Europe

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

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Vienna – Kiev – NYC

Published September 30, 2019

Last day of September, Amazing Race over.

Sis travels on to Salzburg. ‘Sound of Music’ tour. Julie Andrews spinning in the Austrian meadows. Edelweiss, edelweiss… For me – head scarfs & pierogi. Journey home begins.

Ukraine Air bargain: $310 Vienna-Kiev-New York.

Exit row seats. Double the Eastern Bloc meal plan. [Misunderstood UIA’s website & purchased a ‘bonus’ dinner every flight. Pierogi, rice pudding & knish. Double portions please. LOL>]

Long transatlantic flight with four English-language movies.

Long 5-hour layover at JFK, NYC’s mothership (Delta Air to Denver).

22 hours later… Touchdown Colorado. Reunited with Pup 🐾

OCTOBER. First day of a new month. New tales, new adventure.

Home, sweet Colorado HOME ❤️

: $310 bargain

: Welcome to Kyiv 🇺🇦

: pierogi ‘bonus box’

: FOREVER memory ❤️

: Sis’ Filimin colour – she’s BACK!

Vienna – Kiev – NYC

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Wachau Marathon

Published September 29, 2019

Hillside vineyards, alpine meadows & die river Danube. Race DAY!

10k, Half & 42k distance. Sis & I would wait an hour to board a marathon bus to Emmersdorf. Rest of the trip family, an 8am start. WhatsApp pics started flooding our phones by mile 12. Family showered & beautiful by the Wonder Twins’ afternoon finish.

High sun, skies warming. Edelweiss AND fish-on-a-stick. Pre-race FISH? PipiBox – check. Kleider bus ‘bag drop’ – check, check. Last to-do’s to-done. Run ready.

Fünf, vier, drei, zwei, eins. Go, go, go!

Keep the heart rate down. Gonna get warm today. Steady even pace.

5k bike-path loop ’round Emmersdorf before darting on Austria’s B 3 river-road (Donau Bundesstraße). Easy flat course – not a Boston qualifier, but a PR for many. Road-run exposed/open to traffic. Comfortable temps early, didn’t overheat ‘til 2 hours in.

Mile 10. PipiBox queue. Managed a legit washroom for Sis at the Fire House (3 semesters of college German/I can talk toilet). Sie ist mein Schwester. LOL> Short, quick stop — oompah oompah accordion music — & on our way. Danke, viel danke.

Where are you from? Colorado, always. Folks know the Rockies. Generally takes politics outta the conversation. One officer wanted to Trump-jabber. No sprechen sie. Danke 😊

Town tour of Spitz. Waved to boats on the Donau. Whatta experience!

Mile 20. Head demons, got quiet, went dark. Notta warm weather runner. Sis tried but even Pollyanna couldn’t quell the Kraken. Was throwing water cups by 23. Took a walk break. Helped turn the frown upside down. Easy walk/jog pace last 2k into Krems.

Could hear German now, half-mile to Finish. push, PUSH, push. SEVEN on holiday, SEVEN wore medals. Well done, us! Check & done. AUSTRIA! Two kids from Possum Holler – look at us now, Ma! ❤️

Train transfer back, my Amazing Race ended. Airport hotel, flight home 5am early.

First Stop: Ukraine. Fingers crossed. Europe on a Budget.