New shoes

When my wife asked me today morning what I dreamt about in the night I  answered "about new shoes" and it wasn't just an excuse :)
After the last 10k race when for the first time in a long time I run so many kilometres on asphalt feeling how my knees hurt I decided that if I am to run 2 half marathons on asphalt I seriously need new running footwear. I wanted to have at least 2 trainings in new shoes before start in Warsaw so I begun my search right away.

Kalenji Kiprun CT

I still weight around 100 kg (need size 48 and am a bit flat-footed) so finding good running shoes is not easy. I checked their website, placed a quick call and drove to Decathlon where despite seemingly large choice I had to choose between 2 models. Kalenji Kiprun CT (especially designed for runner with weight over 80 kg) and ASICS GT 2160. The later cost 50% more so I was expecting to buy Kalenji. Still I couldn't buy shoes in which I plan running hundreds of kilometres without trying them on.

I tried Kalenji first and immediately felt how worn are my old Nikes. The amortization was so much better! I run a bit and decided that cushioning of the heel is excellent. Than it was time to try ASICS.

ASICS GT-2160

I run a short distance and I felt a big difference. Was it possible that it was just my impression caused by the brand and price? I changed shoes again and this time run a longer distance in Kiprun CT, than the same distance in GT-2160. Both pairs felt comfortable, had good cushioning, etc. But it was unmistakable, the experience of running in ASICS was so much better! I tried both pairs a few more times thinking if the difference was really worth the extra price.

Than I remembered how often I thought about this vicious circle: I'm overweight - if I want to loose weight I need to run a lot but at the same time I'm overweight so it's very easy to injure myself when I run a lot. Will I really remember the difference in price in a month from now? 5 minutes before closing time I put Kipruns back on a shelf and went to the register.

I simply cannot wait for my today's run :D

Spring after a shopping spree

A few days ago I made a trip to my local Decathlon and bought 2l camel back, running shorts and a container of isotonic. Today I took it all on a 20 km long slow, relaxed run. It's still cold but one can feel spring in the air. Some fields are covered with fresh green cereal - it 's so cheerful.

I even had an encounter with a deer. She was so still that I almost missed her while running by.

I still have to get used to running with a camel back - probably it's also question of adjusting the straps. Still if I seriously want to run 2 summer marathons in mountains it's better to befriend the camel back now.

Btw. the shopping spree continues. Today morning I've ordered a Forerunner 305 from Amazon in place of the one which I lost and tonight I'll go to Decathlon to buy decent running shoes - after all the pains from the last 10k race I don't dare approach half marathon with my old ones.

I made it to first 1000 ;)

Yesterday I run the first official race in my life - 10k race Maniacka Dziesiątka in Poznań. The race was quite small - organizers capped the maximum number of registered runners at 1500 and to the start made it 1460 people (1434 to the finish), in comparison next week I'm starting in Warsaw Halfmarathon with a number 5231, still the length of the queue to the start surprised me. Even though I wasn't at the very end it took me 1 minute from the start till I crossed the start.

As the race was meant to start at 12 noon I wasn't in great danger of oversleeping, nevertheless my both sons at 6.30 made sure that I don't stay in bed too long. For a moment with a pillow over my head I tried to pretend that I'm going to fight for my good night sleep before a race but it was in vain. After all  how long can one pretend to sleep with 2 boys jumping all over him?

Maybe it was a mistake but I did not cancel my today's German lesson so 3.5 h before the race I set down with my German tutor. The bright side is that I collected my starting card a day before so I could go directly to start. 2h before the race it was my wife's turn to polish her German. In meantime I was dressing my 'support team' and the younger member (Wiktor) screamed long enough to make sure that I carry him around the house (I suppose that in his eyes it was a perfect warm-up).

1h before the race my wife finished her German and we could start getting out. However the manager of my support team declaresd that she's not going anywhere without our double pushchair (I should have foreseen it). The subsequent timing was as follows:
50 minutes before the race I'm struggling with folding down the bloody pushchair and swear profoundly.
45 minutes to the race -  pushchair is folded, children in their seat - I struggle with GPS while Madzia (my wife) sprints home to get my wallet (after all I'm expecting to pay an arm and a leg for parking).

