I was informed that I had to rest on Sunday, no running allowed. So we did not get up very early as Linda needed her beauty sleep. Breakfast was again very crowded and so we ended up sitting outside, it was reasonably warm. After eating plenty of fruit we went out for a short walk, well it would have been but I got carried away and we ended up at the Abba Museum at Djurgården, which is another Island in Stockholm, the city is built on 14 islands and has many medieval buildings. We did not actually go in the museum, but saw it from the outside, it cost money, money, money to look round and not being a supertrooper I did not want to spend the dosh but could say thank you for the music, before walking off.
We then caught the boat back to the centre and had a wander around the old town, the cobbled streets, old fashioned archways and shops. We did stop for a coffee, it was definitely old fashioned, 19th Century coffee shop as it did not have any internet access. After this we saw some buildings, Linda took some more photo’s and I just walked. We went to the central station to see where we had to get a bus from tomorrow, sorted that out, saw the first Starbucks in Stockholm, but just used their internet to check in for our flights, we had just had a coffee and it was even more expensive here. Then we wandered back to the hotel, it is quite quick with no diversions or alternative routes.
We were going to visit a friend of ours in the evening Mario and his new wife Demaris. We hadn’t seen Mario (apart from on Facebook) since January 2005. He had stayed with us for a few months in 1999, on route to Sweden from Albania. We had to get the tube to Akalla and then he met us there. They have an apartment near the station, on the sixth floor. We shared a meal together and it was good to chat about old friends, life and the Lord. Demaris is from Kenya so there is a connection there, it really is a small world! We stayed for about four hours, before getting the train back to the centre and walking back to the hotel. According to my watch we have walked about 8 miles today.
On Monday morning I got up early and went for a little run, as the sun was rising, I was under instructions not to go too far, so did a few miles along a scenic route. We had breakfast before it was time to pack and go and catch the bus to the airport. We have had a good time here, lovely scenery, good pavements to run on and of course nice coffee.
Linda jumped at the chance of a weekend away, Stockholm was the suggestion, she was very keen, so I booked it. It was only afterwards that I mentioned that I was going to run the half marathon on the Saturday afternoon. Look on the positive side I said it gives you two hours to wander around looking at the sights and taking all those photos, the architecture there is good. So just as I signed up to the race, she signed up to the weekend. I did forget to mention she had to carry my clothes round whilst I was running, a small point. The flight was from City airport, with BA. We went up on the Thursday and stayed at a Travelodge, as this meant we could go into London and look at the sights, the sports shops and have dinner together. We visited Nike, Covent Garden, a romantic walk along the Thames before catching the DLR back to the hotel. There was just time for Linda to watch the Great British Bake Off on the Iplayer before we went to bed. I was told off for making too much noise doing exercises during it, evidently she couldn’t concentrate whilst I was doing crab press ups. The flight was at 0920 so we had a leisurely walk to the airport, checked in and then waited for boarding. The airport was very busy, nowhere really to sit. The flight was about 2 hours 10 minutes and they give you a breakfast on board, not really needed, but maybe it is for the business people. We had the cereal option which was nice.
We landed just before 12 in Stockholm Arlanda, collected our bags and then caught the express train into the city. I needed to check the map for the hotel, or Google maps, so we found the Swedish equivalent of Starbucks called Espresso House and had a coffee. It is warm so we sat outside, there was internet so I could find the route to the hotel. We took a slightly longer route than anticipated, so we saw some sights of the city before arriving at our hotel, the Hotel Stureplan. It is a nice old fashioned hotel, the rooms are big, it has a lift running up the middle of the spiral staircase and our room was on the second floor. We left our bags there and then went out to explore the city. The first stop was to collect my half marathon envelope with my bib number, timing chip and clothes bag. Linda managed to get a free bag as well, just by joining the queue. We then wandered around the various stalls, I managed to identify a piece of equipment I didn’t have (although I do have it now) and then we had a coffee in the Royal Gardens. After this we had a wander around town, I saw a sports shop with a sale, so managed to acquire a couple of shirts but nothing else. Linda was tired by now so we had to stop for a coffee, before making our way back to the hotel. We decided to go out for dinner and went to a local restaurant, I had the steak sandwich, building up on my carbs for the running and Linda had a burger. It was very nice but filled us up. We went for a small walk afterwards, before going back to the hotel to sleep. According to Kenyan athletes sleep is a very important part of training, the elite athletes sleep at night, get up early go for a training run, then go back to sleep, run again in the afternoon and then back to sleep with a few meal breaks as well. I just managed overnight sleep.
On race day we had a lie in before going to have breakfast. This is included in the hotel rate, it was very busy and we had difficulty finding a seat. Breakfast was good scrambled eggs (protein), bread (carbs) and fruit (energy). Plenty of coffee as studies have shown the right input of caffeine before a race can improve performance. The key is not to have it too near the start time otherwise you may need the loo half way round! After this we went for a walk around the town, looking for the race start place, I am in category F. It is just outside the Royal Palace. Linda had her camera out and was taking numerous photo’s of the event preparations, buildings and scenery. After, a last coffee we walked back to the hotel so I could get ready.
My previous best for an organised half marathon was around 2 hours 15 in November 2013, although I had managed 1 hour 59 around Norfolk a couple of times. The target was under 2 hours. I had a wrist band which showed the timings I needed to be at the various stages to beat this. I had my running watch to tell me my pace time, and my other watch recorded the number of steps I would take. We were at the start early and Linda took some photo’s and then I focused on my preparations for the race, I thought I was doing it for fun, but Linda said I take it very seriously and am committed to getting a good time, focused I call it. The first block was off at 1530 and then we slowly moved forward and at 15.55 the gun went off, we started. The people were in my way, so I had to bob and weave around a few so I could get into my natural stride. The course is mapped out in km but my watch works in miles and I have been training in miles. The first mile I completed in 8.03 which is a bit slow, as I tend to be around the 7.30 mark on a good day, but this is a 13.1 mile race so you should not run too fast initially. At the 5k (3 mile mark) I was at just over 24 minutes (under 5 minute kilometre if you’re interested!) and then at 10k (about 6 miles) I was at just over 50 minutes. I slowed down slightly between 10 and 15k, but picked up my speed for the final 5k. Mile 10 was the slowest mile, 9.03 minutes, the only time I went over 9 minutes. Some of it was where I took water from the stops or a banana that was being handed out, perhaps next time I will just run, as it probably cost me a few minutes with people getting in the way!
About a mile from the finish I saw Linda at the side, she nearly missed me as I was so fast! Then it was the last few steps and I finished in 1:51:28 coming in at place number 4382. There was meant to be 18000 running, although I am sure a few didn’t turn up. I collected my medal. I just need to knock 51 mins 28 seconds off and I will be as fast as Mo Farah :) I finally met up with Linda and then we wandered around the marathon village before coming back to the hotel. Evidently I needed a shower! In the evening we went to the local coffee shop, had a sandwich and drink, before returning to the hotel to rest.
You can see some photo’s here.
