Just a quick note in between my Swiss posts (currently on hiatus of two months...): in the middle of otherwise dreary autumn with Yankees ousted from the play offs by some moribund franchisee from Texas, I have finished off my running year by participating in Ljubljana halfmarathon.
Although running slower than personnel best (official time: 1:40:29), considering the circumstances I did more or less alright. Day before I drove 800km from Prague to Maribor (stopping in Sered to visit friend), slept in an apartment with no heating at c. 14 degrees room temperature - thanks Teja :) - and drove back to Prague 45 minutes after finish to take part on a training which was cancelled anyway.
Anyway, as my goals remain unfulfilled, you can bet on some other halfmarathons posts to come (Novi Sad - I got my eyes on you!). In the meanwhile you can look forward to completion of the Swiss series and some China updates...
Showing posts with label Yanks and other sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yanks and other sports. Show all posts
10/31/2010
4/05/2010
Spring is finally here!
Winter is finally gone! Once again sky is blue, water is wet and new baseball season just began :) Yesterday marked begining of new Major League Baseball season and there is no better way to open it other than starting another chapter in the biggest rivalry in sports. Boston Red Sox played New York Yankees (a defending World Series Champion) at Fenway :) Forget football, hockey or basketball - baseball at American League East is what it is about for next seven months :)
Enjoy the spring!
Enjoy the spring!
3/28/2010
I did it! I did it! I did it! 2.0
Hehe today I am all giddy as for the fourth time I managed to run a half marathon (this time I successfully completed course of PIM). As a cherry on top I improved my personal best and run it in 1.39.23 (official) or 1.39.27 (my own measurement) depending on view :) Anyway, kudos to fellow runners from Deloitte (Peter, Dalibor, Garret and Miro) and my brother who again successfully beat me by almost six minutes (that little freak run it in 1.33.45). Besides terrible wind, weather conditions were ideal for runners and although course was a bit too up and down I enjoyed it pretty much - thank you!
1/02/2010
Skiing frenzy
In order to start new year in proper manner me, my brother and my two high school friends decided to go skiing. As I am pretty sure most of you are not interested in description of what I did on 1.1.2010, I guess you can take this as a recipe for cheap skiing.
We decided to go to the Slovakia's highest mountains - Tatras. There we planned to ski on one of the longest (if not the longest) ski slopes in my home country at Strbske Pleso resort. Of course, there are many other options to ski in Slovakia but me and my brother had very good experience from past and my friends were glad to tag along. Furthermore, in combination with special promotion with Slovakrail (personal rail transport provider in Slovakia) it was by far the cheapest option to ski on New Years Day.
In price of EUR 27 you purchase return ticket from any railway station in Slovakia, return ticket for Tatras' electric tram servicing cities in Tatras region, one day skipass (separate EUR 5 deposit is paid for skipass), 20% discount on rental of skiing gear in local rental shop and a tea at ski hut on top of the ski slopes (those less experienced can receive 10% discount on ski school). Similar promotions are available for various ski resorts across Slovakia (different conditions apply) and can be found on Slovakrail website.
Main idea was to go skiing on "day after" immediately upon opening of chairlifts when everybody will sleep off long celebrations (it also means that our celebrations were of very limited nature :) ) and we would enjoy empty slopes. Our predictions came through (at least for first two hours) and we enjoyed high quality skiing and incredible weather - perfect inversion. The best feeling is when you ski above clouds - little more worisome is feeling you have when skiing into that cloudy milk...
Anyway after good five hours of skiing we jumped on train and returned home tired like dogs (who wouldn't be after spending these hours cutting curves with knees bent). Wonderfully eventful day provided us with much needed activity after days of abundance and price made it even more awesome. One day ski pass outside of this promotion costs EUR 26.5 during high season and EUR 22 since Jan 4, 2010 till early March (outside of season one day skipass costs EUR 16). Hope at least somebody will find inspiration in this (at least Czech ski resorts and railways operators :)
We decided to go to the Slovakia's highest mountains - Tatras. There we planned to ski on one of the longest (if not the longest) ski slopes in my home country at Strbske Pleso resort. Of course, there are many other options to ski in Slovakia but me and my brother had very good experience from past and my friends were glad to tag along. Furthermore, in combination with special promotion with Slovakrail (personal rail transport provider in Slovakia) it was by far the cheapest option to ski on New Years Day.
