put in 21 kilometers. Only got to about 17. And it WAS my last major training; the rest is downhill to Rotterdam.
But then, to finish on a bright note, I discovered that in the marathon they have groups that run, lead by an experienced runner, at a constant pace. I signed up for te group that goes for 4 hours 30 minutes; my target time is a bit more than that but they don't do slower groups.
And... In the midst of all this, Chui Hsia and I put in an offer for a house just outside Brussels. If we get it, it'll be grand... Wonderful house with lovely garden house - to be converted into guest accomodation; start placing your orders now - and a most delightful garden. Pear trees, walnut tree, plum tree, grapevine, a massive and rather wild field of grass, vegetable garden, and all of that bordering on agricultural land.
It may be hard to fathom, but there ARE more important things in life than running. We really hope we get the house. May the gods smile on us.
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 61 hours 2 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 560.9 kilometers
Time left: 14 days
The post 25k week started with downs. I had to go to Rome for two days, which in itself is hardly punishment but it meant leaving the family behind and the running. Just as well, as I should not have run anyway following The Race. The real down bit was the owner of the B&B, a not too chirpy guy who speaks nothing but Italian. On Tuesday morn, when he brought me my breakfast, all of a sudden his face lit up and he started rambling about... Mick Jagger!
I have this often, especially when I'm tired and the fatigue has both deepened and multiplied the lines in my face (wish I could still call them mere wrinkles...). People look at me and see the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. I hate that. Had it for at least fifteen years, but I still cannot get used to it.
But Mr Landlord was happy, bless his soul; he gets to see me... sorry, him in real life in summer when he's playing in Rome.
No training Wednesday, but there was good news. I went to the hospital and did a cardio endurance test. There's heart trouble in my (mom's) family and I have a tendency for high cholestorol (under medication) and high blood pressure. But the results were perfect. Nothing to worry about.
I ran a bit on Friday and then again today, when I was hoping to put in 21 kilometers. Only got to about 17. And it WAS my last major training; the rest is downhill to Rotterdam.
But then, to finish on a bright note, I discovered that in the marathon they have groups that run, lead by an experienced runner, at a constant pace. I signed up for te group that goes for 4 hours 30 minutes; my target time is a bit more than that but they don't do slower groups.
And... In the midst of all this, Chui Hsia and I put in an offer for a house just outside Brussels. If we get it, it'll be grand... Wonderful house with lovely garden house - to be converted into guest accomodation; start placing your orders now - and a most delightful garden. Pear trees, walnut tree, plum tree, grapevine, a massive and rather wild field of grass, vegetable garden, and all of that bordering on agricultural land.
It may be hard to fathom, but there ARE more important things in life than running. We really hope we get the house. May the gods smile on us.
Sunday, 25 March 2007
DONE!
Weight: 75 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 58 hours 39 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 537.9 kilometers
Time left: 21 days
So... The Race, as the organisers call it. 25 kilometers, at least two-thirds of them through forests and fields and including many mud tracks. With devilish steep climbs; the one after 17 kilometers killed my stride completely and forced me to walk a fair bit before resuming my running.
The good newses are that A. I made it and B. I made it in a time 7 minutes faster than my target. 2 hours 38 minutes and 20 or so seconds. That is an average of 6 minutes 20 per kilometer; at the marathon I can afford an average of 7 minutes per kilometer.
So it looks good then? I'm not really convinced, seeing the difficulty I had between kilometers 17 and 25 (well, 23: the last two are never hard). Rotterdam is 17 kilometers longer...
I will take it easy during he week; my body needs time to recover. On Sunday I'll go for a long training run; from there on I'll have to scale down in order to be in the best shape I can be on 15 April.
Oh yes, I did not even finish last... Heheh.
Weight: 75 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 58 hours 39 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 537.9 kilometers
Time left: 21 days
So... The Race, as the organisers call it. 25 kilometers, at least two-thirds of them through forests and fields and including many mud tracks. With devilish steep climbs; the one after 17 kilometers killed my stride completely and forced me to walk a fair bit before resuming my running.
The good newses are that A. I made it and B. I made it in a time 7 minutes faster than my target. 2 hours 38 minutes and 20 or so seconds. That is an average of 6 minutes 20 per kilometer; at the marathon I can afford an average of 7 minutes per kilometer.
