general – Page 11 – Forza Åsa

Leaving London

We’re running out of time – there is still so much to see and do in this amazing city. Although, as much as we have enjoyed our stay here, it has also proved to be difficult, London – the city of opportunities – is not forgiving and if you can’t make it, you just can’t stay. We have experienced our share of the housing crisis, moved again and again and met one dubious landlord after another. I was ready to give up last autumn, but even though it added another bloodsucking landlord I’m happy we moved to Wembley. This lead to me joining the Sudbury Court Running Club which improved my social life considerably and helped me in my training for the marathon. We also found the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book club, which we truly enjoyed.

Quite nice diploma - somehow my name got lost, but never mind. — Quite nice diploma – somehow my name got lost, but never mind.

In a way, I wish we could stay longer. I have just got the taste of Park Run, a concept bordering on a religion as it seems – and this could have been a religion I could believe in. In addition, there are so many exhibitions that we have not yet made it to, like the Comix Creatix: 100 women making comics and we have not seen The Book of Mormon which we talked about since we came here. These are lost opportunities and a part of the problem that London poses – there is simply too much cool stuff to do. Sadly, many opportunities are lost and regardless of how hard you try there is no way keeping up. On the positive side, I just bought tickets for next Saturday’s show of Taming of the Shrew at the Globe Theatre.

At this point, I have nearly finished my studies, I defended my BA thesis yesterday: Comparison of Authentic and Simplified Text: a case study of Wuthering Heights. Now I have only one last assignement to finish in the parallel course, sociolinguistics – it is a short essay on loaded lexis in the Brexit propaganda. Work progresses slowly though, my brain is frying and I can’t wait to hit the road with the motorbikes. Leading up to that, I have managed to order a double camping mattress wider than my tent. It now stands between getting rid of the mattress or getting a larger tent. We do need a larger tent, mine is very small – but I had hoped to make that a later purchase. Well well, to make things further complicated, we lost Christopher’s bag on the way home from the centre yesterday. We had an otherwise fantastic evening celebrating my thesis and buying camping equipment. Now Christopher has to replace all his cards, including the driver’s licence. And all this while we prepare to move. And yes, since we are moving everyone naturally asks where we are moving and no-one seems quite satisfied with the answer “we don’t know yet”. “But hey you move in a week and you don’t know where” is the frequent response. We’ll I’ve heard that so many times now that it drives me crazy. For sure, it will work out somehow and we do have options, perhaps too many? I did get sidetracked for some time by a job opportunity in Tenerife – I could definitely see us packing the bikes and emigrating there. Running on the beach, riding in the mountains, island hopping around the Canary Islands on my holidays. There is even a marathon in the autumn. Well, it didn’t work out, unfortunately, so now we are back to plan A, which is Japan. Albeit no real job oppotunities have appeared yet, despite regularly sending in job applications, we have hope and autumn is still far away. Plan B, or one of them anyway, is Italy. Living, riding and running in Italy certainly has its appeal. One concern for us is, of course, the EU referendum and how a possible vote to leave the union will affect us as a mixed couple wanting to live and work within the EU. Less of a problem if we go to Japan I suppose, but still.

While I travel with spork and thermos mug eating my beans cold from the tin Christopher has some standards - project camping cooking is lanched — While I travel with spork and thermos mug eating my beans cold from the tin Christopher has some standards – project camping cooking is lanched

So while some things are uncertain and others very stressful, I do feel great satisfaction in what has been achieved lately. Apart from the satisfaction of finishing my essay, I’m also proud (still – I hope it doesn’t wear off too soon) of the accomplishment of running the Leiden Marathon and fundraising for Motorcycle Outreach! By today’s date we have reached our fundraising target and the giving page is still open so more money can still come in.

Mission accomplished - we're so damn proud! — Mission accomplished – we’re so damn proud!

Fundraising was hard work, harder than running, in fact. Mainly because I knew how to run, I just had to get better – while fundraising was something I had no experience of. I am now one experience richer and I would definitely do it again, it has been so rewarding to see the support from WIMA members, family and friends. Anneli and I will do a presentation and follow up of this in Hungary at WIMA’s annual rally and then we will see what marathon to do next, with or without fundraising, Tokyo Marathon is high up the list!

Official photo, at 42k - note that I'm the only one in this lot having done 42, the others are doing the 10k. — Official photo, at 42k – note that I’m the only one in this lot having done 42k, the others are doing the 10k.

