What Went Well?
All accommodation was good
iPhone translator was pretty good
Accommodation very convenient for the stadium, the town and the lake area
The transport (Rail from Fegihgy and local buses) were good
Met lots of good people
Breakfast was good
I enjoyed shopping at the local co-op
I enjoyed the food at Pizza Maffia and I liked a relaxing beer at the Little Cafe
The college campus was very nice
The town was so clean and tidy
The people were friendly
The ice-cream was good and plentiful
The Langos was interesting
The Gyros Pitaban was tasty
What would I do differently?
I didn't need long bottoms and two weatherproofs
I didn't need two weatherproofs - on for the journey would do
I needed more GBR kit - shorts, vest and T-shirt
I should have taken the kettle
Should have taken a mug, a sharp cooking knife, kitchen roll, cling film, bowl, tea bags, coffee, milk powder
2 European adapters
Maybe run the 800 and 1,500 in hot climates rather than the 5,000
Buy a dictionary well in advance from Amazon or similar
What did I learn?
It is hot in Hungary
It is clean and tidy
Nyiregyhaza is a very nice place
Drunks outside Reading Station
Facilities at Reading Station close early on Friday Evening
What still puzzles me?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Vocabulary
Vocabulary
here are some words that I learned which were reasonably essential.
Food
Sajt = cheese
Tej = Milk
Tejszin = Cream
folos=cream
tejfolos = creamcheeseGomba = Mushroom
Kukorica = Sweet Corn
Leve(ek) = Soup(s)
Sonka = Ham
Csirkenmell = Chicken
Fustolt = Smoked
Paradicsomos = Tomato
Alap = Base/Sauce
Brokkoli - Broccoli
Fokhagymas=Garlic
here are some words that I learned which were reasonably essential.
Food
Sajt = cheese
Tej = Milk
Tejszin = Cream
folos=cream
tejfolos = creamcheeseGomba = Mushroom
Kukorica = Sweet Corn
Leve(ek) = Soup(s)
Sonka = Ham
Csirkenmell = Chicken
Fustolt = Smoked
Paradicsomos = Tomato
Alap = Base/Sauce
Brokkoli - Broccoli
Fokhagymas=Garlic
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday 13/07/10 - Friday 23/07/10
Tuesday - 13/07/10
The journey started with a taxi to Newport station which is currently being overhauled and spruced up - presumably for the Ryder Cup. I had a fairly uneventful journey to Crawley, I left Newport on the 13:09 train to Paddington and got the Circle line to Victoria and from there a connecting train to Crawley. On arrival at Crawley station I found the hotel easily enough - it was less than 15 mins stroll from the station with wheeled suitcase in tow. The Barrington Lodge was clean and tidy, though the room was a bit small. The Half Moon pub was just round the corner but I jogged to the Crawley retail and leisure park and had a meal at Bella Italia and cashed in some of my Tesco club card deal vouchers in the process; the food was pretty good. I then jogged back to the hotel and also checked out the location of the bus stop for the following morning. Other food options at the retail park included TGI Friday, Pizza Hut, Frankie and Benny etc. Later, after jogging back to the Hotel. I had some diet coke and crisps and played pin ball at the Half Moon.
.
Wednesday - 14/07/10
5 minutes walk to the fast way bus stop and there were frequent buses . Oops, I missed the Gatwick South Terminal bus stop which was on the roadside, not inside the airport! I spent an extra 30 minutes on the bus doing a sight seeing tour of Horley before it dropped me off on the way back. There was a 25 minutes queue at the Easy Jet check in which had opened 3 hours before the flight. so I didn't have much time to spare. I collected my pre-ordered Forint at the air side travelex downstairs on airside and some food & drink at Pret a manger. I met Derek Morgan, a sprinter from Bristol, He mentioned the Charlie Francis book (Speed Trap) as a good read. I also saw Fiona Bishop and Brian Williamson too. Derek works for swift computing - he mastered in maths. FB knows Colin lives in Woking, works in Stevenage. Second mishap was when I arrived at Ferihegy I managed to leave my main suitcase by the information desk. I had boarded a 200E bus to Kobanya-Kispest by the time I realised. I had to get off that bus at the next stop, cross the road and get a bus back to the terminal where I retrieved my suitcase from where I had left it! I got to Chesscom with no further incident though I did take the long route round the building site. After ditching my stuff at the hotel I got the metro into Budapest and spent a nice afternoon and evening touring the city.
