Official closing of the running season: 36. PZU Warsaw Marathon

It was time to conclude our running season - run a full marathon at 36. PZU Warsaw Marathon. But before the most important event of the season, we went for some traditional Polish dishes.

After the meal we were headed towards Stadion Narodowy to pick up our start numbers. We encounter unexpected marathon supporters on the way to the stadion.

Finally we arrived close to the stadion.

Everything was well organized and ready for the event including enormous amount of toilets.

When we came in the stadion, there was a huge wall with all the names of marathon runners.

We imediatelly jumped to the wall and start searching for our names. Jerneja found her name first...

... right after her Boris also found his name...

We had a detailed look on the running track to mentally perpare ourselves.

Next in line was picking up our start numbers.

It was time to prepare and get ready for the run. We changed to running outfit and went to the starting point.

Adrenaline level was very high and we were ready to go! After we heard a starting pistol, we focused to the next 42 kilometers. Every 2 to 3 kilomteres there were water stops to refresh our bodies. Along the track there were a lot of supporters who helped a lot to withstand all 42 kilometers (and 195 meters). Everything was organized very good except there were a lot of supporters on bicycles on the track. A lot of time we (runners) had to take care about them and move aside to pass them. Organizers should not allow anyone else on the track except runners and that kind of bicycling should be forbidden. We finally crossed the finish line and got well deserved medal.

While we were leaving stadion, we noticed food stands. It was pasta time!

In pain but with new priceless experience we switched to the recovery mode.

Marathon greetings from Warsaw,

Boris & Jerneja

Official opening of the running season: 34. Internationaler Wilhelmsburger Insellauf

After the sightseeing we arrived at the Motel Hamburg.  The staff was very nice and the room was cosy and clean.

The most amazing part was the surprise, that was waiting for us on the pillow. Forget the usual chocolates, gummy bears are awesome!

Before the race, we had the breakfast. The hotel provided rich breakfast. They had everything - from cheese to Nutella.

We arrived two hours before the race to take over our start numbers and chips. This was the first event, where we rented the chips. Very eco...

For those who didn't have the time to have breakfast, the organisator provided some cakes and hot beverages for the runners.

When we all got our start numbers and chips we headed to start line. This year we had a new joiner - Pasco. Firstly we had to warm up a little bit.

And then the race started. As the beginning of the race was announced we ran through the start line to the city.

But shortly after that the path lead us away from the city and the true struggle began. In the morning it seemed that we will have a nice sunny day, but as we left the city and its high buildings, which guard it from the wind, we knew for a fact that we were in the seaside city. The beginning of the running season is always a struggle, but the wind and the cold just add another challenge that needs to be achieved. And we made it! In the finish line we received warm welcome from Soly and Martin.

The experience was wonderful. The nature around the city as well. The only thing we missed was more water stands. In the finish line we received some complementary gifts from the sponsors. 

After the shower, we all got hungry, so we visited an Italian restaurant Luigi.

Martin

Soly and tired Pasco

At the end we would like to thank our friend Pasco for the courage and enthusiasm that he showed at the race. We hope that you will join us again!

Greetings from Hamburg,

Jerneja & Boris

Uradni zaključek tekaške sezone: 38. TCS Amsterdam Marathon

Napočil je vrhunec najine letošnje tekaške sezone - 38. TCS Amsterdam Marathon. Zaradi predvidene množice tekačev (prijavljenih naj nas bi bilo 42.000) sva se na štartno prizorišče odpravila malo bolj zgodaj. Zato sva si lahko na hitro ogledala olimpijski stadion iz prespektive navijačev.

Nato sva si vzela čas za še zadnje priprave na maraton. Medtem pa se je na stadion začela zgrinjati množica tekačev in navijačev.

Kmalu za tem pa sva se odpravila na štart. Zaradi odlične organizacije tekači nismo imeli težav z razvrščanjem v štartne skupine. Polna adrenalina sva čakala na uradni štart maratona.

Sledil je štartni pok in 42.195 metrov teka. Ob progi so nas neprestano bodrili navijači. Vzdušje je bilo fenomenalno! Na določenih odsekih maratona bi lahko bile stojnice s pijačo malce bolj pogosto. Ampak nič ne de, z najino vztrajnostjo  sva pritekla nazaj na stadion. Tu nas je pričakalo ogromno navijačev, ki so bodrili svoje borce. In občutek, ko pritečeš v takšno atmosfero je res nekaj enkratnega! V tistem trenutku pozabiš na vse bolečine, na vsa odrekanja in postaneš nekaj posebnega! Zato z zadnjimi nekaj 100 metri sploh nisva imela velikih težav. In na koncu solze sreče in zaslužena medalja.

Neprecenljiva izkušnja!

Lep pozdrav iz maratonskega Amsterdama

Boris & Jerneja

7946 in 5650 v kampu

V jutranjih urah sva priletela v glavno mesto Nizozemske.



Ko sva končno osvojila sistem javnih prevozov v Amsterdamu, sva z lahkoto našla svoj hostel. Le ta leži na južnem delu mesta. Takoj sva ugotovila, da gre pravzaprav za kamp, ki ima postavljene statične hišice z ležišči. Proti doplačilu sva lahko spala v ogrevani hišici.

V kampu so bile seveda skupne kopalnice in stranišča. Kar pa je najbolj zanimivo, da tuši delujejo na žetone. En žeton stane 1 evro in v zameno za ta žeton teče iz tuša mlačna voda naslednjih 6 minut. Zato je bilo umivanje prav posebna izkušnja, ker nikoli nisva točno vedela koliko časa bo voda še tekla.

Da vse se lahko dobro najedla je poskrbela dotrajana, a dobro opremljena skupna kuhinja z jedilnico.

Amsterdam bo letos prizorišče najinega vrhunca tekaške sezone, saj greva na 38. Amsterdamski maraton. Zato sva se takoj po kosilu opravila po štartne številke na glavno prizorišče, olimpijski stadion. Ob prihodu na stadion sva bila osupla nad velikostjo dogodka. Po vseh ulicah okrog stadiona so se valile množice tekačev, ki so hiteli po svoje številke. Da pa smo to prizorišče lahko našli, so poskrbele takšne in drugačne označbe.

Ni potrebno posebno poudarjati kdo je bil eden od glavnih sponzorjev.

Z zelo dobro organiziracijo smo dokaj hitro prišli do svojih štartnih števlik in kot se za Nizozemsko spodobi oranžnih majic.

Tudi za (virtualno) zabavo je bilo dobro poskrbljeno. Udeleženci maratona smo se lahko preizkusili v virtualnem teku skozi najbolj znana maratonska mesta sveta.

Za nagrado pa smo vsi sodelujoči dobili spominek.

Polna pričakovanja in zanimivih izkušenj vas pozdravljava iz Amsterdama,
Boris & Jerneja