So it looks good then? I'm not really convinced, seeing the difficulty I had between kilometers 17 and 25 (well, 23: the last two are never hard). Rotterdam is 17 kilometers longer...
I will take it easy during he week; my body needs time to recover. On Sunday I'll go for a long training run; from there on I'll have to scale down in order to be in the best shape I can be on 15 April.
Oh yes, I did not even finish last... Heheh.
Saturday, 24 March 2007
HERE WE GO HERE WE GO HERE WE GO...
Weight: 75 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 56 hours 1 minute
Distance run since 15 November: 512.9 kilometers
Time left: 22 days
Tomorrow then. The ultimate test. 25 kilometers over hilly and partly slippery surface.
My aim is to finish, and preferably in under 2 hours 45 minutes. Mind you, that is close to the time of last year's slowest runner in this race. I may be the one after whom they turn out the light.
Wish I could say it will be fun, but I have a hard time convincing myself...
Stay tuned.
Weight: 75 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 56 hours 1 minute
Distance run since 15 November: 512.9 kilometers
Time left: 22 days
Tomorrow then. The ultimate test. 25 kilometers over hilly and partly slippery surface.
My aim is to finish, and preferably in under 2 hours 45 minutes. Mind you, that is close to the time of last year's slowest runner in this race. I may be the one after whom they turn out the light.
Wish I could say it will be fun, but I have a hard time convincing myself...
Stay tuned.
Sunday, 18 March 2007
GOING, GOING...
Weight: 77 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 54 hours 55 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 501.3 kilometers
Time left: 28 days
The 500+ kilometers I've done since starting my training for the marathon show my dedication. But they hide the fact that I've never been able to run further than about 20 kilometers in one go. The My Asics site, where I have a personalised training schedule, prescribes my longest run for today: 32 kilometers. Instead, I did only 5.5, and that at a leisurely pace. Yesterday's football match (a 10-2 win!) was still very present in my leg and back muscles.
This means that I have no idea how well or badly trained I am. In a week from now I should find out. The 25k from Wavre to Auderghem will push my maximum distance a bit further, on a course that includes long stretches of rolling hills. The first 9 kilometers go down to the lovely Genval lake and should be a breeze. But from there on the track goes more up than down while my energy level will move in opposite direction. I'll be very glad when I see the town hall of Auderghem.
So here's the idea. Take it easy this week (only short lunch runs on Tuesday and Thursday), skip football on Saturday, and then try to complete the 25k. After that I have to again take it easy during the week, but try for a 30k training run on April 1st. From there on, the last two weeks before the marathon I should not be doing any serious training any more.
Getting all pretty real now...
Weight: 77 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 54 hours 55 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 501.3 kilometers
Time left: 28 days
The 500+ kilometers I've done since starting my training for the marathon show my dedication. But they hide the fact that I've never been able to run further than about 20 kilometers in one go. The My Asics site, where I have a personalised training schedule, prescribes my longest run for today: 32 kilometers. Instead, I did only 5.5, and that at a leisurely pace. Yesterday's football match (a 10-2 win!) was still very present in my leg and back muscles.
This means that I have no idea how well or badly trained I am. In a week from now I should find out. The 25k from Wavre to Auderghem will push my maximum distance a bit further, on a course that includes long stretches of rolling hills. The first 9 kilometers go down to the lovely Genval lake and should be a breeze. But from there on the track goes more up than down while my energy level will move in opposite direction. I'll be very glad when I see the town hall of Auderghem.
So here's the idea. Take it easy this week (only short lunch runs on Tuesday and Thursday), skip football on Saturday, and then try to complete the 25k. After that I have to again take it easy during the week, but try for a 30k training run on April 1st. From there on, the last two weeks before the marathon I should not be doing any serious training any more.
Getting all pretty real now...
Sunday, 4 March 2007
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 46 hours 18 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 440.6 kilometers
Time left: 6 weeks
Finally I'm doing some serious mileage again. Today, in Tervuren, I managed an over two hours run (2h11m). It had been a long time. Mind you, according to my training schedule I should be doing four-hour runs by now. This means that I'll arrive in Rotterdam half ready. Also means I have to stay very focused for the rest of this month.
Here's my race schedule (well... ideally):
25 March
A 25k run from Wavre to Brussels (Auderghem)
15 April
The big one: my first marathon, in Rotterdam
6 May
The 15k run through the historic centre of lovely Bruges, which also last year was my warming up for...
