In loving Memory of Fran Crippen (April 17, 1984 – October 23, 2010)

It's been a week that Fran has left this world to swim at a better place. He will be dearly missed and leaves a huge hole in the lives of those who loved him and in the swim world.

A few weeks ago, I've been chatting with my swim pal about going to the Sea of Galilee to swim a 3.5K fun swim. Unfortunately we didn't manage to go due to my friend being ill. Kineret Swim

I told him, that he owes me big time for "standing me up" and I teased him, telling him, that next year we'll do the 21K (13 Miles) across the Lake. He started laughing and said, "no way you'll ever manage that". Well he should know me better by now.

So the bet is on. I will take a coach and hope that very soon I'll be able to join the TI Group in Tel Aviv. This is by far the biggest challenge I am facing so far and most certainly crazier than running a marathon (which will be in 5 months and 1 week.. woohoo)

OW Swimming is not only physically very challenging but mentally just as much, especially when it comes to "marathon swimming". I did some OW 10 years ago in Switzerland and it was pretty crazy with all the other swimmers trying not to get punched and kicked too much.

This swim will be very different. Yes it is a tempo swim too BUT due to the distance there won't be too many people swimming. (lets hope.. the event will even take place... if not.. we'll do a 10K in Tel Aviv).

I am looking for a Charity to swim for at the moment. I am sure, the Crippen Family will put up a fond or I will be swimming to collect money for Swim 4 Humanity for which Fran was a spokesperson. (I have another 11 months, so I'll have some more time to find the right charity to swim for in memory of Fran)

Chased by 4000 Soldiers...

Just another "usual" race in Israel where most of the young population (18-23 y/o) is in the army. I signed up for an "easy" 8K (5 Miles) race. Thinking "oh this will be a cool one, with only about 450 runners, I finally have some space and can go without the pushing, pulling, kicking and punching". How wrong I've been.

The Ramat Gan Safari 8K had several running groups. The first one to go where the "easy fun runners" who did only 2K. 15 minutes later, we were supposed to start. In my mind again, "ah only 450 runners" and I decided to go to the front of the start line so I won't get lost again in the middle of it and hold back by slow runners.

Unfortunately, when I got to the event, (yes of course I biked... lol.. only 6 miles a way) I was a wee bit overwhelmed with all the people there. Tons and tons of soldiers... all dressed in running outfits and most holding an UZI. (yes.. only in Israel.. hahaha) I was most certain, they will run either ahead of us or start after us. After all, we paid for the race, so we should get our own start.

Again I had to learn, that in Israel there is just no order when it comes to racing. After the 2K went off, the speaker told us, "up to number 1000" please to the starting line. Guess what... all the soldiers (who had number 1000 and up) squeezed themselves in as well. No respect and no order. So trying to be in front, show to be a HUGE mistake. I ran away from a "stamped" of crazy soldiers who didn't show any respect towards "regular" runners. The course was at points so tight, we had to slow down to "walk-pace" which didn't make it easier for me.

The first 3K I kept a pace under 6min/K (well honestly, I had no choice.. there was no slowing down or speeding up space). Things like that frustrate me a lot and I was close to call it quits. It's honestly no fun to run like that. I didn't feel I was racing... I felt like I was chased by a crazy group of 4000 soldiers)

Around 4K (Halfway through) I started cramping.... my stomach again... I was in such pain, that I wasn't sure, if it would be smarter to vomit or faint. I decided to walk and breath my way through the cramps. I did so for 1K then got into running again. Cramps were manageable.

At  5.5K we entered the "Safari" which is the Zoo in Ramat Gan... funny enough a lot of runners slowed down to look at the animals... me being an animal lover did just the same. I walked almost all the way through the Safari, first enjoying it and thinking... "this is after all a cool end of the race" but after some time all that went through my mind was "poor animals, how dare we put them in cages".... So I started running again.

I did cross the finish line in a time of 55:59 which means... a pace just a weeeeee bit under 7/k. Taking into account, how much I actually walked... the time I ran was rather fast.

Seriously, a few more of those crazy races and I am ready for just about anything. I will never enjoy them. I believe they have to organize it better, especially if part of the runners pay and others don't have to. It's not fair for those who pay to be crushed by runners who don't care.

It's time, that Israel is putting a bit more effort into education those youngsters. Hey.. they are in the army... isn't the army THE place to learn discipline and order? Why can't those young people take that to the open street and races too?

I felt quite helpless during the first half of the race with all those young runners (yes.. they are about half my age.. so of course most of them they are stronger and faster) and it is frustrating to see, now one cares for the safety of the "regular" runner.

My time: 55:59
Age Group (20-34): 79 of 164 (I'd say.. not too shabby for cramps and walking... lol ok I admit.. I am a super fast walker... even most men can't keep pace with me when it comes to just walking hihi)

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Ask away... http://formspring.me/Muus76

formspring.me

Ask away... http://formspring.me/Muus76

10/10/10 Nike Night Run 10K

Another year has passed and here I am again. Fitter than last year, with good running shoes and the right spirit. Knowing what lies ahead of me. Or maybe not?