40 minutes to the race, we drive off. It's just some 11 km (c 7 miles) away so if the traffic is not too heavy and if we manage to find a parking place quickly I should make it to the start.

20 minutes to the race, we are almost there, I'm not sure if I should concentrate on finding a parking place or maybe I should start stretching? 15 min. to the race, a painful blow to my plans - the road to 2 large parkings is closed for traffic, I drive on passing on the way large numbers of runners.
Luckily after a few hundread meters I find a small space squeezed between road and  a grove. I am not sure if parking there is allowed but I see a few other cars parked already and besides I hope that police today will be rather lenient.
10 minutes to the race - I'm quickly unfolding the pushchair  this time it works like a dream. Short but difficult moment of explaining Krzys (my older son) that we cannot go all the way by hand and that for the time being he needs to be in a pushchair and we race towards a forming long column of runners. I start in sector C (the last one) so I can take place close to the end.
After a few minutes of waiting we start, or to be more exact top guys at the front start and we at the back begin to inch forward.

My main problem is that while I am sure that I am able to run 10k I have no idea how fast I can run? I practically never run on asphalt and I did not have a single training on that distance. After approximately a minute I'm crossing the start and slowly jog in a crowd of runners. I treat it as a warm up and wait how situation develops.

After a short while my group passes a nice old lady with a large umbrella hanging over her shoulder, everyone cheers her up (later on I learned from the list of results that she was born in 1939 and successfully finished the race).

A moment later we are passing a middle-aged gentlemen with a large German shepherd on a leash, from the dog's collar hang medals from several previous editions of the run and from the thickness of its owners glasses I guess that it must be a guide dog.

After a while we reach the lake. I run close to a man running inside an L-shaped box.

I'm really impressed by his determination. By the time we reach mark of a second kilometer I feel a bit tired. I try to stick to my original idea of waiting till the 5th kilometer with any decision of increasing speed but in the excitement of the race now and than I yield to an impulse to pass someone.

I couldn't find my Forerunner before the race so I can't control my pace. For a while I join a girl who has a GPS enabled watch and says that she aims for 55 minutes. We run together until the 5th kilometer, we reach it after 28 minutes of running, when on a downhill section I decide that it is time to increase speed.

My main thought during the next few kilometers is how long can I run from the moment when I feel like collapsing. I decide that it should be around 1500m and I try to manage my strength accordingly. I don't want to concentrate too much on how tired I feel to I try to occupy my mind watching other runners and deciding whom to pass next. Around the 7th kilometer there is much more free space around me and the runners on average look much thinner and fitter than earlier. Still I always manage to find a next target and it helps me to concentrate on running rather than pitying myself.
From time to time I pass those who overestimated their endurance and now slowed down to walk - it is a reminder that the race is not over yet.

By the time I reach 9th kilometer I breath heavily and run driven mostly by willpower, when I finally see the big sign META (Polish for finish line) I speed up passing another group of 5-6 runners and use the remnants of strength to get there.

When I discover that it is finish line for the water course not for my race I needed to scrap really the last bits of strength to make another 300m or so to the finish. There - the smiling faces of my family, a medal and bottle of cold water (not necessarily in that order).

And now time to analyze the race and learn from my mistakes. I run the first 5 km 28 min. and the next 5 24 min. I guess that it means that I could run faster from the very beginning even if it would mean that the last bit would be a bit slower.

During the next two weekends I'm running in two half marathons (in Warsaw and in Poznan) but I'm already planning to attempt a sub 50 min 10k race in 3 weeks from now in Gniezno :)

A time to deliver

I've just noticed that already a week has passed since my last entry here.
In meantime we went with children for an extended weekend to visit my wife's family in Rzeszów.
During all that time I had just 1 run (15 km in terrible mud) and 3 or 4 sessions on my rowing machine.

