Having departed Lund with a lump in my throat, arriving back in Copenhagen at 9.30pm after a long, emotional afternoon was probably not the most ideal preparation for a half marathon. However, I felt more at peace with myself because I had finally gone through with something I had wanted to do for quite some time. That was all that really mattered to me about this trip.
I had no trouble at all sleeping that night and woke up in good time to have breakfast at the hotel and be ready for the 11.15am race start time. I knew there were bus and train options to reach the start but, just to make sure, I took a taxi from Central Station. Showing the friendly nature of the city, the driver could not take me all the way there due to road closures but got me as close as he could and gave me directions the rest of the way on foot. Sure enough, I reached Faelledparken over an hour early and, after making some enquiries, was directed to the elite tent. I got my number etc and could now safely relax and focus on the task ahead.
In all honesty, I did wonder how the previous day's escapades would tell on me but did all I could to be positive. In contrast to Saturday, conditions were wet and breezy though the rain eased off by the time we were on our marks. It was an extremely high quality field with a large African contingent. In terms of describing the course by landmarks etc, I'm not very good at such things but can provide the course map here. In the early stages, I wasn't feeling brilliant. I found myself loosely in a group with a French lady and a number of male Scandinavian club runners. For some reason, I got it in my head that I was not running quickly enough. By 5 miles, I had started to feel more myself and in a rhythm so made a move away from the group. The positive of a flat, open course like Copenhagen is, on a still day, you can really get your pace up. The negative on this occasion was it wasn't a still day. While not blowing a gale, the wind resistance was enough in places to both hinder and dishearten. Buoyed by the huge crowds it must be said, plus having my name shouted by several people (name on my number), I battled on as best I could. By around 9 miles or so, some of the group, including the French lady, caught and passed me. In hindsight, I ought to have stayed with them earlier on. All was not lost though as I was catching others and, in the last 3 miles, caught a couple of guys who themselves had dropped off the group.
Eventually I arrived back at the finish at Faelledparken and held on down the home straight without anyone catching me to finish 54th overall in 1:11:08. Not quite the time I was looking for but if I'd been more sensible at 5 miles and run in a pack, I may have gained another minute or so. You live and learn. I had however maybe used up too much energy the day before. I had plenty stamina but just not enough sharpness or oomph to gain that little extra. I did enjoy the atmosphere and had a minor triumph of being first Brit. 7 ladies, comprising 5 Kenyans, an Ethiopian and the aforementioned French Madame, finished ahead of me. The overall Kenyan race winner ran a world leading time of 59:14. The first 4 finishers clocked under an hour and 5th place was one second over it. Crazy stuff.
Back in the tent, as I regrouped, I met and chatted to the next Brit in after me, none other than a guy from Inverclyde, John Sharp. He had an equally energy sapping build up, attending a concert the night before! To coin a cliché, it's a small world. I soon discovered a breakdown of my 5km splits as well as my time and position- 16:28, 16:34, 17:15, 17:07. The 3rd segment would be where the group closed me down. Free massages were on offer so I took one to ease my legs then followed the crowds on foot to Osterport train station to get back into the city centre.
At the hotel, I showered and had some rolls (the remainder of the stuff I bought at Lidl on the Friday) I'd made up for myself and a hot drink. At around 4pm, my Dad sent me a text encouraging me to get a bicycle and do everything else I wanted to if I had the legs for it. Thanks to the massage, I did and duly hired one of the hotel bicycles again.
I embarked on a quick fire tour of the Copenhagen landmarks I wanted to see, stopping at the City Hall and Frederiksberg Palace, briefly sneaking into the latter before it closed. My determination to see the Little Mermaid then took over and I sought to find it with the aid of my Copenhagen city map. Had I brushed up on my Danish more thoroughly, I would have known the sign saying "Den lille Havrue" was directing me to my destination and not have cycled by. I retraced my steps, followed the sign and found another statue which turned out not to be the desired one then eventually accomplished my mission.
On my route back, I stumbled across Nyhavn, a quaint stretch of bars and restaurants along the canal. It was starting to fill up with folk out for dinner and drinks. I took a stroll along the cobbled street, discovering a couple of places selling pints of lager to take away (in plastic containers of course for safety). I felt I'd earned a drink so parted with 39 of my Danish krone in exchange for a pint of Carlsberg. I decided against eating here because I didn't know how to use the light on the bicycle and wanted to be back in the vicinity of the hotel before dark. I therefore leisurely drank my pint then headed on my way.