Thursday - 15/07/10
I figured that I should have brought a daily folder to split off the itinerary notes for the next stage of the journey and a black bin bag for dirty clothes. There was no kettle in Hotel Chesscom which other than that was a good choice as a stopover. There was a small shop next door at which I got my first taste of the short cups of Hungarian coffee. I taken two electrical adapters, my blue adapter had a dodgy loose pin which got stuck inside a wall socket. I jhad to retrieve it without getting electrocuted! The other one I took was a US adapter and so was not much use. A little worrying then until I managed to mend the blue adapter. There was a power cut in the early hours which took the air conditioning out for a while and made me wonder if my blue adapter was the cause! Back at the airport the train booking was fairly easy and the journey was very pleasant, nice comfortable trains! At Nyiregyhaza I got a bus to the stadium and headed for the TIC. Registering took about 90 minutes, after dumping stuff in my room, I got a bus to Stadion 2 and watched Archie in the 10,000m. I had some pasta in pizza maffia a small restaurant and take away near the college. I took a bus to the station in the evening and walked back via the town centre, getting slightly lost in the process. I didn't have much success with the wi-fi network at the college the purpose of which I suspect was to manage the vending machine network I met Jamie from Manchester University at this time. The Manchester University team researching Masters Athletes were in attendance at these games, as they were in Lahti.
Friday – 16/07/10
I did some shopping next morning at the coop. I decided that I was very tired – so I lay on the bed and slept until 11:45 and missed Glyn’s heat which was at 11:46. Glyn qualified 2nd in his heat and 3rd fastest in approx 13.4. I took a bus into Town and got off short of the town centre this time and was able to get my bearings. The town is very pleasant during the day. I spotted the blues cafe-bar with a Turkish Gyros next door and noted it for a later visit. I bought some bananas in town, and then went back to the coop for more water. Tried to pay £50 for £5 worth of shopping! I also bought an EVACS “T” shirt for £7.
Went for a training run with some small efforts - thus
10 mins w/u 32 secs fast ; 4 mins walk ; 32 secs fast ; 5 mins walk ; 45 secs fast ; 5 mins cool down (37 degrees F)
Saturday - 17/07/10
In the morning I bought a small towel from the souvenir place in the TIC. I also chatted with several of the representatives at the future events stands. E.g. the next indoors is in Finland next April. The Worlds are in Sacramento – I chatted to Marilyn the USA team captain. There was a guy from Izmir, candidate city for 2012. I really relaxed and made sure there was no panic before my race. For lunch I grabbed a couple of rolls from the restaurant tent at the main stadium. I ran in the 1500 metres at Stadium 2. The call room procedure was a little chaotic. I was able to check in just by showing my race number and Accreditation card.
Schedule
Time Activity
14:30 Took shuttle bus to Stadion 2
14:45 Arrive Stadion 2
15:50 Check in at the call room
16:10 Warm up
16:40 Report to call room
16:50 Race
The race
The race went fairly well. I ran an even pace for a lap and three quarters. My objective was not to come last. A Finnish runner overtook me early on but did not get too far away. I pulled him back and sat in behind him noticing that on the 3rd lap he slowed and we lost 8 seconds from a 5:30 schedule. I kicked with 400 to go and left the Finn behind. I felt really comfortable in this race. Maybe I could have worked harder and got much closer to the Ukrainian who did 5:26; I think I could have got closer to 5:30. That was not in the race plan though.
Splits – 66; 2:34; 4:10; 5:38.20
Rather than wait for the 6pm bus I walked and jogged back across the railway, past the bus station and got a number 8 back to the stadium. After a wash and brush up I went back to the stadium to check on Glyn’s final result. I met Joyce Barrus. I walked around for a bit and then went to the Blues Cafe for a couple of beers to celebrate my race and then the Istanbul Diner for a Gyros Pitaban. I also had one beer back at the Student Campus. That’s the beer drinking over with until Wednesday pm.
Sunday - 18/07/10
I caught the no 8 bus to the end of the line. There is a lake with a water park and boats, cafes and restaurants. It is all very pleasant. I ran around the lake. I ran for about 30 minutes. I saw a big storm approaching and luckily a number 8 bus so I caught the bus back to campus and got there just as the storm broke. I spent the rainy period processing much of my e-mail through safari on my iPhone then went back to my room and had a pasta n sauce plus coffee. I also managed to get a weak wi-fi connection on my laptop. This network is all very peculiar. I can’t get an e-mail connection on the iPhone for example. In the afternoon I went across and watched the 400/300m Hurdles. I had gyros pitaban from the stall next to the stadion. I had a quiet night really.