In price of EUR 27 you purchase return ticket from any railway station in Slovakia, return ticket for Tatras' electric tram servicing cities in Tatras region, one day skipass (separate EUR 5 deposit is paid for skipass), 20% discount on rental of skiing gear in local rental shop and a tea at ski hut on top of the ski slopes (those less experienced can receive 10% discount on ski school). Similar promotions are available for various ski resorts across Slovakia (different conditions apply) and can be found on Slovakrail website.
Main idea was to go skiing on "day after" immediately upon opening of chairlifts when everybody will sleep off long celebrations (it also means that our celebrations were of very limited nature :) ) and we would enjoy empty slopes. Our predictions came through (at least for first two hours) and we enjoyed high quality skiing and incredible weather - perfect inversion. The best feeling is when you ski above clouds - little more worisome is feeling you have when skiing into that cloudy milk...
Anyway after good five hours of skiing we jumped on train and returned home tired like dogs (who wouldn't be after spending these hours cutting curves with knees bent). Wonderfully eventful day provided us with much needed activity after days of abundance and price made it even more awesome. One day ski pass outside of this promotion costs EUR 26.5 during high season and EUR 22 since Jan 4, 2010 till early March (outside of season one day skipass costs EUR 16). Hope at least somebody will find inspiration in this (at least Czech ski resorts and railways operators :)
11/06/2009
Empire strikes back!
Although back in my old routine (i.e. work work work) I feel need to share with you my joy that the balance in force was restored and the universe returned back to order. In a galaxy of stars on sports' sky there is no brighter star then New York Yankees!
As even the brighter ones (double pun intended - wonder who would understand it actually) of you have probably noticed Yankees became World Champions for the 27th time after winning sixth game of their 40th World Series.
By beating Philadelphia Phillies in six games they ended nine year drought since their last championship in 2000. The four "fathers" from the previous dynasty (Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada) - a.k.a. The Core - surrounded by highly (Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia) and not so highly (just about anyone else) paid ballplayers did not hesitate to wrap up World Series at home and confirm Yankees' position as the winning-est team in baseball.
Only minor kink on this beautiful day is awareness of the fact that on our way to the 27th pennant we were not able to trash the Red Sox. Let us enjoy tomorrow's parade through Canyon of Heroes and soak in glare of glory :) Let's go Yankees!
May the force be with you!
As even the brighter ones (double pun intended - wonder who would understand it actually) of you have probably noticed Yankees became World Champions for the 27th time after winning sixth game of their 40th World Series.
By beating Philadelphia Phillies in six games they ended nine year drought since their last championship in 2000. The four "fathers" from the previous dynasty (Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada) - a.k.a. The Core - surrounded by highly (Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia) and not so highly (just about anyone else) paid ballplayers did not hesitate to wrap up World Series at home and confirm Yankees' position as the winning-est team in baseball.
Only minor kink on this beautiful day is awareness of the fact that on our way to the 27th pennant we were not able to trash the Red Sox. Let us enjoy tomorrow's parade through Canyon of Heroes and soak in glare of glory :) Let's go Yankees!
May the force be with you!
10/11/2009
Running wild!
