Hamburg, slightly more restfully

Firstly the Deutschlandlauf formguide is now up, i'm number 18.
After Tuesday nights long whinging blog post, was more relaxed watching Law and Order (incredibly funny to watch one of my favourite TV characters Lenny - Jerry Orbach - dubbed into German although i reckon i only understand one in every 3 words) and basically just recovering from a long day (maybe i needed a shower, a feed and a drink before that post rather than after, cringe when i reread it but don't dare edit it as blogger is in Greman and i'm worried i'll delete the whole thing so it's publish and be damned !).
Had a more relaxing day, taking the train from Billstedt to KellinghusenStrasse, a station the other side of the city. Went for a wander keeping the massive tv tower in sight as i wanted to see whether it was possible to go up it (i'd been told that there was a restuarant which had shut because there was only one fire escape and legally there had to be two just didn't know about anything else.
Eventually get to it and the massive Messehalle (convention centres), but no luck in terms of getting up !!, still €5 for a 3 course lunch salad, lasagne and dessert (and a tasty local beer) meant it was worth coming out that way. Lot's of old fashioned shops reminded me of Greville St in this area.
Kept on walking till i got to Reeperbahn (the start of the infamous and huge red light district - think Kings Cross and multiply it many times) so decided i'd hop on the train and go to the harbour which i'd only touched on the day before.
Absolutely massive (best way to describe would be Circular Quay on steroids), a good mile of shops and eateries and ferries etc, and then the working parts of the harbour. I'd arrived at 3 and thought i'd have an early day, but a couple of hours later had only made it along to Altona and was still on the harbour (finally the sun was out and i'd had the chance to zip the legs off my pants and make them into shorts). Basically kept on walking till i hit the beach and the passages along that way between eateries and mansions followed then by parklands where there were many joggers (thankfully outnumbering cyclists !). No real idea where i was except on the banks of the Elbe, so couldn't be too hard to make it back, finally saw a path to a Bahnhof and found it was Klein Flottbek where the Botanical gardens are but by then was almost 7:30, so waited at station (worth noting the station had it's own pub !!, i can imagine commuters ringing home to say they will be late because of transport problems !!), and then two trains later was back at the Hotel. So again a long day, but now at least i felt i knew my way around.
Only complaint is the number of smokers in Europe, everywhere here there are cigarette vending machines (as opposed to France where there were all condom vending machines !), and whilst buildings are sort of smoke free, there is no real barrier between the smokers and non.
Anyway off to Stralsund today.

Like Canberra, but mad cyclists !!

Great nights sleep, and appeared to have had no jetlag waking as usual at 6:30. Certainly a good breakfast provided, heaps of cereal and toast and hard boiled eggs and juice and coffee, so was ready for a good look around Hamburg. Technically i am staying in the suburb of Billstedt around 5K's out of Hamburg proper, so a little walk into town.
Reminded me alot of Canberra, pretty cool (12 degrees) and heaps of bike paths and when closer into town lot's of paths around lakes (well actually offshoots of the River Elbe).
Never thought i'd be having a whinge about cyclists but here it is, all the footpaths around hamburg have well defined bike lanes but the cyclists here seem to think they own the footpath obviously they need more arrogant Aussie pedestrians to show them the error of their ways !!!.
Quite amazed i'd be walking on the footpath with the bike lanes being used next to me but a number of times i still had cyclists coming straight at me or from behind on the damned footpath, luckily having ridden a bike enough myself there was no way i was flinching or giving ground as i knew the only person to come out injured of this sort of collision is the cyclist as bikes are not really built for running into solid objects such as pedestrians (bent front wheel at least) and ultimately these riders seemed to realise this, still just couldn't understand why they insisted on trying to take over the whole footpath, just don't seem to be used to pedestrians (or at least ones who stand their ground - as i always will), anyway that's that off my chest.
Now i know where the HauptBahnHof (Central Station) is for my trip to Stralsund though tomorrow i will see how to get there by train (it'd be a helluva walk from my hotel with luggage).
Massive shops and heaps of running shoe stores (was so tempted by DS Racers only 70 Euros !), and lot's of interesting old buildings and bridges over the rivers (apparently more bridges than Venice). Again it proved to be a very small world, saw a couple with the man wearing a Terrigal Trotters top, sure enough Aussies over for the World Triathlon Championships last Sunday, wish i remembered their name but i do know the son was second Aussie (too hard to find the results on the net although i know Brad Kahlefeldt was third overall - i'm amazed i didn't manage to bump into his parents Paul & Carmel), had a chat for a while and then continued on my sightseeing. By 3 i thought it was time to take the weight off my feet and be a tourist so hopped onto the double decker tourist bus and had a great one hour tour, shame it was so cold though, absolutely freezing up the top of a topless bus and was happy to wrap my hands around a cappucino after (only 1.3 Euros not as bad as i thought !), highest temperature i had seen indicated anywhere was 16 degrees although the forecast was for 21.
Heaps of pictures and now it's 9 and i'm only just back in total 12 odd hours on my feet, very good training for the race ahead although i'm sure i'll take it a bit easier tomorrow, now that i have a map (logic dictates you get a map before going on a trip not 9 hours into a walk but since when do me and logic work together ??).
Had a good feed of curry for lunch, so it's ham sandwiches now (thankful that unlike France the hotels have fridges or maybe that's just the ones i was staying in), washed down with a little of the cheap Aldi white wine (75 Euro cents for a 1 litre carton of wine don't know how they do it but after all it is Aldi :-)).
Somehow i think i'll be sleeping well tonight.