27 May
The wonderful event that is the 20k of Brussels
That would add up to a bit over 100 kilometers of races.
But for now, I'll focus entirely on that 25k. If I get through that one alright, then I should have a fair chance of finishing the marathon.
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 46 hours 18 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 440.6 kilometers
Time left: 6 weeks
Finally I'm doing some serious mileage again. Today, in Tervuren, I managed an over two hours run (2h11m). It had been a long time. Mind you, according to my training schedule I should be doing four-hour runs by now. This means that I'll arrive in Rotterdam half ready. Also means I have to stay very focused for the rest of this month.
Here's my race schedule (well... ideally):
25 March
A 25k run from Wavre to Brussels (Auderghem)
15 April
The big one: my first marathon, in Rotterdam
6 May
The 15k run through the historic centre of lovely Bruges, which also last year was my warming up for...
27 May
The wonderful event that is the 20k of Brussels
That would add up to a bit over 100 kilometers of races.
But for now, I'll focus entirely on that 25k. If I get through that one alright, then I should have a fair chance of finishing the marathon.
Sunday, 18 February 2007
I WISH I WERE WELLER
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 37 hours 16 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 356.4 kilometers
Time left: 8 weeks
That bug is still there and the only thing that's on track is my weight loss. So I may not be ready in time for the marathon, but boy will I look good in a bikini this Summer!
It is Chinese New Year today. To all of you out there, I wish you a wonderful and prosporous Year of the Pig.
Sanna and I celebrated with a simple lunch in the lovely city of Leuven. In Chop Shoy restaurant we ordered fried chicken noodle and kroepoek. Sanna charmed the entire staff (and most of the clientele) into sheer adoration. She did this by just sitting at the table and eating, while looking everybody straight in the eye, one by one. The kid is so incredibly gorgeous...
Now I know nothing more to write.
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 37 hours 16 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 356.4 kilometers
Time left: 8 weeks
That bug is still there and the only thing that's on track is my weight loss. So I may not be ready in time for the marathon, but boy will I look good in a bikini this Summer!
It is Chinese New Year today. To all of you out there, I wish you a wonderful and prosporous Year of the Pig.
Sanna and I celebrated with a simple lunch in the lovely city of Leuven. In Chop Shoy restaurant we ordered fried chicken noodle and kroepoek. Sanna charmed the entire staff (and most of the clientele) into sheer adoration. She did this by just sitting at the table and eating, while looking everybody straight in the eye, one by one. The kid is so incredibly gorgeous...
Now I know nothing more to write.
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
BUGGED
Weight: 77 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 35 hours 29 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 339.5 kilometers
Time left: 9 weeks
Okay. So I have some kind of bug that ruins everything. My muscles hurt the moment I set off training, after two minutes I start sweating ferociously, my heart rate jumps to gigantic levels, and after three kilometers I am dead. So to speak. There goes my schedule. No option but to take it real easy until the bug is gone. And then go all-out during March, hoping that by the end of that month my fitness level is... well... more or less okayish enough?
No need to depress you though, my dear resillient readers. Or maybe that should be reader? Let me, instead of more moaning about a hobby that you don't get anyway, list some of the things Sanna, now 19 months and a half, can do.
Sanna can say "jiujiu". She said it several times tonight, clearly pronunciated, with gusto (lips curled and all) while we flicked through the photos from China in her album. For the uninitiated: jiujiu is uncle and refers to Ching Wern who accompanied us on the big trip to the far east, almost half a year ago now.
Sanna can now say mama and papa at the right moment. She used to say papa when meaning the parent not present (yeah yeah, I bow my head in shame) regardless of who it'd be. For instance, sitting downstairs with her she'd look up and say the p-word when hearing Chui Hsia upstairs. But I don't think she's ever said mama while referring to me.
Sanna can kick a ball. In fact, Sanna could kick a ball before she could walk. I know, we're getting dangerously close here to the stuff that ABBA songs are made of. Having said that, I would not mind if she quotes me on this when, at 23, she's the female version of Johan Cruijff, bending it like Beckham but better, and is voted football playeress of the year by her peers. By that time, women's football will have really taken off. And Sanna, MY daughter, will bathe in the glory that I only know from dreaming about it. Worth holding her up and moving her foot against the ball any time. Of course, now she can kick a ball unaided. This weekend, if it rains enough, we can start practicing her slidings. Yee-Haw!