I’ll end here, if this post comes across as a piece of rambling I have to say that it only reflects my state of mind. This year, more than ever, I need a holiday – please stay tuned for more coherent posts in the future when we head out to live with our bikes. First destination: Horizons Unlimited meet in Wales.

Our bikes parked outside our home - soon we will be parking somewhere else — Our bikes parked outside our home – soon we will be parking somewhere else

Happy Towel Day 2016

We have come to the time of the year when I like to look back in remembrance and appreciation of a man that gave us so much and left us too soon: Douglas Adams.

In moments of hardship, boredom or distress, I like to open The Book to find comfort in the words of wisdom. I find the following a particularly suitable passage to quote today:

“For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Once a year we celebrate Towel Day in rememberance of this great man and, for us, I believe it is as close as we get to a religious holiday and The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is as close to a holy scripture as I will get.

This year we wanted to do something especially special for Towel Day so we booked ourselves into the YHA hostel in Cambridge for the night and rode the motorbikes up to join the ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha for the Douglas Adams Tour of Cambridge.

The Douglas Adams' display at the YHA hostel in Cambridge — The Douglas Adams’ display at the YHA hostel in Cambridge

Having done our best trying to stay off the big A roads and rather use the smaller country lanes we arrived in Cambridge in search of motorbike parking. I must say riding with Christopher can be rather challenging in certain ways – he both complains that I forget that he doesn’t have 17 years of experience AND tells me off for not following the proper rules. Apparently I forgot that his bike doesn’t go faster than 80k and perhaps I was speeding a little bit, however my GPS said 95k and I was riding nowhere near that speed… apparently there was a 40miles sign, erhum. Obviously, the GPS is to blame. Obviously. In addition, he disapproved of the entrance to the car park that I found, and claimed that it was only for bicycles when it, obviously, was large enough for motorbikes as well. My defence consisiting of: no one saw so no one got angry – was not accepted. Apparently that is not a valid point in the land of CCTV. I wonder if this is how it feels to be religious? Imagining someone constantly watching over you, like a surveillance camera judging all your acts. Well, I will never know.

Anyway, I’m digressing. In Cambridge we dressed up with our nicest towels and headed to the train station where we met David Haddock, Douglas Adams expert and our guide for the evening.

The Douglas Adams Tour about to take off from the trains station, i.e. where the biscuit incident took place - or not. Photo Courtesy Robin Down — The Douglas Adams Tour about to take off from the train station, i.e. where the biscuit incident took place – or not. Photo Courtesy Robin Down

From there, we continued to Mill Road Maternity Hospital – now sheltered housing – where Douglas Adams was born and then onwards to where he lived his first years, where he lived as a student, followed by locations where he found inspiration for his writing and where he later worked with the students comedy club, The Footlights.

David Haddock with his Hoopy Frood towel telling us about where Douglas Adams were born — David Haddock with his Hoopy Frood towel telling us about where Douglas Adams was born

David Haddock was very knowledgeble (well, that is what expert means… da!) and shared quirky bits of information with us all through the evening. Well I do think I need to re-read the books now when I have all the facts, the staircase in Dirk Gently, for example, is inspired by the staircases in St John’s College, where Douglas Adams was a student. In fact, the Dirk Gently books are available as audio books so I might get them, again, since I have only read them with my eyes and not my ears. Not like The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, which I have consumed in every form available, English and Swedish. As for Dirk Gently, I have some catching up to do.

Christopher with his Japanese hand towel outside 72 Jesus Lane where Douglas Adams lived his first years

The tour ended in The Baron of Beef, where Douglas Adams used to drink, so we drank there, and next to where the tardis landed in Shada. In Cambridge, all is connected. On Saturday, the celebrations continue in Islington, apparently things are connected there too.

Nick wearing his Hitch Hiker hockey top for the occasion

After a good night’s sleep in the hostel we headed back towards London. Christopher had to wipe his brow with his Japanese hand towel after a sweaty incident in a roundabout where his bike stalled but a part from that all went well. My compliments to Christopher, it is hard work to be a learner <3

Post race analysis and evaluation of Leiden Marathon

I can hardly believe I’ve done it – I’ve completed my second marathon! I am so incredibly proud of myself! And yes Bev, thank you for pointing this out – I have earned it.