Monday - 19/07/10
I went shopping at the co-op and spent about £13 on bread, ham, cheese, yogurt etc. That’s what I had for lunch. I chatted with Colin Palmer, Fiona Palmer, Michelle Hooton and Samantha. I watched some athletics – the 1,500 metre finals. I had a chat to Joyce who ran in the final W55. I went back to my room for cheese/ham sandwich plus yogurt and honey, coffee and cappuccino. I went back to the stadium for the 400 semi finals. Then back to the room, changed into my running gear and ran a couple of blocks with efforts.
9:09 warm up – 23 (3:09); 22 (2:10); 24 (2:42); 29 (2:10); 24 (2:01); 19 – 12:25 cool down (Total 36 minutes)
On my travels I spotted a small bar (The Little Cafe) and a “gyros” bar on my travels – to try after racing perhaps. Three was another mini-supermarket too. I’m spoilt for choice.
Tuesday - 20/07/10
Track races did not start until 3pm. I watched some women's 5000 metres races Michelle was running in the W50 age group. I also watched Sandra Branney, Gail Duckworth and Anne Darby in the W55 age group. Additionally, Fiona ran in the 400.
Although I'm obviously a lot fitter than I was, I can see from looking around that there is potential for me to improve even more. It is educational and inspiring - I am improving as others decline. I might win a medal one day. A medal at the Welsh Champs is almost guaranteed. The British champs will be tougher but still possible. Paradoxically the World champs offers a better medal chance than the Europeans- we shall see!
Wednesday - 21/07/10
Schedule
Time Activity
12:30 Took shuttle bus to Stadion 2
12:45 Arrive Stadion 2
14:00 Check in at the call room
14:10 Warm up
14:40 Report to call room
165:0 Race
The race
The race was disappointing. I set of conservatively but I was unable to increase my tempo. It was a very hot day. The Finn beat me comfortably, The Spanish guy lapped me.
Splits
Distance Lap Time Total
200 48 48
600 1:41 2:30
1000 1:41 4:11
1400 1:41 5:53
1800 1:45 7:38
2000 53 8:31
2200 54 9:25
2600 1:50 11:16
3000 I:52 13:09
3400 1:51 15:01
3800 1:53 16:54
4000 57 17:52
4200 56 18:48
4600 1:51 20:39
5000 1:44 22:24
After the race I had a couple of beers in the little cafe, then some pasta with Glyn and Avalon. I then went to town for a beer in the Blues Cafe and a gyros at the Istanbul. I also had a hot dog and an ice cream on my travels. Back at the campus I chatted to Colin, Fiona, Michelle and Samantha and had a glass of wine and some coffee.
Thursday - 22/07/10
I got up early to watch Glyn and Brian run in the 200 metre heats. I also watched some 800 metre heats. I thought Bilal might be there - but he wasn't. In the early evening I went for a 55 minute run from the campus to the second stadium, via the ring road and then back through town to the campus. I went across to the little cafe for a couple of beers and then to pizza maffia for a pizza. I got back reasonably early and started packing.
Friday - 23/07/10
I left the campus early and had an hour to wait before the 9:36 train. The train arrived about 15 minutes early so I was able to board and settle in my seat. Te train journey was once again very pleasant - I even had a snooze for a while. There was a small queue at check-in which I negotiated and then went through to the departures lounge were to use up some Forint I had a beer and some Hungarian soup. The prices in the airport lounge were about 3 times the Hungarian "street price". I went through passport control and had some trouble convincing the controllers that it was actually me. I have decided to get an up to date phot in my passport! I had a couple of beers the other side of security and chatted to Brian Cook and another guy who ran in the 60 or 65 age group 5000. I also met Steve Langdon a Kiwi from Wellington NZ who now lives in Bromley Kent. I had a snooze on the plane. We landed at North Terminal and were bussed to the South Terminal - it took a while for our bags to follow but they arrived in the end. We had landed at 17:01, I just managed to get the 18:03 train to Reading. I left Reading station to find some food. After being in such a nice place for several days it was disappointing to find quite a few drunks in the area close to Reading Station plus one guy urinating against the wall. Oh well back to the UK, 7pm on a Friday night!! I didn't really have time for any decent food so I grabbed a meal at Burger King and a Magnum ice-cream from the newsagents.. Reading station beyond the barriers was closing down for the evening it quite quite a depressing place. The train was on time and so I arrived back in Newport and got a taxi home. End of Journey!
.
