Slowing down to year's end

stats of the week: run 48km, gym 4hrs

I am not quite sure why I am significantly slower now compared to beginning of the year. I won't be able to run a 10K sub 45min right now. Maybe the year's load was just too much. Maybe it's just another step towards age. And probably I am not completely recovered from the marathon 3 weeks ago.

Today's short double race of 7.5K and 5K let no wonder happen. Sanity suggests to have a couple of weeks for recover and cautiously build up the new year's schedule. Alas - there is another wearisome journey coming and then there's the always prominent New Year's Eve Race. The break has to wait until January.

Top 100 in New York City

stats of the week: run 41km, cycled 25km, gym 4hrs

Although not running myself the New York City marathon, I had a great time photographing the runners and seeing all the happy faces.
At least I was able to take part in a real race - the inaugural "5K dash to the finish line". Actually it is quite sad that organisers abandoned the traditional friendship run on Saturday morning. Instead they set up a 5K race which was a success if you see more than 5,000 participants who paid at least 25$ while the former friendship run was free for marathoners. But the new 5K race cannot make up for the good atmosphere of the friendship jog. And the new "Parade of the Nations" on a very cold Friday evening wasn't real fun for spectators.

Just six days after Dublin Marathon I was happy to do a proper 5K race in 22:21 min without any pain. This let me be placed 7th of 114 in my age group. The official result list also shows age grade times and places which is very nice for the elderly like me. Taken age graded times (18:17) I made it into the Top 100 of the 5,000 runners field!

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.