Eight months after my last big run in Honk Kong I still stick to my plan of two half-marathons per year. During first Sunday of October I decided to run half-marathon as a part of Kosice Peace Marathon meeting (Kosice Peace Marathon is the oldest marathon on an old continent and one of the oldest in the world). I am very happy to report that I was successful and able to finish it. Of course, one have to point out that my time was the worst so far (1:54:44 - official) but considering the volume of training I did I am fully satisfied. Due to ongoing teeth problems I was not able to train and altogether run for 12km prior to the event. My finish was very much product of my will and overall atmosphere (easily the best I have experienced during half-marathons) then my physical ability. To redeem myself I already plan my next 'move' which will be announced later :)
3/24/2009
Back from the land of dead
My brain finally took Charon's bark over the river Styx (or Acheron - whatever you prefer) and returned from the land of dead. It took more than seven weeks from my last post and six weeks after my return from Hong Kong - last stop of my infamous journey. You can imagine how hard is to think and writing with brain missing and imagine that for someone like me - impossible... Anyway, now with all superb memories forgotten, there is no fear of suicidal depression arising and I can write about rest of my journey (although rather short just to stay safe) and time in the darkness (even shorter as I am lazy and not much happened :) ). Read on!
Kuala Lumpur
I get into Kuala Lumpur (locally known as 'KL') with one of my favorite budget airlines - Tiger Airways - for free or if you spin it other way, for airport tax fee and insurance. I admire the business model of Asian budget airlines (e.g. Air Asia and Tiger Airways) - they manage to stay in black while offering huge discounts and plenty of free seats. Their complementing schedules and flights make it very easy for travelers from around the world to explore the beauties of Southeast Asia and Oceania. What a difference compared to Central European dying breed of budgeters.
In Kuala Lumpur I spent two wonderful days wondering around city, visiting local monuments, museums, enjoying local food (viva China town!) and architecture. I had the pleasure to witness some true tropical storm with 20cm rainfall in 2 hours. Besides enjoying local hospitality, when all locals are smiling and helpful (another country which can smile) I realized that Malaysia is not at all third world country as I initially expected. The streets are clean, infrastructure working and architecture positively modern or even futuristic (especially in KL with its National Mosque, Dataran Mandaka square and Petronas Twin Towers). Maybe it has something to do with British rule (another country driving on the right side :) ). All in all, I was positively surprised by KL and country as a whole and decided to return someday to explore some historical palaces of Malacca and Georgetown.
Mt. Kinabalu
As a part of my preparation for Hong Kong marathon I decided to climb Mt. Kinabalu - one of the highest mountains in the region (although marketed as the highest, it is not true as my more affluent friend from India told me). In fact, I climbed it because during planning of my trip I felt that I would need to see some actual jungle after days spent in Singapore and KL. This trip turned out to be another highlight and belongs to the hall of fame moments of my travel. Not only I met THE people (Sydney/Thailand couple I shared ride from airport to Kinabalu park and awesome threesome of Queensland), but also we together climbed 4,000 vertical meters in two days (and returned to zero). For the first time in my life I saw people capable of smiling and laughing constantly. Awesome threesome inflicted and literally forced their sunshine nature on everybody they met - not only other tourists but also on porters and staff at the resort, park rangers, taxi drivers, anything and everything that moved - they even attracted bevy of squirrels on each stop up to the mountain. I am eternally thankful for opportunity to climb up with them and stare in mute astonishment - hats off mates and thank you! :)
Climb was by itself magnificent and although not particularly demanding (no need of technical climbing as path was clearly marked, it required normal fitness from the climbers), by keeping 'near running' tempo we burned some calories. Due to cloudy weather our waking-up time of 2.30am was completely useless. Also, most of us did not bear well the 25 degrees centigrade drop in temperature (compared to sea level), it was pretty much freezing at 5 o'clock in the morning at the top of Mt. Kinabalu :) On our way back to warmth of Laban Rata huts we were rewarded with spectacular views of Borneo mountains (again pictures are coming sometimes soon). After some feeble attempt to threaten the current Mt. Kinabalu Climbaton record books (really a feeble attempt) I managed to get back to civilization, and more importantly, airport at Kota Kinabalu (or 'KK' for locals) on time for my return flight to KL.
