Hawaii running experience

stats of the fortnight: run 82km

Watching Honolulu Marathon was a very special experience as this is a really unusual event. Imagine that you'll have half of the participating 20,000 runners behind you when you finish after 6 hours! Official marathon terms assure that the finish will close not before the last runner has arrived. He did after more than 14 hours.
 

A further speciality is that there is no age limit for young runners. Japanese runners could be seen not older than around 10 years! There is even a separate age group for 15 to 17 that was won by a 15-year-old Japanese boy in 3:00:02 hours.

See Top 20 photos at picasa

Las Vegas Heli Roulette

stats of the week: run 40km, gym 2hrs

Regards from my journey to the Las Vegas Marathon that showed typical development: The full distance went down from 5,000 to 3,700 runners, while the half marathon growed from 20,000 to 33,000! However, the organizers were not prepared to handle the masses. Big problems at the start to get through to the right pens, later slow half runners blocked fast marathon runners. It's a fancy race but recommended just for those who don't take it seriously. 

Las Vegas strip is quite an experience for European souls. Gambling 24 hrs and an artificial world inside the hotels:

My special experience followed. After I enjoyed a helicopter flight to Grand Canyon on Monday I heard the news that just 2 days later a heli of the same company on the same route crashed near Hoover Dam with all 5 passengers perishing. That's what I ever said. Getting old is just luck.

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.

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.