Hamburg

Interesting flight to Germany, funny enough i'm the Duty Free area at Tullamarine airport (to be honest drooling at the cheap prices of Bundy rum but also thinking i have enough to carry - checked in baggage was 20.6 KG's and i have a full carry on bag, me and travelling light don't go well together after last years lost luggage saga i actually have two pairs of racing shoes and one set of running gear in my carry on !), and the first person i see is a fellow i worked with for years, mmm it is a small world.
7:20 PM and we are off, little disappointed in the entertainment after the smorgasboard that was Air NZ in June only 4 movies, so sit back and watch Mr Beans Holiday (some bit's of it as he struggled through France seemed so much like my experience there last year !), and it was good to see some of those landmarks again (i've never seen the Grand Arch at La Defense in a movie before). What we lack in entertainment we make up for in food, lovely meal and good bottle of white, surprised to find we go to Dubai via Singapore (i'd sworn i never wanted to go near Changi airport again after last years sage there), but no choice, arrive there 8 hours later and it's and hour till we leave, instead of getting off take the chance to lie down on a row of 4 empty seats and sleep. Then a few more hours to Dubai, arrive at 5AM local time and it's already 30 degrees, quite thankful for the massive air conditioned airport. Most of my flight are going to France and surrounds for the Rugby Union World Cup and i appear to be the only one headed to Hamburg. Worth noting Emirates uses metal cutlery after Singapore, thought that was a big no no a plane full of metal knives ??.
4 Hour wait at Dubai, where i pretty much just walk the massive airport, typically my one break is in the 'Quiet Lounge' and there my phone won't stop ringing (kept on getting dirty looks when i then had conversations on it !!), 50 terminal airport so was spending a lot of time trying to find where my flight left from as there was nothing listed for Hamburg, just little close in the end as it's actually the New York flight (which stops at Hamburg) and only just make it !.
It's quite amazing flying out of Dubai, we reckon Australia is full of wilderness, nothing compared to here, massive highways going through sand and then just sand and more and more of it.
Thankfully this different plane has much better entertainment, one channel has The Very Best of the Rolling Stones all 57 Songs, as well as the whole Let it Bleed Album and something like 50 movies. First up is Heat, anything with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro can't be too bad, to be honest it didn't make it a masterpiece but reasonable. Breakfast for the second time (we had it after Singapore as well), and then thought i'd watch another classic (none of the new releases really grabbed me), Bonny & Clyde , for the most part an immoral movie and with an inevitable end but still worth watching. By the time it hand finished had finally got some views out the window, so just listened to the music (guess what), and another meal (strangely Budweiser was the beer available - no complaints here but seemed strange), and finally the sight of villages and Germany.
Not a great start 15 degrees and wet (similar to Melbourne ??), but by the time i'd gone through customs and , joy of joys picked up my suitcase !, it was sunny.
No idea where i was heading so lashed out on a taxi, now for a shower and a look around (don't think food is a huge priority all i seem to have done is eat !).