Wednesday - 14/07/10
Thursday - 15/07/10
I figured that I should have brought a daily folder to split off the itinerary notes for the next stage of the journey and a black bin bag for dirty clothes. There was no kettle in Hotel Chesscom which other than that was a good choice as a stopover. There was a small shop next door at which I got my first taste of the short cups of Hungarian coffee. I taken two electrical adapters, my blue adapter had a dodgy loose pin which got stuck inside a wall socket. I jhad to retrieve it without getting electrocuted! The other one I took was a US adapter and so was not much use. A little worrying then until I managed to mend the blue adapter. There was a power cut in the early hours which took the air conditioning out for a while and made me wonder if my blue adapter was the cause! Back at the airport the train booking was fairly easy and the journey was very pleasant, nice comfortable trains! At Nyiregyhaza I got a bus to the stadium and headed for the TIC. Registering took about 90 minutes, after dumping stuff in my room, I got a bus to Stadion 2 and watched Archie in the 10,000m. I had some pasta in pizza maffia a small restaurant and take away near the college. I took a bus to the station in the evening and walked back via the town centre, getting slightly lost in the process. I didn't have much success with the wi-fi network at the college the purpose of which I suspect was to manage the vending machine network I met Jamie from Manchester University at this time. The Manchester University team researching Masters Athletes were in attendance at these games, as they were in Lahti.
Friday – 16/07/10
I did some shopping next morning at the coop. I decided that I was very tired – so I lay on the bed and slept until 11:45 and missed Glyn’s heat which was at 11:46. Glyn qualified 2nd in his heat and 3rd fastest in approx 13.4. I took a bus into Town and got off short of the town centre this time and was able to get my bearings. The town is very pleasant during the day. I spotted the blues cafe-bar with a Turkish Gyros next door and noted it for a later visit. I bought some bananas in town, and then went back to the coop for more water. Tried to pay £50 for £5 worth of shopping! I also bought an EVACS “T” shirt for £7.
Went for a training run with some small efforts - thus
10 mins w/u 32 secs fast ; 4 mins walk ; 32 secs fast ; 5 mins walk ; 45 secs fast ; 5 mins cool down (37 degrees F)
Saturday - 17/07/10
In the morning I bought a small towel from the souvenir place in the TIC. I also chatted with several of the representatives at the future events stands. E.g. the next indoors is in Finland next April. The Worlds are in Sacramento – I chatted to Marilyn the USA team captain. There was a guy from Izmir, candidate city for 2012. I really relaxed and made sure there was no panic before my race. For lunch I grabbed a couple of rolls from the restaurant tent at the main stadium. I ran in the 1500 metres at Stadium 2. The call room procedure was a little chaotic. I was able to check in just by showing my race number and Accreditation card.
Schedule
Time Activity
14:30 Took shuttle bus to Stadion 2
14:45 Arrive Stadion 2
15:50 Check in at the call room
16:10 Warm up
16:40 Report to call room
16:50 Race
The race
The race went fairly well. I ran an even pace for a lap and three quarters. My objective was not to come last. A Finnish runner overtook me early on but did not get too far away. I pulled him back and sat in behind him noticing that on the 3rd lap he slowed and we lost 8 seconds from a 5:30 schedule. I kicked with 400 to go and left the Finn behind. I felt really comfortable in this race. Maybe I could have worked harder and got much closer to the Ukrainian who did 5:26; I think I could have got closer to 5:30. That was not in the race plan though.
Splits – 66; 2:34; 4:10; 5:38.20
Rather than wait for the 6pm bus I walked and jogged back across the railway, past the bus station and got a number 8 back to the stadium. After a wash and brush up I went back to the stadium to check on Glyn’s final result. I met Joyce Barrus. I walked around for a bit and then went to the Blues Cafe for a couple of beers to celebrate my race and then the Istanbul Diner for a Gyros Pitaban. I also had one beer back at the Student Campus. That’s the beer drinking over with until Wednesday pm.
Sunday - 18/07/10
I caught the no 8 bus to the end of the line. There is a lake with a water park and boats, cafes and restaurants. It is all very pleasant. I ran around the lake. I ran for about 30 minutes. I saw a big storm approaching and luckily a number 8 bus so I caught the bus back to campus and got there just as the storm broke. I spent the rainy period processing much of my e-mail through safari on my iPhone then went back to my room and had a pasta n sauce plus coffee. I also managed to get a weak wi-fi connection on my laptop. This network is all very peculiar. I can’t get an e-mail connection on the iPhone for example. In the afternoon I went across and watched the 400/300m Hurdles. I had gyros pitaban from the stall next to the stadion. I had a quiet night really.
