Saturday, June 30, 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

Midnight Sun Marathon

Well, this #7 of 2012, but my 21st marathon to date, and I can say this is a first. Never have run an evening marathon before.

Along with 600 other runners, I will start my 42km race at Tromso Radhuset (Tromso City Hall) at approximately 8:30 PM on June 30 and finish around 1:15 AM on Sunday, July 1st. Not sure what the hydration, food and rest plan should be as these are all usually tied to a morning race. Get back to on that.

Tromso is beautiful. At the far north tip of Norway, it will be broad daylight when I am running...another novelty.

A mainly flat "figure eight" course except for two bridges of 45 meters each in the first half of the race. Temp should be upper 40s or low 50s. Expected sunshine but rain is now on the radar. Fingers crossed for better weather than last month.

Race number is 1013. Follow me on www.msm.no.

Please give!

Marathon #7 is looming large... Less than 24 hours. Getting excited and looking forward to cool weather and a midnight run.

Thanks for all the good wishes as well. Much appreciated. If you could find it in your hearts to support me with a donation to Cancer Research UK, I could soooo appreciate it.

Do it for a loved one or friend, do it for yourself, do it to support the thousands who battle a marathon of their own each day they fight this disease.

Give, give, give ... I am $5000 away from goal. Thanks

Www.justgiving.com/Holly-Young2012

Taking it one step at a time.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Land of the Midnight Sun

Marathon weekend is here... Budman to arrive on race day...race #7... Still sorta surprising it's already here.

Mostly I am amazed that as I depart the airport at midnight that it is sunny... Looks like 5 pm. Weird.

Tromso weekend

Airline issues with BA - they no longer honor Scandinavian Airline code share tickets. Would have been nice to have had some advance notice??????

So. As I wait for my BA flight to Oslo to be assigned a gate, I am now looking at a delayed arrival in Oslo in my immediate future. It is entirely plausible I won't clear immigration and baggage claim in time to negotiate with Scandinavian air to honor my 2nd flight.

Then it's Oslo for the night????and a new flight to the Arctic Circle on Friday????

I was expecting a marathon but not this one exactly....

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

National Running Day

Today is National Running Day....well, in the US anyway, but I am celebrating as well in the UK.   The day is to celebrate "all things running" and why not?  I run...

*  to stay fit
*  to socialize with friends
*  to eat (yea...I do!)
*  to see places with a different pair of eyes (than what i see in a car)
*  to raise money of a good cause
*  to achieve a goal
* because it is who I am

If you are a runner, celebrate in the best way possible...have a run along your favorite path or park or with a best running buddy.  Carpe Diem!

Friday, June 01, 2012

I am made of the journey not just the distance

The Asics Stockholm Marathon is tomorrow, Saturday, June 2 at 12 noon.  Never ran a marathon that began that late.



As I reflect on the race tomorrow, it will be #6 for the year of marathons.  As a friend has calculated for me, if the marathon challenge was actually a marathon, I would be at mile 11.  Tomorrow, I reach the halfway point.

What can I expect tomorrow?  Well, 90% rain and a high of 48 degrees.  It has been downright cold and wintery today but the proper running gear is laid out, race course marked, food and beverages collected, and alarms are set (although no worry about oversleeping this race day).

I totally agree with the Asics, the Stockholm Marathon, sponsor  This year....it has all been about the journey.....not just the distance.

Taking it one step at time.
HY

Praha Maraton

The post is a little overdue, since it has been 3 weeks since the Prague Marathon and no update.  Sorry friends!



In summary, the fifth race in the "12 marathons in 12 months in 2012" challenge proved to be the best race yet.  I felt great in the week leading up to race, was rested and hydrated, had no nagging aches and pains...in short, I had done all I could do and felt relatively assured I was going to run a good race (for me, anyway).  Now I needed to rely on Mother Nature and a flat marathon course.

Before I get to race day overview, the marathon expo provide to be quite enjoyable, with lots of vendors, as well as THE photo opportunity of my life.  Yea, that is me with the "new" women's world marathon record time (get the 12 theme again????).  Sorry, Paula, but I had to beat you, if only in my dreams.



I was not dissapointed.  Race day bright and sunny for marathon #5, including just the slightest of breezes to keep cool throughout the race.



As I arrived at the marathon start (above), sunshine was periodically followed by  a little intermittent cloud cover throughout the race, but no complaints otherwise.  Great race logistics, by the way Prague Marathon Organizers, with multiple drink stops along the way and a flat and slightly undulating course to keep things interesting.

Road crew and Road Crew Chief all rolled into one; the Budman was able to see me over 7 times throughout the day thanks to a couple of out and back loops. When he saw me at km 30, we both knew a sub 5 hour marathon was in my sight.



A few photos from the day, along the cobblestoned course (my 2nd set of cobblestones in 5 marathons).











Getting tired, but encouraged by the run...the last loop along the river.





And now the big finish (and in multiple photos) in a time of 4:55:06.  The Marathon Foto paparazzi were definitely out in full force on the day.  And yes, could I have gotten the hand gesture number "5" in a few more photos? 




Good to see that the Hachie Gal's signature running sign, the proverbial "thumbs up" has crept back into the picture.  Maybe that is why those neck and shoulders were a little tight the next day?  Good grief.. "Run Forrest, run!"



And it's all over except the celebatory burger and fries.





And now, on to Stockhom...oh yea...that is tomorrow!

Taking it one step at a time!