Just when Europe thought it was safe

Just a short post, have finally sorted it all out and am off to Deutschlandlauf http://www.deutschlandlauf.org/index.php?section=DL2007
Essentially the German version of Trans Gaule, slightly longer distance wise, slighter shorter day wise and slightly harder.
Leaving for Hamburg on Sunday night, and arriving in a place called Stralsund on the 9th for the race start on the 10th, essentially then running south for the next 17 days, and then heading off to Zurich for a few days r & r before heading back for the Melbourne Marathon (makes it all sound so easy !!).
Now that i have a phone with email access (and i'm told it will be fine over there re that access), looks like i should be able to update the blog day by day race wise as i don't think there is an English version of the race results, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Shame the Rolling Stones tour wasn't a month later wouldv'e worked nicely, but still i am looking forward to another stage race and seeing if i can put into practice what i learnt last year, only disappointment the race finishes relatively close to Munich, but the fact that Oktoberfest is on makes accommodation there ridiculously expensive so rather than post race beers at Oktoberfest it's off to Zurich (and strangely a cheaper flight home).

Next race - yeah i'm being cryptic again !!

For the poor people out there who have been following this blog and reading about my "temporary running retirement" and all those other issues of late, not least of all the fact that this seemingly indestructible runner has of recent times been like a racehorse ready for the glue factory (although at least without equine influenza :-)), finally i've sort of got my running act back together.
Went for a run last night to Albert Park for the 5K Gunn run, did at least mean i got to see a great view of the Total Eclipse as well, did this in a fairly underwhelming 20:56 but considering i'd run 6K's to get there (and only just be on time) was relatively content as at least the calf seemed reasonable (could feel it, but after that one post race beer really couldn't remember it) and was fine on the run home (after all the final series of The Sopranos started last night so had good reason to be content when i made it in the door).
So this morning decided i'd see about what was next for me, still felt like i needed a holiday before the final move north in November, and felt as though i really needed a good long (ie not having to run as fast as i would in a marathon !!) run.
Bottom line i now have a trip arranged (well i have to pay for it tomorrow as i'm heading off Sunday), assuming my body doesn't break down tomorrow morning.
I think Richard or Robert and some of the runners at Shepparton may have an idea where that next start will be, but i won't make an official announcement until it's all paid for and sorted.
Hint: Not in Australia, also theoretically i'd want to change the name of this blog but doubt i will, yes i will be back for the Melbourne Marathon but with only 4 days to spare doubt it'll be a fast one,
Stay tuned,
Kelvin

Greater Shepparton Marathon and then at last some joy (A Richmond win !)