Suddenly I realized that soon I'll need to deliver what I promised. Day after tomorrow I'm running in 10k race Maniacka Dziesiątka, and than over the next two weeks I'm running 2 half marathons.
I enter these races just to challenge myself and don't care too much about time but nevertheless it's going to be exhausting.

For the time being I'm looking forward to a nice slow run tomorrow :)

Rest day

Today I have a rest day but yesterday I repeated the same route I did on Monday. The weather was lovely I for the first time this year I run just in shorts and a t-shirt (what did not prevent me from severe chafes on my thighs).

The good thing though is that I managed to run this way almost 3 minutes faster than on Monday :)
and on the way I burned over 2100 calories. It's more than in a packet of butter!

I've joined Wednesday Weighting Club at Runners Forum - it's nicer to be able to compare results with others.:) For the time being I'm loosing weight quite quickly. If I keep up this rate sometime next week for the first time in over 2 years I'll weigh less than 100 kg.

Maraton Gór Stołowych (Table Mountains Marathon)

Possibly the most difficult mountain marathon held in Poland. Maraton Gór Stołowych takes place in Polish Table Mountains which are not only very picturesque but also characterized by very steep trails.
The first edition of this marathon took place last year in July.

Szczeliniec - highest peak of Table Mountains

All reviews, I met with, described it as a truly arduous run, not only because of the elevation gain exceeding 2500 m but also because of heat (over 30 C). AFAIK last year this marathon had a limit of 125 participants which this year has been increased to 250.

Limit results from the fact that the entire route of the run goes through national pars both in Poland and in the Czech Republic. Route has 42.7 km, starts by the mountain hostel "Pasterka" and ends on top of Szczeliniec.

Błędne Skały

Organizers describe the route as difficult - with lots of rocks, turns, significant elevations. I only hope that long time limit - 8h - will allow me to get to the finish in time as I plan to walk most of the way uphill.

On the way runners will be passing a rock formation "Błędne Skały" - see pictures above and below. If they ring a bell - there is a good chance that you have already seen this places.

Błędne Skały

That's where some of the scenes of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were shot.

Entrance fee for the marathon is 65 PLN (more or less GBP 16) after 1st July it increases to 90 PLN (with no guarantee of full services) however judging by how many people have already applied it is doubtful that there will be any places left by then.

The closest city is Kudowa Zdrój, AFAIK the closes city with an international airport is Wrocław in Poland and Praha in Czech Republic.

Maniacka Dziesiątka (Maniac's Ten)

Maniacka Dziesiątka (Maniac's Ten) is a yearly 10 km race organized by runners' club from Poznan - KB MANIAC. The race is held around kayak racing course (Malta) - same where every year are held international kayak races.

Route of Maniacka Dziesiątka

In 2011 the race will take for the 7th time. It may be not the most interesting race on this distance but it is help conveniently in mid March, approximately week before halfmarathon in Warsaw and 2 weeks before halfmarathin in Poznan so it is a good opportunity to get the feeling how it feels when one participates in an official race :) 

As it happens it also will be the first official race in my life.

The race used to be small and cosy - in the first edition in 2005 the finishing line crossed just 362 runners. It may be still small but unfortunately it's not cosy anymore.

Start in 2006

I couldn't find statistics for 2010 but in 2009 there were 1280 participants. This year I have registered quite early but already have year I have number: 1976

Oh, the fee is 40 PLN (roughly 9GBP), from 15th March it increases to 70 PLN.

Something went wrong

I decided to start week with a brisk run on a well known route to Jaroslawieckie Lake. I think that with 18 km more or less equally divided between asphalt and dirt road it may be a good route for preparing to a halfmarathon.

Running felt really good, at 6 min, 9 sec per km the it was almost certainly my fastest long run this year. Slowly I'm feeling advantage of loosing weight - I felt back, long forgotten springiness in my step, there was still quite a lot of snow and the ground was slippery but one could feel that spring is almost here :)

I arrived home rather pleased with myself and starving. But after some 45 minutes right in a middle of proofreading translation of a very complex contract I begun to feel really bad, my stomach seemed to have a life of its own while at the same time I felt completely weak and sick. The deadline was short and soon so I couldn't stop working but believe me - fast 9 km back was a piece of cake in comparison with the last 900 words!

