Ok, so I didn’t make it, I had to drop out of the Zürich New Years marathon. The day was like this for me: up 06.30, eating, talking with the police to get a provisorial passport as my real one was ‘unavailable’, 08.45 Socialmarathon started on Amager (Copenhagen), I finished in 5.08, then back to home, passport had become available (thank God !), 17.30 driving to the airport, 20.00 take-off to Zürich, then local trains to Schlieren, walking to race area, changing, waiting, race start at 00.00 01/01/2007 ! Running with head lamps in absolute darkness on both sides of a canal system was just amazing ! But…after 2 hrs 53 and 23.74 km minuttes my right knee said ‘STOP’ and I had to obey…risking serious injuries is just not my game. I was picked up by car after 10 minutes of waiting, that was great service. Then, after a shower, I was waiting 2 hours for the trains to run again…then back to the airport…sleeping 3 hours on two chairs…and take-off at 12.00 01/01/2007. What an adventure…and even though I did not finish the race I learned a lot from the experience, stuff that I will use in the races to come. HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Here I give my take on the best marathons in 2006. I have divided into four groups. Let me hear your suggestions also…you need only to register (free !) and then you can write comments to the blog. You find links to the races via ‘My marathons’ in the menu.
Overall
1. New York (USA)
2. Hamborg (Germany)
3. Paris (France)
4. Monschau (Germany)
5. Natursti (Denmark)
Big-city marathons
1. New York (USA)
2. Hamborg (Germany)
3. Paris (France)
4. Berlin (Germany)
5. Copenhagen (Denmark)
Nature
1. Monschau (Germany)
2. Natursti (Denmark)
3. Grenaa (Denmark)
4. Aabenraa (Denmark)
5. Kalundborg Winter (Denmark)
Small races
1. Aabenraa (Denmark)
2. Kalundborg 5-tower (Denmark)
3. Växjö (Sweden)
4. Göteborg (Sweden)
5. Grenaa (Denmark)
The deep meaning of these words can be understood by reading the excellent book “The Nature of Personal Reality” by Seth/Jane Roberts. Jane Roberts was one of the most well-known psychics in the world and lived to channel the teachings of the ‘spirit’ Seth. Now, whether you choose to believe in that kind of ‘set-up’ or not, Im sure you’ll find this to be a book that can actually change your entire life almost overnight. I did for me ! You will find yourself loaded with encredible powers, insights and love after reading this ‘out-of-this-world’ book. The mental stuff you can extract from this book will surely also make you a better and stronger runner (or anything else) that you ever – until now – thought possible. The challenge is yours – you create your own reality !
What is spirituality ? Even after 35 years of thinking about it, I dont know. I can remember, quiete clearly, that I was questioning the meaning and purspose of life at the age of five ! I know that I have consumed large amounts of New Age litterature, philosophy books and psycology stuff since my early teens. Searching. These days I tend to believe that spirituality is now and that it is simple. That it is being present … with your loved ones, commited to a job, to your values, to your religion. That it is the wind whistling in the trees during a run, the smile on your childrens face, the sighs of your lover. That it is you being rooted and connected with the Earth and the earthly things. Dish your daily table with love – and be the best you can for yourself and others. That is spirituality – and not scary.
I have been a mountain hiker since the age of 4 and I climbed my first peak at age 5. Having spend more than 30 holidays in the Norwegian mountains typically walking 6-8 hours a day I believe I can be credited for some experience in the art of enduring long fatigues on the mind and body. But make no mistake: I love it ! Same thing goes about running, especially running longer distances like marathons…I think these activities can be seen as a kind of body spirituality which brings about thoughtfullness and contemplation. Like Spiderman sitting alone on the top of a skyscaber in New York, what is better than to sit on a mountain top and enjoying the quietness and the views of the landscape just explored….or when running a marathon and soaking up experiences and dealing with the important issues and thoughts in life ? The ability to endure these long-running activities and to slowly but steadily increment the forces of body and mind….is a true gift that any human should have. Wisdom may spring.