T184 - a learning

T184 - Thames Path from Thames Barrier in London to the source of the Thames. 184 miles / 294 km. 80 hours to finish. With cut-off times.
70 (out of 108 registered) started Friday 10:30
I stayed in the Antigallican the night before, which despite it's looks and area, is a very comfortable and clean hotel. Recommend if you ever need a night in Woolwhich.
Dinner in the Great Harry Wetherspoons with a number of other participants. Not met any of them, but again as in every running (specially ultra) event, great folks.

I also signed up to be measured by the Kent university. So in the morning saliva, urine and blood was taken of us. Shame the word will never see the result.

The run through London was interesting. Rob Jones was there to cheer me on. Thanks Rob really cheered me up. And later in the night he was trying to guide me through Walton. Well done again, because water is water at night, and Thames Path, alternative Thames Path pointing into what seem random directions doesn't help.

Thanks to Rob, Simon, Zoe, Kim, Wayde and Karen to be there.

Met great people, new people. Spend a good few hours with James Penson, as always we diverted around but got to the point in Teddington where we crossed the Thames to the South Bank and Karen was at Kingston Bridge.

I met a lady who knows explosives. Where else will you meet a woman that knows explosives?

Coming past my house may not have been the best, it plays with your head at about 50k in.

I made it to Walton through the dark and pulled out. My girlfriend, Karen had to come to the rescue after I called her after 23:00 to pick me up. Guess I slipped somewhat deeper in her debt.

My feet were shattered. Nerve pain, gout pain, blister pain, numbness pain.

Was it worthwhile. Yes. Do I want to do it again. 95% yes.

Is it hard, it's very hard. Is all I can say.

Not much more I can say. En route to the next adventure.

Well done to Shane to create a beast.

Kingston Garmin Run & Amsterdam Marathon

Kingston Sunday Morning Garmin Run 13 October
The first one is the twice a year 8.2 mile / 13.1 km run from Kingston Market place via Kingston Bridge to Hampton Court on the Thames Path. Cross Hampton Court bridge and back to Kingston. It was my first organised run ever and despite keep on saying I'm done doing it, I keep on going back. Well, it starts outside my house, 5 minute walk.

This year I was doing it with Nasreen Suleman. A lady who does mountains GR (Great Routes) walks around the world. So as I had Bournemouth Marathon week before and Amsterdam week after I wasn't going full out. Which was notice-able as due to unknown to me reasons the route was only 7.85m/12.6km but it still took me about 1:09 to run. While my PB on the longer distance is 59min.

But it was nice running it with somebody, not so nice it rained. But I believe Nasreen beat her own time, and beat her 10k PB the week after. Which I think she set on 51 min, which is faster then mine.

At least a medal and not a mug. Colin B was there, racing around 16 miles, unfortunately didn't catch up.

Amsterdam Marathon 20 October
On Saturday it rained and rained. I stayed in the Amsterdam Hilton 2 metro stops from the Olympic stadium. Decided on Saturday to check out the metro and find a way for a ticket. Well one machine, with one family struggling to work it out. I was lucky by being able to borrow an entrance. So to the stadium where I could buy a 24 hour ticket. Which worked perfectly. Next morning, long queue for the one ticket machine. Think some work to do the organisers and the Amsterdam Public Transport there.

I visited Joop and Anke Keizer. Joop since he and I met on a dark beach in a car (nothing dodgy) have become good friends. The man is a legend. 72 and runs a marathon just around 4 hours. To then be interviewed by young pretty tv people. You gotta be lucky :-)
Honored to be on Joop and Anke's boat. Which conveniently moored just outside the stadium.

We started in the same box but not met / caught up till the end. It was a really great start and finish in the Olympic Stadium. And the weather was great, sun out, no rain, and a lot of support. Going through the town of Amsterdam was very nice and worthwhile.

I bumped into Danny Kendall (not really) while he was racing the other way and I'm sure my cheering helped him achieve his 2:37 PB. Or at least so I tell my self.

At the end in the Vondelpark my daughter Kim was there with her mother Ineke and her mom's boyfriend Rene. Cheering me on. Which I needed and did help push the last 3km.

Kim is a runner as well, 15 years and doing well. Going out by herself and liking the run for the run.


Small roll up looking back
Last year this time we were meeting up almost without fail on Sunday mornings as it was part of the 2013 Marathon des Sables training regime. That is now 6 months ago nearly since we finished it. If I ever had a dream doing an event, this was it. And I really hope being back in 2015.

I met a lot of great people there, in a sandpit 4 hours flight way from London.

Picture below is from the beginning of the Amsterdam Marathon when we run under the Rijksmuseum. It's the place that holds the world famous
 De compagnie van kapitein Frans Banning Cocq en luitenant Willem van Ruytenburgh  - De Nachtwacht
The Company of captain Frans Banning Cocq and lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch preparing to march out - The Nightwatch
So called as it's very dark painting, by Rembrandt.