Sanna can really make me feel welcome when I come home. She'll jump up from whatever she's doing when she hears me open the door, run towards the hallway and great me with a giant smile and a loud "hee hee hee hee!" Ten seconds later she's nagging me for food, but still, it makes for a great reception.
Sanna can spot a plane in the sky. First she'll recognise the sound, put up one index finger and say the very useful word "Uh!" Then she'll scan the skies and get very excited when she sees the plane up there. I wonder whether there's any connection with her own travels.
Sanna can eat the food I cook. That, I tell you, is a real achievement. Not every grown-up person masters this delicate art.
That's just some of her many ways of making me happy. For more, check out her blog any time. There's also some great pictures there of the two of us, taken by the multi-talented mama person.
Weight: 77 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 35 hours 29 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 339.5 kilometers
Time left: 9 weeks
Okay. So I have some kind of bug that ruins everything. My muscles hurt the moment I set off training, after two minutes I start sweating ferociously, my heart rate jumps to gigantic levels, and after three kilometers I am dead. So to speak. There goes my schedule. No option but to take it real easy until the bug is gone. And then go all-out during March, hoping that by the end of that month my fitness level is... well... more or less okayish enough?
No need to depress you though, my dear resillient readers. Or maybe that should be reader? Let me, instead of more moaning about a hobby that you don't get anyway, list some of the things Sanna, now 19 months and a half, can do.
Sanna can say "jiujiu". She said it several times tonight, clearly pronunciated, with gusto (lips curled and all) while we flicked through the photos from China in her album. For the uninitiated: jiujiu is uncle and refers to Ching Wern who accompanied us on the big trip to the far east, almost half a year ago now.
Sanna can now say mama and papa at the right moment. She used to say papa when meaning the parent not present (yeah yeah, I bow my head in shame) regardless of who it'd be. For instance, sitting downstairs with her she'd look up and say the p-word when hearing Chui Hsia upstairs. But I don't think she's ever said mama while referring to me.
Sanna can kick a ball. In fact, Sanna could kick a ball before she could walk. I know, we're getting dangerously close here to the stuff that ABBA songs are made of. Having said that, I would not mind if she quotes me on this when, at 23, she's the female version of Johan Cruijff, bending it like Beckham but better, and is voted football playeress of the year by her peers. By that time, women's football will have really taken off. And Sanna, MY daughter, will bathe in the glory that I only know from dreaming about it. Worth holding her up and moving her foot against the ball any time. Of course, now she can kick a ball unaided. This weekend, if it rains enough, we can start practicing her slidings. Yee-Haw!
Sanna can really make me feel welcome when I come home. She'll jump up from whatever she's doing when she hears me open the door, run towards the hallway and great me with a giant smile and a loud "hee hee hee hee!" Ten seconds later she's nagging me for food, but still, it makes for a great reception.
Sanna can spot a plane in the sky. First she'll recognise the sound, put up one index finger and say the very useful word "Uh!" Then she'll scan the skies and get very excited when she sees the plane up there. I wonder whether there's any connection with her own travels.
Sanna can eat the food I cook. That, I tell you, is a real achievement. Not every grown-up person masters this delicate art.
That's just some of her many ways of making me happy. For more, check out her blog any time. There's also some great pictures there of the two of us, taken by the multi-talented mama person.
Sunday, 4 February 2007
HERE COMES THE TOUGH BIT
Weight: 78 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 33 hours 23 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 318.8 kilometers
Time left: 10 weeks
Ten weeks. Or eight weeks of serious training, as the last fortnight before the marathon should be spent sparing myself from strain and taking it real easy. The clock's ticking louder now. And I'm not too happy with my progress.
Wednesday was fine: 90 minutes in the park across the road, or 14 kilometers, or one-third of a marathon. But today my legs did not want to move. I should have run 130 minutes. Instead I struggled through 80 minutes in the forest, and some bits of it I even walked.
Mind you, the weather did not help. It was sunny. It was warm, too warm with the wind in my back; it was freezing cold against that same wind.
But I think the main culprit must have been yesterday's football match. My legs and back simply did not recover in time. So maybe I have to switch my long long runs to the Wednesdays and take the afternoons off, and do the shorter long runs on Sundays. That way football would interfere a bit less.
