Manhattan Premiere

stats of the fortnight: run 10K

It was my 7th trip to the New York City Marathon - with the first time not running myself. However, it was also the first time I learned to sort of love Manhattan. Saturday afternoon I rented a bike and cycled all along Hudson River to Battersea Park, crossed Brooklyn Brigde, rested on Brooklyn Heights, back over Manhattan Bridge and right through China Town and Greenwich. For the first time this sunny autumn day showed me an inviting city of Big Apple.

People listening to a voluntary piano player on Washington Square:

Resting on Brooklyn heights with a view of Downtown Manhattan:

Friendly weekend

The friendly marathon at Dublin was really enjoyable like the entire weekend was.
My personal race had a reasonable start but due to cramps and exhaustion I lost 5 minutes on the final 5km. Once crossed the finish line I doubted that I would make it back to the hotel but within minutes a bottle of coke set me back alive. I think that the lack of salt was the main reason for my problems because I sweat a lot and lost to much fluid and minerals.

Both my marathons this year ended up with disappointing results. However I am still grateful for all the adventures I am able to undergo.

I bashfully forgot to publish my time: 3:48 hrs.

Final Fluid

Stats of the week: run 32km, gym 2hrs

This is my personal preparation for tomorrow's Halloween Marathon at Dublin.
After a week of missed training it's time to keep to the most promising items.

Keep your fingers crossed. Your support is highly appreciated - in fact it's necessary.


True Saying

stats of the week: run 16km, gym 4 hrs

It's one week to go till Dublin Halloween Marathon and I've lost a whole week of training due to a strained hamstring. I am not really concerned about the missed workouts but getting free of pain in time. Usually a slightly strained muscle should be fit again within 3 or 4 days but this time 6 days are already gone without a full recovery.

One of my repetitive sayings proves true again: It's more difficult to get to the start line than to the finish line.
 

Competing with last year

stats of the week: 52 km, gym 5 hrs

Luckily the knee recovered along the week and I decided to do my long run within a hilly race called Teutolauf which I took part in for the 5th time. Like previous year I got caught by the competition and ran faster than planned. In the end I finished the 29km distance after 2:29:40 hrs - surprisingly 7 minutes faster than last year what is quite a difference.

To improve a last year's time has been an unknown experience for years. Therefore my face matched the day's sunshine. Last weekend someone blamed me for never being happy after a race. This time I was.



Setback by Mail and Knee

stats of the week: run 61km, cycled 70km, gym 1.5h

London Marathon 2012 ballot results have been sent out recent week. Same procedure as every year since 2000. For the 13th time I have been rejected by the international lottery. For Germany there are very few entries available via the ballot. No official figures are published, I guess there are about 20 bibs for us per year. Needless to say that the additional 300 entries via travel agency are already sold out (one is for me).

I was able to do my first long run in preparation for Dublin. 30K on Tuesday went well but I faced a setback yesterday. While properly running our local half marathon I felt a strong meniscus pain during the final 3k and I had to limp to the finish. Now I'm slightly concerned how this problem will develop while more training for Dublin is to be done.

Breathless work

stats of the week: run 54km, gym 2hrs

Despite the work for our Sunday charity run Sterntaler-Lauf I managed to do the scheduled mileage. On most of my runs I felt breathless with some pain around the lungs but it always got better while slowly running longer.

Our charity run was still a success although numbers were down from 900 to 700 applicants compared to last year. Notably the walking boom - a German speciality - seems to settle now. However, we were very happy with a busy day and the visitors' good mood.