Battling all summer terrible stomach cramps which cut my marathon training rather short, I wasn't sure, I'll be able to run this 10K the way I wanted. But as we say in Switzerland "Probiere gaht ueber studiere" (trying beats thinking) and so there I was at 6:30pm in the drizzling rain, standing with over 10,000 others, waiting for the race to start.

Just like last year, they had a DJ and some very sporty people to get us warmed up. Now I am all game for warming up and stretching, but I don't believe in this "jumping around and wasting my energy pre-race". Never worked for me. I stretched on the side just as I do every day during my training. I got some water, keeping in mind that the first water station is 3.5K away and I might need a bit of fluid before. The temperature dropped quite a bit over the last few days, which made it a great eve to run.

The organizer announced that they are going to have two starts. One for the faster pace groups and afterwards for the slower ones (which would include me... I am still a slow runner). Unfortunately just like the other year, they don't check who's entering the start area, so after the fast ones went off, all the others just mixed. Having about 1000 people around you that run a slower pace is not exactly what you're aiming for if you wanna go faster than last year. All in all I had about 5000 runners ahead of me and 5000 "on my back". 

Crossing the starting line, I knew that I have to be very careful and not go too fast. Well that would not have been possible anyway with all the "traffic". I was lucky to make it without bruises to 3K. I lost a lot of time till 5K (pace of around 7min/k) and tried to overtake as many as possible but with so many people running more or less the same pace, it's really hard to do so. I got up some speed between 5 and 7K and was in a great mood. The funniest thing that happened to me getting closer to 7K was the thought of "oh no... it's over soon" lol.. ok THIS NEVER happened to me before in a race. I guess that's a good sign. Unfortunately, getting closer to the end, passing 8K the space to run got less (narrow street and a lot of runners/ walkers) and trying to get around them does take a lot of energy. I did get slightly frustrated by the "hold up" and somehow lost my speed, unfortunately. I did try to speed up getting closer to the finish line with a bit of an unsuccessful sprint but I did cross the finish line with a smile and no pain what so ever.

Unlike the previous year, we received water on our way "out" and got our medal ("I am a Night Runner" lol JEAH! I am!!!) I even managed to get an ice cream, which last year I somehow missed and almost fainted from lack of sugar. I felt great and of course, once most people finished running, it really started pouring down on us. (If you wonder.. yes.. during the race, the rain stopped.... sheeesh.. sooo typical haha).

Lessons I've learned from last year's race (and the TLV 10K in May): 

• Do not run too fast at the beginning (well it wasn't possible anyways... lol) 
• Stay focused, run your pace and don't let silly people who run super fast and overtake you lead you up to something that's not good for you
• Don't ever stop and walk, just keep running.. just keep running, running, running... lalalalaaa
• Keep an eye open to all sides... people who are faster don't care, they bump into you and you are the one getting hurt
• Keep an eye open to all sides... people who are slower don't care, they won't move, so you have to find the fastest way around them
• Enjoy the run, it only last an hour (+/-) and the feeling of running with over 10,000 others is great.
• Keep smiling, you never know when they make a picture and where that picture might show up later on.... ;) 
• Don't take those runs too serious, have fun, learn, get into the groove and go with the flow

All in all it was a great experience. Unlike last year, where I was forced to walk most of the race, was overtaking by just about every single runner, buuhuu and ended up feeling super sick and had both feed covered in blood from bruised toes, this year, I stayed injury free, felt great after the race (I was craving pizza lol) and enjoyed the atmosphere around me.

I know I can go faster but this was just not the race to prove it. There will be others, with less runners and more space where I can speed up. But I'd say it's a great race to get the feeling of "running in a huge crowd" and how to manage not to out-power yourself too fast. 

Run Stats:

2009: 

Time: ~ 1:30:00

Age Group: 1354 of 1798 (till age 39)

Total Rank: 9000 of 9387 (at least it's a cool rank # lol)

2010:

Time: 1:11:08

Females:  1800 of 3239 (no age group result so far)

Total Rank: 8810 of 10952 (3239 Women / 7713 men)

I can do better, but I am pretty proud of how far I got in a year. (and if you think about it.. I left 1400 girls behind me... so I like to think of all the girls beating me last year .. are now left behind.. lmao) 




One impressive fact: 


There were over 10,000 runners last night in a city with around 600,000 people living, in a country with around 7,000,000 citizens. This is very impressive if you compare to the NYC Marathon for example where around 45,000 run, the city (and surroundings) are around 8,000,000 and people from all over the world actually participate, whereas last night is was mostly Israelis. ;) It's most certainly the even of the year in Israel!!! Can't wait for next year ;)