Weight: 78 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 33 hours 23 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 318.8 kilometers
Time left: 10 weeks
Ten weeks. Or eight weeks of serious training, as the last fortnight before the marathon should be spent sparing myself from strain and taking it real easy. The clock's ticking louder now. And I'm not too happy with my progress.
Wednesday was fine: 90 minutes in the park across the road, or 14 kilometers, or one-third of a marathon. But today my legs did not want to move. I should have run 130 minutes. Instead I struggled through 80 minutes in the forest, and some bits of it I even walked.
Mind you, the weather did not help. It was sunny. It was warm, too warm with the wind in my back; it was freezing cold against that same wind.
But I think the main culprit must have been yesterday's football match. My legs and back simply did not recover in time. So maybe I have to switch my long long runs to the Wednesdays and take the afternoons off, and do the shorter long runs on Sundays. That way football would interfere a bit less.
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
GETTING BACK ON TRACK
Weight: 79 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 29 hours 24 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 281.2 kilometers
Time left: 11 weeks
Bit by bit it becomes clear that my training goals (100 hours / 900 kilometers) are way too ambitious. All the more so since my trip to Malaysia brought my running to an almost complete standstill, and I have a fair bit of trouble since to pick it up again.
But I'm getting there. Sunday was okay with a two-hours run in the forest to the east of Brussels' city centre. Yet, I did not make my training target of 170 minutes, partly because I got complete lost on dirt tracks among the trees and found myself, after 124 minutes on my Polar watch, ankle deep in the mud with no indication of which direction my car could be. I managed to find it back half an hour later.
Had a nice beat on my iPod. I found this PodRunner site that offers one-hours downloads of music mixes in which the beats per minute are constant. I ran with 135 bpm, which was slightly too slow but still helped me get into the mythical Zone for at least 40 minutes or so. It made the pain of the effort more bearable.
Back home, many of my muscles hurt badly, particularly in my lower back, upper legs and ankles. And, for the first time with my Asics trainers, I had grown a blister on the inside of my foot.
Two bits of good news though. One is that proof of my registration for the Rotterdam marathon arrived in the mail. I seem to be number 7830 (if on April 15 you watch the marathon, try to spot me. It may be tough though as I guess the cameras and race officials and most spectators will have long left by the time I come stumbling towards the finish line). The other bit of good news is that Vincent has signed up as well. He is faster than me, but at the very least we'll be able to share our stories of heroic pain with someone who understands.
Weight: 79 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 29 hours 24 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 281.2 kilometers
Time left: 11 weeks
Bit by bit it becomes clear that my training goals (100 hours / 900 kilometers) are way too ambitious. All the more so since my trip to Malaysia brought my running to an almost complete standstill, and I have a fair bit of trouble since to pick it up again.
But I'm getting there. Sunday was okay with a two-hours run in the forest to the east of Brussels' city centre. Yet, I did not make my training target of 170 minutes, partly because I got complete lost on dirt tracks among the trees and found myself, after 124 minutes on my Polar watch, ankle deep in the mud with no indication of which direction my car could be. I managed to find it back half an hour later.
Had a nice beat on my iPod. I found this PodRunner site that offers one-hours downloads of music mixes in which the beats per minute are constant. I ran with 135 bpm, which was slightly too slow but still helped me get into the mythical Zone for at least 40 minutes or so. It made the pain of the effort more bearable.
Back home, many of my muscles hurt badly, particularly in my lower back, upper legs and ankles. And, for the first time with my Asics trainers, I had grown a blister on the inside of my foot.
Two bits of good news though. One is that proof of my registration for the Rotterdam marathon arrived in the mail. I seem to be number 7830 (if on April 15 you watch the marathon, try to spot me. It may be tough though as I guess the cameras and race officials and most spectators will have long left by the time I come stumbling towards the finish line). The other bit of good news is that Vincent has signed up as well. He is faster than me, but at the very least we'll be able to share our stories of heroic pain with someone who understands.
Thursday, 18 January 2007
INTERMEZZO
No running update this week. With my trip to KL the running has taken a seat far in the back, I would say almost inside the trunk. I've squeezed out 27 minutes yesterday, but that's been all in a week's time. And it actually feels good, this little break from my ambitious training programme.