Saturday headed off to Shepparton for the 10th Marathon there, my 8th Start there having missed with France last year and illness in 2004, really this was going to be my make or break run as i still had no idea really how what sort of shape my body was in racingwise. First time i'd stayed in Shepparton the night before since my DNF in the 100K there in 1995 so call me superstitious, but a lovely 22 degree day awaited me which sounded way more tempting than a drive up in the dead of the morning. Put my entry in that afternoon (quite a bargain $50 for a full marathon) and then walked a lap of the course in the afternoon sun.
For me strangely a good nights sleep only waking twice (as opposed to my usual hourly wake to look at the clock most times pre race at unfamiliar motels), so good a sleep and not helped by me typically trying to relax so reading, that i only got to the race start with 5 minutes to spare. Large number of runners there, 38 in the Marathon but the field boosted by 68 in the half and 67 in the 10K looked even bigger as we huddled around the start line. Heaps of familiar faces but not much time to exchange greetings, although seeing Sydney Coolrunner Wriggler (Guy Doulman) i reckon i had a pretty fair idea who the winner of my event would be.
Thankfully we started a couple of minutes late, and i soon got into a decent stride, for the first time since the Sri Chinmoy 30K (and the first time i'd tried to run fast since then - the Ultras being totally different events) i felt the calf early on. Still trying to push along as hard as possible as this was pretty much the event that would determine what i'd do between now and Melbourne Marathon, so put thoughts of pain out of my head and just kept on chasing. 4K mark had my first drink, and as sometimes happens to me, the Powerade just seemed to sit on my stomach so next time i was having to have water and try the Powerade again a little later on, by 7K's i'd caught up with Coolrunner FitPT (Chris MacTaggart) and we had a chat for a while i was hoping that may relax me a bit (don't often chat as i'm usually to focussed but i knew now it was going to be a struggle as calf, followed by Powerade indigestion didn't really augur well). Eventually Chris pulled away and i was being pushed along by footsteps of another couple of runners, eventually went through the first lap in 1:01:?? so it wasn't looking good at all (in the back of my mind i feared this was possible all along). Next lap ran along with the the other two but they eventually just slipped away, not like me at all on a second lap, so really it was a case of just focussing on getting through and ignoring any negativity, at least this time the Powerade did the trick or at least didn't sit on my gut, still i was struggling in the cold headwind (was enjoying the heat otherwise), and went through that lap with the clock almost at 2:06 so had slowed considerably.
Was hoping that the third lap would fire me up, but just seemed to be plodding making up a little ground on those in front but otherwise slowing down (not totally convinced the the Nike Air Zoom's i'd bought for Runaway Bay 24 Hour were really working for me either), was taken aback to be passed 5K's into the last lap, definitely something i'm not used to being passed 33 K's into a marathon, and more shocked when i just couldn't go with him. By then it was just a case of finishing without getting too shocking a time.
Results are here
http://www.coolrunning.com.au/runningguide/wiki/uploads/e/e5/2007shepparton-marathon.pdf
3:13:26 My slowest since Medoc last year (and that had the good excuse of Trans Gaule before it !!), and probably my worst Marathon performance since Portland Three Bays in October 2004.
Think that only goes to show that my body at this point needs a rest more than a race or a run, maybe a good time to end this blog too !!.
Anyway Guy won (he'd been running 3rd when i last saw him but was running much better than the leading two so it looked inevitable to me), and i was a very ordinary 7th, also a PB to Robert Boyce (who's been having a great year Ultra wise), and 35 finishers overall. A big thanks to the organisers for another top event, shame my running wasn't in the same class. Have to admit when i was out there i just couldn't work out what enjoyment Peter Gray was getting from his running nowadays as he struggled to another sub 6 Hour finish (believe me i was getting minimal enjoyment out there running the time i did couldn't imagine any all from an hour or more longer out there).
After a good feed of sandwiches and cake (and a return to pick up my certificate), was off to the Ardmona Factory outlet (where i bumped into a couple of other runners) and then to the MCG.
I could say i enjoyed the drive, until i finally got to the MCG, me and 88,467 others, finally got a spot a good mile away and then realised just how stiff and sore my body was.

The pictures above give some idea just how high in the Olympic Stand i was, definitely a hard climb post Marathon (although i was sick of people going past complaining that where they were going they'd need an oxygen mask - bet they hadn't run marathons that day !!).
Far from a high standard match, but i'll take any Richmond win and the first time this year i've been able to belt out the club song (knowing my singing the less chances i get to sing the better).
Then all the hullabaloo for Sheeds and Hird, post match, a lap of honour for each and fireworks, i'll admit i was there partly as respect for Sheeds (i'd happily have him as Richmond coach but know that financially we can't dispense of Terry Wallace still can always hope he'll come back to the side he played 251 games for at some point - after all twice i'd met him at Richmond matches when he was a guest of the club and he always come across as a good bloke). Certainly James Hird had been a good player over the years and had overcome many career threatening injuries and deserved a good send off but for mine this was way over the top, i could easily name at least 20 players that i had seen who were actually better than him and had done more in their career but only a small quibble.
As for the drive home, totally impossible to avod traffic jammed roads, so would have been better off (and faster) walking home, but doubted i'd get back early enough Monday to pick the car and avoid parking rstrictions, certainly a long day.

