10% accomplished with a Friend

We had very nice weekend. Friends visiting us, my 10th marathon. But start from the beginning…

Last week Cezary, friend from Balina, who we have met when I have run marathon there called me asking if he can stay with us when he will be running marathons on Friday and Saturday. Of course there was no problem with that. He was comming to us on Friday evening after running marathon and on Saturday after both of us run another marathon we should pick up his Wife – Daria, with kids. That sounds like a plan so we had to put that into action…

On Friday we just went to work knowing that Cezary will be starting Howth marathon very soon, at 9AM. Ohhh, we couldn’t be more wrong. GPS has took Cezary to ‘Bike Hub’ in deed, but the one in Dun Liri not in Howth. So, after correcting the mistake Cezary has arrived at starting line almost 1.5 hours after the run has started. But even that delay hasn’t stopped him from running. Though course (told him that) but he has finished the run in good time. Anyway, we should meet at our house aboout 6PM but we haven’t made it – traffic (three accidents on the streach of 4 km). We were delayed but eventually we had arrived and short after us Cezary as well. After that we started to talk and tried to catch up with all the news. Both of us, Cezary and me, wanted to run marathon next day in Clontarf and knew that we should go to bed early to be rested before run. Of course that hasn’t worked out. End up in beds at 1 in the morning with a prospect of run at 8 AM. Was really hard but it was a must. We had to be at train station at 1PM to pick up rest of Cezary’s family. For me that was marathon no 10, for Cezary 26th (he thinks). My plan was again to make sure that I will keep my pace steady. This time was 5:30 minutes per kilometer. And must admit I made it without being overstretch. Cezary, after running marathon day before decided to stay with me till about 28 km. So, I went like that till kilometer no 41 and after that decided that I will check how much reserves I still have in me. Last 1.2 km I have run with pace of 4:25 min/km. Couple of minutes later Cezary finished as well. After small refreshment and recovery we hed up to Heuston Station to pick up Daria with boys. And that is when the family weekend has begun. We have spent nice evening with them, eating japaneese food, shoppinig for new shoes (Old Hitakami Mizuno but in new colour) and talking. One of the young lads was very found of Kulka and was playing with her whole day. And again day has commenced near midnight. Everybody was very tired. But still we had one more day…

I just woke up before everybody to walk a dog and then to get couple of miles into my legs. Ended up doing half marathon. I know, not to clever to run such a distance with regular pace (should be just recovery pace and the shorter distance). By the time I have end up my training everybody was awake. We had our breakfast together and went for a long walk into the park. Have showed kids for the first time chestnut… We had great time and it was shame that they had to leave so early today. Never mind, we will see each other sooner or later. If not all together than definatelly on the next marathon run somewhere in Ireland…

Thank you Daria and Cezary… it is really great to call you Friends. Plenty in common we have 😉