MOVE; Stay INSPIRED!

Sri Chinmoy Marathon

Published January 25, 2020

“I feel that the world needs dynamism. The outer world needs dynamism and the inner world needs peace. As seekers, we have to pray and meditate in order to have peace. To be dynamic we need physical fitness at every moment, and running helps us considerably to keep physically fit.” ~ Sri Chinmoy

Cairo – Rome – Amsterdam ✈️

First half of World, economy. Second half… so much better. YES!

FIRST CLASS to Amsterdam. Tight connection in Rome (& extra carry-on), no time to check bags. And FOOD. Airline dinner would be my only calories Friday. Touchdown: Schiphol Airport. Many thanks to the fine folks of KLM who gave Triple 8 a nice shout-out & photo opportunity 😊

1am check-in. Nicest of our hotel digs & five hours sleep. New continent/day, same drill. Shower, marathon clothes, luggage downstairs in the lobby. Race Day 5. Appreciative of the journey but today… everything opposite Cairo. Low energy, spirit vacant. First day felt I was just showing up. Silent. Breakfast’d separate from the Group. Hoping the crisp temperature change would help push/inspire. Legs like lead. No pain, cement logs. Big lumbering weights attached my hips.

2 short out-n-backs then 8 laps in Bos Park. Scenic wetland run ‘round a North Sea canal – speed skating in high Winter, rowing practice this day. Weekend day. Expecting a larger runner crowd, though most Half-competing. 2 cups of orange juice, quiet reflection. Camera done; race time.

Cold, quiet, damp. Bird calls. Folks dog-walking. Happy pup sounds. Sub-10 out-n-back miles. Walked/jogged Lap 1 ‘round Bosbaan. Running low, no energy. Ear buds in. Kicked up the tunes.

Lap 3: Push to the Bridge. Walk. Run Bosbaan length to the opposite end – & REPEAT.

Halfers joining the journey crowded the trek but BOOSTED spirits. New energy, runner chat. Wouldn’t walk again ‘til lap 6. Forward movement; slow n steady. Water/juice. Water/juice. 20th bathroom stop (slight exaggeration). Peanut butter n banana (sans bread) mi new amigo.

Slogged the long stretches of Canal. Cool winter weather a HUGE PLUS. push, push, PUSH.

Strangely emotional. Dizzy. Mind cloudy. Gotta finish. And SLEEP. Tomorrow USA – I’ll refuel there. Food, no food, don’t care anymore. Shower, airport, SLEEP. Maybe sleep on the 20-minute van ride to Schiphol. All consuming thought 💤

Finish Banner. Medal, done.

Five continents, five days. Too much. Spirit BROKEN, openly wept. Tomorrow USA. HOME 🇺🇸

: KLM FIRST CLASS

: Hello Holland! 🇳🇱

: Amsterdamse Bos Park

: Day 5 Start

: Bosbaan ROWING 🚣

: North Sea wetlands

: Day 5: Europe

: 8 laps ’round

Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Marathon

Posted in Europe, Marathons/Ultras, Triple 8 Quest | Leave a comment

Marathon Cairo🐪

Published January 24, 2020

Singapore – Dubai – Cairo ✈️

Hurry hurry, rush rush. Luggage carousel. Does everyone have a Visa? Customs queue. Long line, bag inspection. Wait outside the door, count for 6. Busy, dusty, hot. Post-midnite transport. Big city on the Nile. 45-minute drive south to Maadi. 3 hour sleeps – race ready, tote packed/downstairs 5am. Continent #4.

Surprisingly not the legs, body adjusts. Lack of sleep. Brain turns off. You get strangely emotional, teary. Luckily, Triple 8 travels in a pack. Follow the leader. Dark streets and stray dogs. Scary, dirty on the outside. Today’s race however… its people-support & energy, would make it FAN FAVOURITE of all 8 ⭐

No bike path, no loops. 26 miles of actual road. Traditional marathon. Pace groups, race announcements. Thin guys lined-afront pushing to WIN. Pre-race Triple 8 pic, then a day-run with brand-new players – the 5 hour pace group. Whatta gift! Fresh energy, conversation, upbeat enthusiasm. FAAAANNTASTIC!

