What you are missing when you are sick…

Missing this one

It looks that end of the year will be time when IBS will be coming back. Crap… Last year I wasn’t able to spot the beginning of the RETURN and I have was still trying to race every weekend. Tried in Clonakilty, had to use toilet about every 7 km. Ended up walking with my Wife almost 20 km. When walking could avoid pit stops. Then was Clontarf where I had to DNF cause of time on the half way (couple pit stops) and had to bring my Mom and Wife to airport. Had to finish in 3:30 or under to manage that. And cause of IBS that wasn’t possible. And than was famous ‘Lock up the year marathon’ where I have spent over 20 minutes in bushes. It took me couple of weeks to put sickness back into remission. But if I would spot earlier symptoms, especially when I was running previous races or on the training sessions I could start intensive treatment earlier and probably stay out of races. Same thing this year. But now I’m little bit more aware of all simptoms. I know that remission is gone and sickness is back. Decided that I need now to stop running races. I will be training but need to be healthy again to seriously race again. For now training and medication. My last marathon run where I wanted to get 3:25 (that is ok time for me now when my body is so beaten up after whole year of running) suppose to be one in Ballina… Read more

Glad to be back

Small Ballina medal

Second day of another back 2 back. We were back in Ballina, back with Cezary, Daria and their two boys. We always enjoy time spent with them. If it’s in Ballina or here. True Friends found cause of running. We met them last year when Cezary was organizing 1st Ballina marathon and I was just starting my running adventure. Year ago… that was my second marathon, first one where I had to run loops. At this stage I was still asking race directors if the marathon route is flat. Ballina wasn’t like that at all. First, small loop – nothing out of ordinary but the remaining 5… hmmm. That was another story. Each lap with ‘huge’ incline. Whole course probably with about 250 metres. Year ago I was really scared. Was afraid that I won’t be able to finish. This time that same route looked different. Not as bad as before. Incline? Yes, but not ‘huge’ any more. Just regular uphill. Route hasn’t changed but my view has. Back then I was really focused on running, this time we were enjoying visiting Cezary and Daria. Happy to run another b2b but that wasn’t the most important thing… Read more

Learning curve

Green medal - by Kasia Skowron
  1. Stick to the plan – FAILED,
  2. Do not hydrate upfront – FAILED,
  3. Do not rush anything – FAILED,
  4. Have a great and helpful crew – CHECKED.
  5. Have as much nutrition prepared, even of not needed – CHECKED,
  6. Have couple of gear sets ready – CHECKED,
  7. There is no reason to be angry, especially on your crew – TO BE REVISITED,
  8. Trust your crew, they know better – CHECKED,
  9. Good GPS watch – CHECKED.

That was the first ultra run which had three digits in the distance length, first 100 KM. Me and Bozena knew that this run will be a test for both of us. Me as a runner and for My Wife as a supporting crew. Portumna Forest Marathon was a great event to get us through the experience… Read more

And that was a real challenge 3 marathons in 2 days

2nd medal

It is hard to give it a right name… 3 in 2 challenge or ‘At least 3 ways to die in 2 days’ 😉

I knew it will be hard… but really wasn’t expecting that. I did already couple of back 2 back’s and each of these was tiring, energy draining and tough. And now I had to do same plus squeeze another marathon between two mornings. Read more

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… Read more

9 seconds less…

And I have run my second marathon now… This time it was in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Small marathon, just about 40 participants but atmosphere was great. We have met MCI members as well as organizers from Ballina AC. You can actually say that it was a family weekend not just a race. Read more