A real update

Unfortunately i've not been able to update this blog since the last (seemingly mysterious, cryptic post), wasn't actually meant to be keeping the few readers in suspense simply lack of internet access and more worryingly not being able to update via my mobile phone as not having access to a charger.
So firstly the problem was Poison Oak, much worse looking than the picture above (both legs from ankle to hip as well as left wrist), my doctor actually took some photos however really they are just too gruesome (even if i had them).
The course of antibiotics i was on wasn't helping the rest of my body that much either as i proved when running the Glasshouse Mountains 50K on Saturday 28th July, frankly the legs didn't feel like they wanted to go anywhere (and as for my stupidity in heading back up Mt Beerburrum the second time i don't think my mind was on it). At least heading north finally meant that i got rid of my cold and could enjoy some warm weather as well as bathing my legs in the Pacific Ocean.
Finally a couple of weeks later i was feeling much better as well as having finished the course of antibiotics so in theory i was back to normal.
Decided to do the Gold Coast 24Hour race, firstly because i'd been threatening to run a 24 Hours for years (after a couple of rather less than successful race walks in 1999 & 2000), and secondly as they were only just up the road and thirdly if my body was still rubbish at least i didn't need to go far to get aid and pull out.
Having arrived the day before, and watched the starters in the 48 Hour race, i had a fair idea what i was in for. I'd bought new shoes only the day before, as i had only two pairs of Nike Frees with me (as i'd only planned to be up north 4 Days !!!), and this track appeared to need something with more cushioning.
Best said i ran consistently through the day, thoroughly enjoying the heat (27 degrees), and clocking up consistent milage and thankfully feeling pretty good, however not being anxious to push myself too hard (i'd be honest and say the only times i ran fast were when i'd be singing along to Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" on the PA System, i should have supplied some Stones for more fast laps).
Come night time i knew i'd have some issues, from topless with shorts and legionnaires cap, i was soon in skins, thermal top and beanie and as the night wore on added another top, a jumper and evenentually goretex jacket and tracksuit pants.
After 12 Hours i had 100.4 KM's under my belt, so it looked like barring disaster 100 Miles was very possible and maybe a place chance.
As usual the big issue for me was my hands, had only one pair of gloves and by 1AM the hands were just numb with cold and i was wasting energy just trying to keep them warm (Raynaud's Disease http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433/DSECTION=2), soon i was off the track trying to warm them and keep the rest of the body warm. Wrapped up in a blanket, and eating warm food but still unable to feel my hands the idea of wrapping my hands in a towel dipped in hot water, sounded good. Unfortunately not the case, think it was the sudden "rush of blood to the head", broke out into a sweat and went into shock, thankful i was sitting at the time or i would have collapsed. Next i was hyperventilating and wanting to throw up, so it was decided that it was best i lie down. Maximum time of the track for this event is two hours so i knew exactly how long i was allowed to lie down but who knows what would happen after that. So i was helped to the bench in the toilets and covered in blankets and slept soundly, waking up just before i was due to be woken (typical me). Feeling much improved (and wearing a pair of the race organisers much thicker gloves), just kept plodding on (i'd been wearing my lightest Free's since the 57KM mark as since then my gait had deteriorated into a shuffle which meant that the hard surface wasn't an issue as i wasn't thumping onto the ground), at times getting a good walking style going (not sure if it was the rest or the tight skins but my knees had tightened up and refused to bend so running was out of the question), just waiting for the sun to rise.
Finally i finished with 157.2 KM's not quite there but knowing that it was achievable if only i could find a run where the temperature drop was not so severe.
At the moment my plans are hazy, having driven back from the Gold Coast on Monday Night (after a day and a half of rain i was dubious as to how floods on the Northern rivers of NSW could stuff things up having been stranded many years ago), i know i've missed Trans Gaule (it's day 7 already), and am still tempted by the States but considering that Melbourne Marathon is only 6 weeks away maybe i'll just stick to Australia (and it's warmer regions just relaxing rather than running), so maybe this blog will end quicker than originally planned.
Looks like Shepparton Marathon on Sunday, see what happens pushing when i push my body there, then i can make some more concrete plans.