Four miles of city lights & runner head lamps. Maadi Runners – whatta conscientious group. Pot hole on your left. Outside-crowded us from cars. Volunteers held traffic as we crossed intersections, up/over bridges. ‘Ash’ [Go!] Shouts back-n-forth in Arabic. Encouragement, SMILES. ASH!

Same tight pack first 12 miles, ‘til the Halfers peeled off. New runners added. 4-hour marathoners who’ll try again next time. Great energy! ASH! ASH!

Tall city skyscrapers, crazy car traffic & exhaust. Windy, dusty. Folks riding donkeys, camels on the median – everything & more, I’d ever dreamt of Egypt (and 25 degrees cooler than Singapore). Traditional water stations. Maadi Group vans filled with FRESH FRUIT. Strawberries, dates, oranges, almonds, bananas. Whatta treat!

And… a long stretch along the Nile. YES!

Walked the last bridge incline at mile 23. Walk/jogged last 3 miles; gas left in the tank. Four more to go! Whatta life experience, literally running the streets of Cairo.

To my pacer Peggy, the Maadi Runners – and all Egypt – THANK YOU! ❤️

Fast shower & a quick walkabout Giza. The mighty PYRAMIDS. Trip complete.

First class/business, rest of my journey. Next up: Amsterdam 🇳🇱 Winter is coming.

: Royal Maadi Hotel

: Day 4 Start

: Maadi Runners

: Pharaoh & the Nile

: BEST pacer EVER!

: Day 4: Africa

: FAN FAVE ⭐

: pyramids of Giza

: trip COMPLETE ❤️

: the Sphinx

: 4 medals, 4 to GO!

Marathon Cairo

Posted in Africa, Marathons/Ultras, Triple 8 Quest | Tagged museo | Leave a comment

Singapore Beach Marathon

Published January 23, 2020

whether I run, walk or have to crawl…

I’ll set my goals and achieve them all.

Spacious, clean airport. Quiet, easy people. Luggage. Customs. Hotel transport.

Welcome to Singapore – the hottest, most humid place I’ve ever run 🔥

Hotel lobby 4am, short walk to our Day 3 Marathon. 5am pre-dawn Start on East Coast Beach. Registration, bib pick-up, meet n greet with couple local runners. Tunes readied. Bottle of water & 2 bags of salt-n-vinegar chips (purchased nite prior in Perth). Dragging, notta lotta sleep. Legs tight but body still strong. Singapore & tomorrow’s 26.2 in Egypt been in my head for a year. One foot in front of the other. Even if I have to walk, today’s the day. No more planning, no more self-doubt. Quick glance at my watch. 82 degrees.

6 out-n-back on a lit, pristine path ‘longside ocean. Could hear waves; warm breeze. At daybreak, I’d see folks practicing Tai Chi. Massive barges/cargo ships just off the shore.

Initial focus: not getting lost… and logging miles. Dropped off path a tenth-mile before seeing another runner. Quickly right’d my course. No sun for 2 hours. One foot in front of the other. Lap. two laps. Water. banana. Out-n-back thrice. High SUN ☀️

Path full of morning joggers. Push, push. More water. End of lap 4. Steamy.

Stopped. Handfuls of chips. Needed salt. Vinegar settled my stomach. Change of shirt & socks. Tossed both, soaked, purpose over. Walk/jog/slog. Video to document my Pacific surroundings. One bite at a time. How do you eat an elephant? Thanks Sis.

SUPER appreciative of Sis’ daily videos. Dangerous spiders to avoid. Ways to sabotage my mates (after finishing LAST every race). Coach. Sis marathons. She heat-suffers. She’s one I can talk freely – no judgment. Everyone should have a Sister. Complete trust.

WhatsApp messages updating the Group. Halfers complete – and crazy fast Brendan. Just me & Mika left from Triple 8. Dude focused. Eyes forward. No more high 5’s as he passed. And soaked. Biggest difference? 5 hours & Thor’s still running. Great job man.

One lap to go – pushed. Everything to the turnaround. Puke fest & dizziness last 2 miles but… last 2 miles. Finish temp 96 degrees. More sun than shade. Sidewalk vacant-free of exercisers. 3^rd medal in 3 days – on 3 continents. Asia!

Common room shower. Fresh clothes, repack. No eats, nothing staying down. Water and half a can of Coke.

Airport dash to our first flight. Even closer in Dubai. LAST CALL, plane DEPARTING – CAIRO 🇪🇬🐪