4:28:28

The fact that the sun is still shining brightly today must have something to do with me smiling constantly. Yesterday, Sunday 20 May 2012, I ran the Copenhagen marathon. It's quite surreal to type that - it was just an ambition for so long, and now it has transformed into a reality. We have had quite cold weather during the last few weeks (apart from the 3 amazing days at the start of May), so yesterday when the sun was shining and there were blue skies, I wasn't sure what to expect during the race. However, I just put it out of my mind and slapped on the sun cream! I definitely knew by now that I could run the race (following a lot of doubt for months!). But you never know how your body will react to running 42km (26 miles) on any given day, no matter how much you have trained.

I was very lucky to have amazing support during my training schedule in Aarhus (Esben especially), and then to have a whole team behind me in Copenhagen (Esben and his family). On Saturday, Esben's Mum cooked a meal that was appropriate before running a marathon, and his Dad had kept the marathon supplement from the paper to make sure I had the best tips on the preparation for the marathon. Esben's Dad was also our taxi into the race, dropping us practically at the starting line :o)

Before the race I felt a little emotional - the fact that the day had finally arrived and I was about to do something that I have thought about for so long. In my head I knew I could do it, but the little niggling injuries that have surfaced over the past few weeks were also at the back of my mind. The good thing about starting down the field means that it takes a little while to get over the start line (about 12 mins for me). So as the starting gun fired, I thought I needed to go to the toilet - this could also be nerves - but decided anyhow to go to the toilet. Amazingly there were no queues, and in fact, I did need to go to the toilet! So when I got back to the starting group, they had only moved about 100 metres. Esben was a great support at the start, and he calmed any nerves I still had when it was time to start running.

Music started in my ears and I began to run along with thousands of other people all wanting to achieve the same thing - well, in terms of finishing. I'm sure some people had a specific time in mind. I thought that I would try to finish somewhere between 4.20 and 4.30. The main thing was to enjoy the race. So my plan worked out I guess - 4:28:28 - and still smiling at the end! It was quite surreal at times running around Copenhagen and just saying to myself  'I'm running a marathon'.

I realise in hindsight that I was lucky yesterday. I did get pains in my legs, a strange twinge at 18km in my right calf, another strange twinge up my left leg to my hip, but I kept thinking - I'm going to finish, so my legs better get used to that. I also wasn't sure how to actually 'stretch out a pain' even if I had tried to. But many people were forced to stop along the course - some collapsed from the heat (average 20 degrees yesterday, blue skies), some from muscle cramp, some had probably 'hit the wall'. I made sure to keep myself hydrated and was eating gels every 5km - something I wouldn't usually do, but given the heat and the length of the race, I thought that I should really keep the sugar levels up. The hardest bit for me was between 34 - 38 km. Most people say it is the last few km, but actually I got to the 40km marker without realising that I had passed 39km. And then I realised that my goal was in sight. And then I saw the 42km marker and just started running as fast as I could to the finish line. I couldn't really feel that my feet were hitting the ground, but I knew I was moving. This was a great feeling and the crowds throughout the whole course were so encouraging and really motivated you to keep running, even during those dark times. It was great to see Esben's aunt and uncle along the route, and they took a few 'action' photos too. Because of the new app for the marathon which allowed you to track any competitor, Esben knew where I was on the course and was able to be at a specific spot to see me run by. At one point I nearly didn't recognise him, but I did recognise my camera!

After receiving my medal, a rose, drinks, mini cinnamon rolls, (and the possibility of beer), I met up with Esben back where he had left me to start the 42km run. We sat on the grassy area, along with many other runners and their friends and family enjoying the lovely sunshine, listening to music and watching runners reach the finish line on a big screen. I was also able to get a free leg-massage, which was very much appreciated. It was a really nice afternoon. Then as a treat we went to Paradis to get some yummy ice-cream (5 different flavoured scoops at that!). And then the S-train home.

I felt very proud of myself and it was all in aid of a great cause!

After the race...

Before the race...

During the race...Hey Esben!

Copenhagen in the sunshine

 


 



   

The importance of Skype

Yesterday my niece Anna turned 3. This might be the age when children understand that it is their birthday and that everyone is wishing them the best. If they are having a small party, they know it's because they were born on that day, and therefore everyone is celebrating their special day. We had sent Anna a card, which we hoped had arrived on time (and it did - she even got a paper cut opening her cards, felt so sorry for her, it was really stingy!). We weren't able to get home for her birthday, and we wanted her to know that we hadn't forgotten about it. So we decided to Skype on the day, but weren't sure if anyone was home. Lisa had changed her day off, so they were home and we could skype (May 17th is a holiday in Denmark, and incidentally Norway's national day, so lots of celebrations going on in the Jensen household). It was a great feeling to be able to see Anna on her birthday, even though we weren't there. She knows that we are coming to Dublin on Wednesday, and told me so when I said I would see her soon. We're going out for more cake next week to mark it again, and to mark an early 1st birthday for Maya. Seeing everyone on Skype yesterday made me feel like I was there and I wasn't missing out on anything. Anna was busy showing me her lovely new kitchen (which she had been cleaning and cooking in from early morning), and as Lisa and I were chatting on Skype, you could see Anna becoming tired. Being the birthday girl is a tough job - especially when you're three. Now I realise why birthday parties only lasted 3-4 hours, but in my mind we were there all day long :o) It's times like this that I realise how much technology has helped with the move away - and I've very grateful for it!

A great SPOT festival

Last weekend (Friday and Saturday) we attended the SPOT festival in Aarhus. It was held in a few different venues in the city, but these music venues are all pretty close to each other, which helps when you're trying to see so many bands in two days. The festival showcases many up and coming bands from Scandinavia and also a few established bands, which I mentioned in an earlier post. The great thing about the different venues is that we got to see bands play in the concert hall, which is a pretty impressive building. The newly renovated Godsbanen has venues of all different sizes, and this is great for providing more 'intimate' music sessions. It will be interesting to see over the next year which bands start becoming more popular - thoroughly enjoyed the two days of new and inspiring music.

That's a big SPOT

SPOT festival, Aarhus May 2012

Ginger Ninja -  Musikhuset Store Sal

Marybell Katastrophy (DK) vs. Nils Frahm (DE)

Travelling Tribes - Copenhagen

Headquaters - for a quick break

And so the summer begins....

Usually I never think of 1 May as the start of summer. In my mind summer always started when you finished school or university for the summer holidays, so the date would change every year. But it would begin around the end of May, start of June, and continue until I had to go back to school/university again. However, some countries have a very strict sense of when the seasons happen through the year. And I've been told it's summer. Great! And of course, clear indicators that summer has arrived also help. Since yesterday, 1 May, the weather is amazing. Really sunny and warm. Up until now we have had quite a bit of wind, fair amount of sunshine, but also quite a bit of rain last week. And just like magic, summer started yesterday! While walking up to dance class last night I noticed the cherry blossom is in full bloom - it was like it happened in the space of 24 hours. Everything feels different - I suppose it's all part of the joys of summer - long may it last :o)