I have no idea what cause the problem - my main ideas are
- dehydration - I drunk a lot before going out and after I came back but after all it was 1h 50 min of a fast run with nothing to drink on the way,
- overheating
- bad choice of food after returning home.

Anyway I recovered only after taking almost 1h nap.

Btw. I keep doing press-ups. Now when it is not so cold outside doing a series of press-ups is a great excuse for a short break in work and a breathe of fresh air on a balcony :) Soon I should be able to do series of 20 press-ups - quite a progress when I was beginning I found it very difficult to make 10 in a row.

Summing up last week

My last training was on Saturday. The idea was to take a train to Steszew (east end of Wielkopolski National Park) and run west and north to areas closer to my home and than decide what I want to do - should it be running home or taking a train.

These are last weeks when I can benefit from the fact that Wielkopolski National Park is in form of two railways and it is possible to make a trip across it from station on one railway to a station on another one. In a week from now works begin on the eastern railway so it won't be possible for unpredictable period of time.

I hoped to make around 20 km, I've noticed that after such long runs I'm usually dizzy and this time I took with me water and something to eat (helped a lot). At first I took a route along the blue trail from Steszew along two oblong lakes: Witobelskie and Dymaczewskie.

Frozen lake Witobelskie

At first I was rather disappointed with the route as it led on asphalt but after some 2-3 km and reached a forest and from there on the trail led through a mixture of forested areas and snow covered fields.
At some point I even saw some deer :) Underneath the best picture I managed to take.

Some 15 km in my run I decided that I will be able to catch a train from Puszczykowo, so I had another stretch of trail which I didn't try earlier. Luckily it proved to be well marked and I managed to get to the train station just in time to get cold before the arrival of a train and trot long the platform to warm up when the train arrived on a completely different platform from the one I expected. I had no chance to catch it :(
At first I was really upset as it was cold, windy and I could not imagine running even a shortest distance but once I got a grasp on myself and adjusted to the idea it wasn't all that bad. This way I ended up running extra 6 km or so and totalling 25 km - my personal; best this year :) (TBH I had to walk a few sections).



Altogether last week (28.02-6.03) I run over 56 km, so I the goal for this week will be 60 km.

Fat Thursday

After the break on Tuesday I would normally have my run yesterday but as yesterday I had my encounter with Free movement of goods, I had a long run today morning.
When I thought about it yesterday I planned for today a long run, but after difficult beginnings I thought that I'll have to finish earlier. The worst were my calfs - they hurt almost as if they were on fire. Surprisingly it really help when I tried to straighten up, every time I tried to imagine that "I've just swallowed a stick" I felt that not only it was easier to breathe but also the pain in calf and hips was subsiding. I must work on it.
I run to Jaroslawieckie Lake and than I tried to run around it but the path on the other side was so uncomfortable that after reaching the end of the lake I decided to return the same way I came there.

In result I did a bit over 20 km - I guess that I'm quite ready for a half marathon. As it is today Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday - the last Thursday of carnival when everyone in Poland eats traditional donuts called here "pączki", when I saw that I burned over 2300 calories I allowed myself a moment of weakness and had one myself - after all even if it has some 300 I still burned 2000 more :)
Hopefully I'll do a short relaxing training tomorrow and another long run on Saturday.

I'll go than somewhere beautiful so watch this space!

Rest day

In the morning 1h of rowing (c 5.5 km). As my right knee hurts a bit I am experimenting with alternative ways of rowing putting more stress on hands. I have also begun doing some press-ups in series of 10. It's shame but I find it almost impossible to make more than 10 press-ups in a row :(
Hopefully that will improve in the future.

Did I mention that I already have confirmation of my registration for
- Maniacka Dziesiątka
- halfmarathon in Warsaw and
- halfmarathon in Poznan :D

I'm really looking forward to these runs!