Instead, here's what I bought this evening at the Cold Storage supermarket, across the road in the Bangsar Shopping Centre:
- A pack of sushi (9 pieces)
- 8 plain buns
- 2 cans of Seasons soy bean milk
- a 6pack of Tiger
- a piece of Old Amsterdam cheese
- a piece of Metaghini Taleggio cheese
- a liter-pack of Goodday fresh milk
- a liter-pack of Fruit Tree Fresh sorsop juice with nata de coco
- today's Malay Mail
It cost me 97.51 MYR.
Back to running, and boring you with stories about running, next week. I promise. Really.
No running update this week. With my trip to KL the running has taken a seat far in the back, I would say almost inside the trunk. I've squeezed out 27 minutes yesterday, but that's been all in a week's time. And it actually feels good, this little break from my ambitious training programme.
Instead, here's what I bought this evening at the Cold Storage supermarket, across the road in the Bangsar Shopping Centre:
- A pack of sushi (9 pieces)
- 8 plain buns
- 2 cans of Seasons soy bean milk
- a 6pack of Tiger
- a piece of Old Amsterdam cheese
- a piece of Metaghini Taleggio cheese
- a liter-pack of Goodday fresh milk
- a liter-pack of Fruit Tree Fresh sorsop juice with nata de coco
- today's Malay Mail
It cost me 97.51 MYR.
Back to running, and boring you with stories about running, next week. I promise. Really.
Sunday, 7 January 2007
NO WAY BACK?
Weight: 78 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 22 hours 27 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 211.8 kilometers
Time left: 14 weeks
This week I have to be brief. It's late Sunday night and we just came back from Ermelo where we celebraetd my mother's birthday. And tomorrow I have to catch a 7am Eurostar train to London. I should sleep.
The big news is that I have signed up for the Rotterdam marathon! I postponed the deed many times, but on Friday my training schedule said "100 days to go" so I thought I should commit more firmly. I committed by credit card; if I don't make it I'll have lost a fair bit of money.
At a later stage I have to work out the logistics. I don't know anyone in Rotterdam, so there's no place for me to leave my stuff. Also, how will I travel? The train may be the safest option, as I'm not sure I'll be fit to drive an hour and a half after completing (or not completing...) the full 42 kilometer by foot.
Oh well, that's for later.
Meanwhile, my training is not going brilliantly. This week I ran less than 30k in total. As of Friday, I'll be in Malaysia for work and I doubt I'll get around to doing long runs there. I will try to do some, but the hard yakka will set in again in two weeks.
I should be able to write though.
Weight: 78 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 22 hours 27 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 211.8 kilometers
Time left: 14 weeks
This week I have to be brief. It's late Sunday night and we just came back from Ermelo where we celebraetd my mother's birthday. And tomorrow I have to catch a 7am Eurostar train to London. I should sleep.
The big news is that I have signed up for the Rotterdam marathon! I postponed the deed many times, but on Friday my training schedule said "100 days to go" so I thought I should commit more firmly. I committed by credit card; if I don't make it I'll have lost a fair bit of money.
At a later stage I have to work out the logistics. I don't know anyone in Rotterdam, so there's no place for me to leave my stuff. Also, how will I travel? The train may be the safest option, as I'm not sure I'll be fit to drive an hour and a half after completing (or not completing...) the full 42 kilometer by foot.
Oh well, that's for later.
Meanwhile, my training is not going brilliantly. This week I ran less than 30k in total. As of Friday, I'll be in Malaysia for work and I doubt I'll get around to doing long runs there. I will try to do some, but the hard yakka will set in again in two weeks.
I should be able to write though.
Monday, 1 January 2007
AGAINST THE WIND
Weight: 79 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 19 hours 44 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 183.8 kilometers
Time left: 15 weeks
The canal that connects Brussels with the sea, via Antwerp, passes not too far from our house. It was only a matter of time before I would go for a run along the water. And time had come on the last day of the year; I took off down the Leopold II boulevard and turned left at the bridge, for a less than scenic route past commercial ports and industrial estates.
Yet, and not counting the long wall that seperates the lonely runner and other mere mortals from the gardens and palace of the King and Queen of Belgium, there are two structures I saw along the canal that are worth mentioning. One is the huge complex called Tour et Taxis where many large exhibitions and festivals take place. It is not only overwhelmingly massive, the structure itself is a gorgeous testament to the days when construction involved lots of steel. Worth a visit any time. Sadly, I found it hard to enjoy the sight as the road along the estate was cobblestones that probably provided an even surface sixty years ago but have since suffered the effects of no maintenance.