Monday - 19/07/10
I went shopping at the co-op and spent about £13 on bread, ham, cheese, yogurt etc. That’s what I had for lunch. I chatted with Colin Palmer, Fiona Palmer, Michelle Hooton and Samantha. I watched some athletics – the 1,500 metre finals. I had a chat to Joyce who ran in the final W55. I went back to my room for cheese/ham sandwich plus yogurt and honey, coffee and cappuccino. I went back to the stadium for the 400 semi finals. Then back to the room, changed into my running gear and ran a couple of blocks with efforts.
9:09 warm up – 23 (3:09); 22 (2:10); 24 (2:42); 29 (2:10); 24 (2:01); 19 – 12:25 cool down (Total 36 minutes)
On my travels I spotted a small bar (The Little Cafe) and a “gyros” bar on my travels – to try after racing perhaps. Three was another mini-supermarket too. I’m spoilt for choice.
Tuesday - 20/07/10
Track races did not start until 3pm. I watched some women's 5000 metres races Michelle was running in the W50 age group. I also watched Sandra Branney, Gail Duckworth and Anne Darby in the W55 age group. Additionally, Fiona ran in the 400.
Although I'm obviously a lot fitter than I was, I can see from looking around that there is potential for me to improve even more. It is educational and inspiring - I am improving as others decline. I might win a medal one day. A medal at the Welsh Champs is almost guaranteed. The British champs will be tougher but still possible. Paradoxically the World champs offers a better medal chance than the Europeans- we shall see!
Wednesday - 21/07/10
Schedule
Time Activity
12:30 Took shuttle bus to Stadion 2
12:45 Arrive Stadion 2
14:00 Check in at the call room
14:10 Warm up
14:40 Report to call room
165:0 Race
The race
The race was disappointing. I set of conservatively but I was unable to increase my tempo. It was a very hot day. The Finn beat me comfortably, The Spanish guy lapped me.
Splits
Distance Lap Time Total
200 48 48
600 1:41 2:30
1000 1:41 4:11
1400 1:41 5:53
1800 1:45 7:38
2000 53 8:31
2200 54 9:25
2600 1:50 11:16
3000 I:52 13:09
3400 1:51 15:01
3800 1:53 16:54
4000 57 17:52
4200 56 18:48
4600 1:51 20:39
5000 1:44 22:24
After the race I had a couple of beers in the little cafe, then some pasta with Glyn and Avalon. I then went to town for a beer in the Blues Cafe and a gyros at the Istanbul. I also had a hot dog and an ice cream on my travels. Back at the campus I chatted to Colin, Fiona, Michelle and Samantha and had a glass of wine and some coffee.
Thursday - 22/07/10
I got up early to watch Glyn and Brian run in the 200 metre heats. I also watched some 800 metre heats. I thought Bilal might be there - but he wasn't. In the early evening I went for a 55 minute run from the campus to the second stadium, via the ring road and then back through town to the campus. I went across to the little cafe for a couple of beers and then to pizza maffia for a pizza. I got back reasonably early and started packing.
Friday - 23/07/10
I left the campus early and had an hour to wait before the 9:36 train. The train arrived about 15 minutes early so I was able to board and settle in my seat. Te train journey was once again very pleasant - I even had a snooze for a while. There was a small queue at check-in which I negotiated and then went through to the departures lounge were to use up some Forint I had a beer and some Hungarian soup. The prices in the airport lounge were about 3 times the Hungarian "street price". I went through passport control and had some trouble convincing the controllers that it was actually me. I have decided to get an up to date phot in my passport! I had a couple of beers the other side of security and chatted to Brian Cook and another guy who ran in the 60 or 65 age group 5000. I also met Steve Langdon a Kiwi from Wellington NZ who now lives in Bromley Kent. I had a snooze on the plane. We landed at North Terminal and were bussed to the South Terminal - it took a while for our bags to follow but they arrived in the end. We had landed at 17:01, I just managed to get the 18:03 train to Reading. I left Reading station to find some food. After being in such a nice place for several days it was disappointing to find quite a few drunks in the area close to Reading Station plus one guy urinating against the wall. Oh well back to the UK, 7pm on a Friday night!! I didn't really have time for any decent food so I grabbed a meal at Burger King and a Magnum ice-cream from the newsagents.. Reading station beyond the barriers was closing down for the evening it quite quite a depressing place. The train was on time and so I arrived back in Newport and got a taxi home. End of Journey!
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