Hong Kong Half-Marathon
After another pleasant day in KL I flew to Hong Kong in order to participate in the local half-marathon. This might sound pretty strange but main it is true - only reason for my second stay in HK was half-marathon. Although, I have to admit that I love this city and I have enjoyed walking its street very much. Half-marathon path was unlike the one in Shanghai, uneven with several ascents and subsequent descents. With start at Kowloon we run on the highway and under the sea to finish among the skyscrapers of Hong Kong island. Sunny weather and architectural beauty of the financial heart of Asia combined for breathtaking atmosphere. Of course, I needed that breath to finish within some decent time limit which I did not. My official time of 1:41:45 was five minutes better than in Shanghai but still worse than my brothers and 1:45 minutes above the time limit I eventually want to achieve. Better luck next time I hope :)
Six weeks in the land of dead
With Hong Kong-Shanghai express I was able to get back on Monday and indulged in sorrow of my memories of what I saw and experienced while traveling. Besides that, I...
...wrote an incredibly crappy paper but still passed the class. As of today, I am carefully considering whether I should share it with the readers of this blog in new section listing all the bollocks I have wrote, or I should save the world from it and leave it peacefully go on (as a responsible citizen I always consider pebble in the water theory).
...tried to summarize my life on four PowerPoint slides but the only one who got it, and get kick out of it was my little brother. I guess this by itself summarizes my life perfectly :)
...didn't do any sports as it is too cold to run and I am too lazy, I guess, to play badminton in training suit and undergarments.
...got seriously ticked off and little sick by swings in Shanghai weather. 4 days almost summer like sunshine and plus 23 degrees and then within one day drop of 10 degrees centigrade with strong northern winds does not do it for me.
...got two new jeans at tailor market for ten euro each (cut to the liking of Levi's 501 model :) ) and could have get better price but was too lazy to bargain more.
...started to sort pictures I made during my trips since I came to China - still c. 2,500 to go. Some of them I will post on here (see Photo section).
...kept myself somehow busy (I think so) although I can't remember what exactly I did.
...finally promised myself to start solving the global problems and not selfishly write about my travel experience which, I selfishly admit, is pretty painful thing as those memories are so great (especially in cloudy cold Shanghai :) ). And there go my last readers... :D
Kuala Lumpur
I get into Kuala Lumpur (locally known as 'KL') with one of my favorite budget airlines - Tiger Airways - for free or if you spin it other way, for airport tax fee and insurance. I admire the business model of Asian budget airlines (e.g. Air Asia and Tiger Airways) - they manage to stay in black while offering huge discounts and plenty of free seats. Their complementing schedules and flights make it very easy for travelers from around the world to explore the beauties of Southeast Asia and Oceania. What a difference compared to Central European dying breed of budgeters.
In Kuala Lumpur I spent two wonderful days wondering around city, visiting local monuments, museums, enjoying local food (viva China town!) and architecture. I had the pleasure to witness some true tropical storm with 20cm rainfall in 2 hours. Besides enjoying local hospitality, when all locals are smiling and helpful (another country which can smile) I realized that Malaysia is not at all third world country as I initially expected. The streets are clean, infrastructure working and architecture positively modern or even futuristic (especially in KL with its National Mosque, Dataran Mandaka square and Petronas Twin Towers). Maybe it has something to do with British rule (another country driving on the right side :) ). All in all, I was positively surprised by KL and country as a whole and decided to return someday to explore some historical palaces of Malacca and Georgetown.