Much further down, on the edge of the Brussels municipality, is a bridge I really like. It's called the Buda bridge and again is a very nice steel construction.
A bit further still, at the Three Fountains Park in Vilvoorde, I turned around and immediately understood why the run up to that point had been relatively effortless. The wind had pushed me forth, a wind much stronger than I had noticed it to be, and now I was facing a full ten kilometers of battling head-on against it. Trust me, it took forever and I could only keep going by taking very small steps.
It brought back memories of cycling in Holland. In particular, of the trips back from the swimming pool in Apeldoorn to our house in Epe. Battling the elements is what I learned, like many Dutch people, on a bicycle. Those trips back from the Sportfondsenbad, an indoor swimming pool, were pure hell if the wind was travelling high-speed in the opposite direction. I remember gusts of rain and snow, as well as hands and facial parts that were freezing, though always just not enough to go completely numb. But I also remember coming home in our house in the Glorialaan (meaning I was no older than ten) to the warm fireplace and a hot cocoa freshly boiled up by my mother.
Sometimes I feel compelled to make sure Sanna will have similar experiences. But then the thought of putting her through the suffering involved holds me back. That, plus the fact that she cannot ride a bike yet. Ah, and the little detail of us not having a fireplace.
I made it back home alright - from the running I mean - but had to sit down immediately as the pain in my leg and lower back muscles was preventing me from doing anything more meaningful. Mind you, I'm not complaining as I only have myself to blame for this mad enterprise...
Which reminds me: I haven't signed up yet for the Rotterdam marathon. Better do it soon; it fills up quickly they say.
Weight: 79 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 19 hours 44 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 183.8 kilometers
Time left: 15 weeks
The canal that connects Brussels with the sea, via Antwerp, passes not too far from our house. It was only a matter of time before I would go for a run along the water. And time had come on the last day of the year; I took off down the Leopold II boulevard and turned left at the bridge, for a less than scenic route past commercial ports and industrial estates.
Yet, and not counting the long wall that seperates the lonely runner and other mere mortals from the gardens and palace of the King and Queen of Belgium, there are two structures I saw along the canal that are worth mentioning. One is the huge complex called Tour et Taxis where many large exhibitions and festivals take place. It is not only overwhelmingly massive, the structure itself is a gorgeous testament to the days when construction involved lots of steel. Worth a visit any time. Sadly, I found it hard to enjoy the sight as the road along the estate was cobblestones that probably provided an even surface sixty years ago but have since suffered the effects of no maintenance.
Much further down, on the edge of the Brussels municipality, is a bridge I really like. It's called the Buda bridge and again is a very nice steel construction.
A bit further still, at the Three Fountains Park in Vilvoorde, I turned around and immediately understood why the run up to that point had been relatively effortless. The wind had pushed me forth, a wind much stronger than I had noticed it to be, and now I was facing a full ten kilometers of battling head-on against it. Trust me, it took forever and I could only keep going by taking very small steps.
It brought back memories of cycling in Holland. In particular, of the trips back from the swimming pool in Apeldoorn to our house in Epe. Battling the elements is what I learned, like many Dutch people, on a bicycle. Those trips back from the Sportfondsenbad, an indoor swimming pool, were pure hell if the wind was travelling high-speed in the opposite direction. I remember gusts of rain and snow, as well as hands and facial parts that were freezing, though always just not enough to go completely numb. But I also remember coming home in our house in the Glorialaan (meaning I was no older than ten) to the warm fireplace and a hot cocoa freshly boiled up by my mother.
Sometimes I feel compelled to make sure Sanna will have similar experiences. But then the thought of putting her through the suffering involved holds me back. That, plus the fact that she cannot ride a bike yet. Ah, and the little detail of us not having a fireplace.
I made it back home alright - from the running I mean - but had to sit down immediately as the pain in my leg and lower back muscles was preventing me from doing anything more meaningful. Mind you, I'm not complaining as I only have myself to blame for this mad enterprise...
Which reminds me: I haven't signed up yet for the Rotterdam marathon. Better do it soon; it fills up quickly they say.
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