Anneli and Bernadette on a pre marathon run among the dunes near Bernadette's house — Anneli and Bernadette on a pre marathon run among the dunes near Bernadette’s house

The weekend building up to the marathon was very pleasant. Christopher and I met up with Anneli in Leiden, where we were collected by Bernadette, President of WIMA NL and our host for the weekend. We spent a very relaxed Friday evening chatting away about running and motorbike riding until bedtime. Saturday was spent in the same way and we headed in to the centre of Leiden for a stroll and to collect our race packs. Leiden is beautiful and we truly enjoyed ourselves. In the evening, we feasted on pasta, reminisced about WIMA rallies we had taken part in and talked about the joys of motorbike riding. The race started 10.30 Sunday morning so we could be rather relaxed with time and did not need to get up excessively early in the morning either. Also, we benefitted from having Bernadette taking us in to the centre in her car.

I'm mighty pleased they spelled my name right it does not happen that often — I’m mighty pleased they spelled my name right it does not happen that often

My main concern leading up to the marathon had been the weather – the forecast was for rain and I feared that the stretches along the poulders in the countryside might be very cold. However, on race day the weather turned out to be perfect for running, cloudy with some occasional sprinkles and very light wind. It could not have been better. Although I brought a wind jacket with me and a buff, I never needed them.

Posing with our elegantly printed running tops

The marathon route was very good. We started together with the half marathon and ran together for 11k before splitting off in different directions. Therefore, this first bit was rather crowded and, in contrast, the middle section of the marathon was a rather solitary run with the competitors quite spread out. This was not a problem at all since the locals in the area around Leiden put on a show for the marathon. There is a competition for the most supportive street along the route and some were going all out with a band and masquerade. In addition, outside every house and in every intersection there were people out cheering – and they cheered for everyone using the name printed on the bib. I must say they all did brilliantly in trying to pronounce my name. At the finish, by the bag collection, we were asked to vote for the most supportive street and for me there was a tie between the brass band and crowd support cheering me along all the way through the village making me feel like a winner somewhere at km 18, and the street with the church complete with nuns and angels singing and dancing for me as I ran along. When approaching Leiden for the last 5 kilometres, the marathon route joined with the 10k route and on my tired legs I joined the energetic runners who, with great leaps, were rushing towards the finish. The pavements were packed and people were having a party along the route cheering for all and everyone passing by. However, when they noticed my marathon-coloured bib they did call out encouragement especially for me, acknowledging I had come the longer route.

Leaving Leiden full of energy and with a very long way to go

My GPS watch had died somewhere after 4h 15min and I had no real sense of time – apart from that I was doing well. I had started off a bit too quickly due to influence from the half marathon runners but I felt ok. I also knew that sooner or later my left leg would go numb and walking would be necessary. This happened at km 29, from then on I alternated and did stretches of walking to regain the feeling of my leg. When entering the route shared with the 10k runners, I was told I had to keep right walking to not be in their way – this pushed a button and I thought, hell no, I’m going to finish running and I did run the last 5k 🙂 After all, finishing with dignity was one of my main goals, along with a sub 5 hour time. I clocked 4h 59min 41sec, and this allowed me to stop and pose for pictures when passing Christopher and Bernadette just before crossing the finish line!

The slogan for the Leiden marathon is “All about you!” and I do think they have managed to make the runners feel special in all kinds of ways: the crowd support along the route cheering us along, the nice people at the drink tables asking how you feel and what you need, the marshals providing sponges, the Red Cross staff cycling along the route… After finishing and getting a medal we got Aquarius, my favourite sports drink, and then we got beer.

I really think I did everything right at this marathon: I managed my speed well, quite even times along the route even though I walked occasionally towards the end. My energy levels were rather good, at the drink tables they provided banana as well as water and energy drink, and this complemented my energy gels and bars well. Towards the latter part we even got Coca-Cola and buns. With my medical condition, hypothyroidism, it is important not to exhaust myself too much because that can put me in bed for days. I was therefore pleased to have managed so well. I have only been moderately tired after the race, my body aches of course but that was expected. Tonight, I’m intending to run the social run with the club – hopefully a little jog will loosen up the muscles a bit. On Sunday, I was a super woman, yesterday I was offered help to descend the stairs in the train station coming back from the airport. The contrasts in a runner’s life.

We are so happy to have completed this marathon. Thank you Bernadette for hosting us during this WIMA fundrasing event!

I end here with a feeling of great satisfaction, completing the marathon was my accomplishment and I’ve earned it. But more importantly, I managed to do so because of all of you who supported me and sponsored Motorcycle Outreach. I did not run just for myself, I ran for all of you and I ran for the people in the rural villages in Tanzania and Indonesia who will benefit from the donations received. Together we are making the world a better place!

The giving page is still up if you want to take a look or post a late but very welcome donation!

WIMA ride and Run: Leiden marathon 2016

All photos: courtesy of Christopher Harry Calvert

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