Personal notice

Dear folks,

I've started running again. It doesn't make sense to stop it. Just like there's no sense to keep on running. Therefore the better choice is to run.

Did you ever think about the fact that every day many thousands of people and creatures pass away? Several religious theories try to help around reality. I admit faith might be helpful to cope with facts we find hard to accept. As an act of courtesy I visited a couple of religious services during recent days. I'm still convinced life is just a chemical process and soul is missionary's invention. However I can't explain feelings after suddenly having lost the person I spent half of my life with.

Those of you knowing me personally may have a look at Angelika's memorial page.

All the best for 2011. Have fun and run!

Age Group: MOM

stats of the week: 2hrs indoor cycling, 5hrs gym, no running!

Wednesday noon, I'm sitting in front of the computer. I'm nervous. What I intend to do is mad. Two minutes later it's done.

I'm in. We're in. Frank and me have entered the Transalp Tour 2011.
7 days of cycling, 935km, 20,000 altitude meters. Life is best when doing crazy things, isn't it?

Our class is called "Grand Masters", for two men counting at least 100 years. Thx for this, more accurate would be "Mad Old Men".

Photo: Stelvio Pass is part of the route. I did it twice, but this time I'll have to be fit the next day, too ...

Focussing on 2011

stats of the week: indoor cycling 3hrs, gym 1hr

Until yesterday I'd have said that I don't miss running. After a sunny Sunday it's a different thing. I can't stand Sundays without running.

Much the worse the pain didn't lessen as the enormous bruise has nearly disappeared what is a sign that bone or joint is damaged. I guess there will be no more running this year.

To cope with frustration I entered two 2011 bike races: Maratona dles Dolomites and the 2nd leg of L'etape du tour.

No Sports

stats of the week: run 10km, indoor cycled 45min

Back home I intended to have some days of rest but not that many. Not enough I caught a cold but I accidentily damaged my toe when kicking the stubborn hoover - alas, the machine turned out to be heavier than expected.


Looks like it'll take some more days to get back to the roads. I still hope that nothing is broken.

Sunny degeneration

stats of the week: run 30km

For running in shorts last time of the year I was sent to Miami Beach by interAir.


In Miami Beach everybody's main ambition is looking good. It's amazing how far people can degenerate in overdeveloped civilisation.


Nature is not too far away, a trip to the touristic Gator Park showed. A white egret.


Baby alligators measure only a few inches.


50 years later they look like this one. Adults grow up to 6 meters and get nearly 100 years old.
They always seem to be smiling. Really self-reliant animals.



A kind of swamp hen is the Purple Gallinule:

Art Deco night life at Ocean Drive, Miami Beach:


Don't worry, it's a veggie burger, of course.

A decent one

stats of the week: run 63km
NYC marathon 3:41:42 hrs

New York City still is the world's runners' home. Almost 45,000 finishers on a chilly but sunny day, sadly not including Haile Gebrselassie but luckily including me! Well, I didn't need to win it, I only hoped for a decent race. It turned out to be one of my better ones. I set off on 3:40 speed and was able to keep to it nearly to the end. I only lost a couple of minutes during the final 5km.

Waiting early morning at Fort Wadsworth for the start at 9.40am:


The photo everyone takes. Run off at blue start along Verrazano bridge. Haile was just 50meter ahead - until the gun shot.


Crossing Polaski bridge at halfway point, with a view of Manhattan:


Proudly presenting my sixth NYC medal. It will be the last one for a while.

Memorial Marathon

stats of the week: run 21km

After last Sunday's long run in Dublin my thigh once again hardened and forced me to rest. I don't worry any more ... I'll just give it a try next Sunday in New York City. We'll see what happens.

Regards from Washington where I again guide an interAir group of runners around the marathon. It's quite a big event with 22,000 finishers on the classic distance and additional 7,000 on the 10K. With very few people from abroad it's a very American day. The race is organised by the Marines ... I have never seen so many wheel chair participants in a marathon. It's truly the army's day.

Washington appears to me as the world's capital of heroism and patriotism. It's not a common city - it's a museum of war glorification. As a European visitor you try hard to get along with it.

Marine Corps Marathon