me running…
That was the question I have been asked by some kids twice today on the Main Street in Wexford. Some confusion caused by number I was wearing. For the first time I was given number one. So, runner walking with number one bib and the medal… what can the kid think? Had to explain that all finishers are getting that medal and number one is just a starting number…
This post was long overdue… Even that in my head I had so many ideas and things to say about Prague Marathon. But I couldn’t just sit and write about that… That weekend was just brilliant. Prague, run, experience, new friends and prospect of coming back there next year…
On the way to Prague now. It is very cold on the plane. Feeling little tired after a whole week of heavy running and heavy eating (especially yesterday). We are probably 40 minutes away from landing in Prague. Not decided yet what we will be doing tonight. Probably just relaxing because it will be too late to visit Expo and Running Mall. I’m excited about my first pacing race. As usual I forgot to pack a few things. This time it’s nothing major like watch or shoes but quite handy when pacing – a pacing band. I have prepared a small excel spreadsheet which is calculating for pace and time based on finishing time goal – ‘very fancy’. Have my logo on the top and branding, but (yet again) forgot to prepare and print it. Maybe they will have a printer at hotel or on the Expo… Will see. Not long to go, cabin crew is starting to sell duty free products. And we have announcement about preparation for landing. Great, couple of minutes left and we will be in Czech Republic for the first time (that one time passing by in the bus doesn’t count). That’s all for now, will continue from the city of Kafka…
It took me some and training to start running with the same pace whole way through trainings and marathon runs. It’s a simple as you would think. Keeping same pace through 42.2 km distance is quite demanding but doable. Anyway, since before Dublin marathon I wanted to try and pace runners in the race. Wasn’t lucky with Dublin but knew that it will happen for me. I have sent emails to organizators of 2015 marathons in Dublin, Toronto, Liverpool, Prague and Berlin. All emails I have sent at least 8 months before the race day… And you would think that would be enough but not. Got reply straight away from Berlin and Dublin that they have their pacers team sorted out. First positive reply I got was from Toronto. Unfortunatelly, at the time of email arrival we have already decided that taking a week of during stay in Toronto will take too much days from our holiday days ‘budget’. But that was the first yes. Then came Liverpool and reply that they will be putting together team in the beginning of 2015 and that they will give me a shout if I will be included. Still, maybe. And there was a no from Prague. They put me on to the reserve list. And… after asking them again some time that I got reply that I’m in and they just working out a time for me. After couple of email here and back I ended up as 4 hours pacer in Volkswagen Prague Marathon 2015. Nice… I know, that I will be required to wear Adidas gear (hopefully shoes will be ok) cause they are main sponsor for the race…