Mt. Kinabalu
As a part of my preparation for Hong Kong marathon I decided to climb Mt. Kinabalu - one of the highest mountains in the region (although marketed as the highest, it is not true as my more affluent friend from India told me). In fact, I climbed it because during planning of my trip I felt that I would need to see some actual jungle after days spent in Singapore and KL. This trip turned out to be another highlight and belongs to the hall of fame moments of my travel. Not only I met THE people (Sydney/Thailand couple I shared ride from airport to Kinabalu park and awesome threesome of Queensland), but also we together climbed 4,000 vertical meters in two days (and returned to zero). For the first time in my life I saw people capable of smiling and laughing constantly. Awesome threesome inflicted and literally forced their sunshine nature on everybody they met - not only other tourists but also on porters and staff at the resort, park rangers, taxi drivers, anything and everything that moved - they even attracted bevy of squirrels on each stop up to the mountain. I am eternally thankful for opportunity to climb up with them and stare in mute astonishment - hats off mates and thank you! :)
Climb was by itself magnificent and although not particularly demanding (no need of technical climbing as path was clearly marked, it required normal fitness from the climbers), by keeping 'near running' tempo we burned some calories. Due to cloudy weather our waking-up time of 2.30am was completely useless. Also, most of us did not bear well the 25 degrees centigrade drop in temperature (compared to sea level), it was pretty much freezing at 5 o'clock in the morning at the top of Mt. Kinabalu :) On our way back to warmth of Laban Rata huts we were rewarded with spectacular views of Borneo mountains (again pictures are coming sometimes soon). After some feeble attempt to threaten the current Mt. Kinabalu Climbaton record books (really a feeble attempt) I managed to get back to civilization, and more importantly, airport at Kota Kinabalu (or 'KK' for locals) on time for my return flight to KL.
Hong Kong Half-Marathon
After another pleasant day in KL I flew to Hong Kong in order to participate in the local half-marathon. This might sound pretty strange but main it is true - only reason for my second stay in HK was half-marathon. Although, I have to admit that I love this city and I have enjoyed walking its street very much. Half-marathon path was unlike the one in Shanghai, uneven with several ascents and subsequent descents. With start at Kowloon we run on the highway and under the sea to finish among the skyscrapers of Hong Kong island. Sunny weather and architectural beauty of the financial heart of Asia combined for breathtaking atmosphere. Of course, I needed that breath to finish within some decent time limit which I did not. My official time of 1:41:45 was five minutes better than in Shanghai but still worse than my brothers and 1:45 minutes above the time limit I eventually want to achieve. Better luck next time I hope :)
Six weeks in the land of dead
With Hong Kong-Shanghai express I was able to get back on Monday and indulged in sorrow of my memories of what I saw and experienced while traveling. Besides that, I...
...wrote an incredibly crappy paper but still passed the class. As of today, I am carefully considering whether I should share it with the readers of this blog in new section listing all the bollocks I have wrote, or I should save the world from it and leave it peacefully go on (as a responsible citizen I always consider pebble in the water theory).
...tried to summarize my life on four PowerPoint slides but the only one who got it, and get kick out of it was my little brother. I guess this by itself summarizes my life perfectly :)
...didn't do any sports as it is too cold to run and I am too lazy, I guess, to play badminton in training suit and undergarments.
...got seriously ticked off and little sick by swings in Shanghai weather. 4 days almost summer like sunshine and plus 23 degrees and then within one day drop of 10 degrees centigrade with strong northern winds does not do it for me.
...got two new jeans at tailor market for ten euro each (cut to the liking of Levi's 501 model :) ) and could have get better price but was too lazy to bargain more.
...started to sort pictures I made during my trips since I came to China - still c. 2,500 to go. Some of them I will post on here (see Photo section).
...kept myself somehow busy (I think so) although I can't remember what exactly I did.
...finally promised myself to start solving the global problems and not selfishly write about my travel experience which, I selfishly admit, is pretty painful thing as those memories are so great (especially in cloudy cold Shanghai :) ). And there go my last readers... :D
12/04/2008
I did it, I did it, I did it!!! :)
Finally after three years of almost running I run my first official half marathon this Sunday. After c. 6 weeks of not so serious training I was able to finish in 1:46:03 on 723rd place (consolation prize included cap and sweatband). Hopefully I will not have to wait for the next opportunity to participate in half marathon as long as for this one :)
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