Just round the corner from the hotel, I had discovered a place called Café Apropos which served meals at night. The earlier wind and rain had given way to a pleasant, mild evening so I returned the bicycle to the hotel, took a table outside the café and enjoyed a beautiful 2 course dinner with another pint of Carlsberg while perusing some work related business I had taken with me to look over (as a solicitor, you rarely entirely switch off). The bill came to 280 krone (about £23!!). I was feeling content with life and had received good service from the friendly waiting staff so handed over 320 krone, declaring the extra 40 to be a tip. This constituted enough activity for one day and I retired thereafter for an early night.
The concluding part of this wee adventure will appear over the weekend.
In all honesty, I did wonder how the previous day's escapades would tell on me but did all I could to be positive. In contrast to Saturday, conditions were wet and breezy though the rain eased off by the time we were on our marks. It was an extremely high quality field with a large African contingent. In terms of describing the course by landmarks etc, I'm not very good at such things but can provide the course map here. In the early stages, I wasn't feeling brilliant. I found myself loosely in a group with a French lady and a number of male Scandinavian club runners. For some reason, I got it in my head that I was not running quickly enough. By 5 miles, I had started to feel more myself and in a rhythm so made a move away from the group. The positive of a flat, open course like Copenhagen is, on a still day, you can really get your pace up. The negative on this occasion was it wasn't a still day. While not blowing a gale, the wind resistance was enough in places to both hinder and dishearten. Buoyed by the huge crowds it must be said, plus having my name shouted by several people (name on my number), I battled on as best I could. By around 9 miles or so, some of the group, including the French lady, caught and passed me. In hindsight, I ought to have stayed with them earlier on. All was not lost though as I was catching others and, in the last 3 miles, caught a couple of guys who themselves had dropped off the group.
Eventually I arrived back at the finish at Faelledparken and held on down the home straight without anyone catching me to finish 54th overall in 1:11:08. Not quite the time I was looking for but if I'd been more sensible at 5 miles and run in a pack, I may have gained another minute or so. You live and learn. I had however maybe used up too much energy the day before. I had plenty stamina but just not enough sharpness or oomph to gain that little extra. I did enjoy the atmosphere and had a minor triumph of being first Brit. 7 ladies, comprising 5 Kenyans, an Ethiopian and the aforementioned French Madame, finished ahead of me. The overall Kenyan race winner ran a world leading time of 59:14. The first 4 finishers clocked under an hour and 5th place was one second over it. Crazy stuff.
Back in the tent, as I regrouped, I met and chatted to the next Brit in after me, none other than a guy from Inverclyde, John Sharp. He had an equally energy sapping build up, attending a concert the night before! To coin a cliché, it's a small world. I soon discovered a breakdown of my 5km splits as well as my time and position- 16:28, 16:34, 17:15, 17:07. The 3rd segment would be where the group closed me down. Free massages were on offer so I took one to ease my legs then followed the crowds on foot to Osterport train station to get back into the city centre.
At the hotel, I showered and had some rolls (the remainder of the stuff I bought at Lidl on the Friday) I'd made up for myself and a hot drink. At around 4pm, my Dad sent me a text encouraging me to get a bicycle and do everything else I wanted to if I had the legs for it. Thanks to the massage, I did and duly hired one of the hotel bicycles again.
I embarked on a quick fire tour of the Copenhagen landmarks I wanted to see, stopping at the City Hall and Frederiksberg Palace, briefly sneaking into the latter before it closed. My determination to see the Little Mermaid then took over and I sought to find it with the aid of my Copenhagen city map. Had I brushed up on my Danish more thoroughly, I would have known the sign saying "Den lille Havrue" was directing me to my destination and not have cycled by. I retraced my steps, followed the sign and found another statue which turned out not to be the desired one then eventually accomplished my mission.
Above: false alarm. Wrong statue.
Above: I got there eventually. Den lille Havrue watching over the river.
On my route back, I stumbled across Nyhavn, a quaint stretch of bars and restaurants along the canal. It was starting to fill up with folk out for dinner and drinks. I took a stroll along the cobbled street, discovering a couple of places selling pints of lager to take away (in plastic containers of course for safety). I felt I'd earned a drink so parted with 39 of my Danish krone in exchange for a pint of Carlsberg. I decided against eating here because I didn't know how to use the light on the bicycle and wanted to be back in the vicinity of the hotel before dark. I therefore leisurely drank my pint then headed on my way.
Just round the corner from the hotel, I had discovered a place called Café Apropos which served meals at night. The earlier wind and rain had given way to a pleasant, mild evening so I returned the bicycle to the hotel, took a table outside the café and enjoyed a beautiful 2 course dinner with another pint of Carlsberg while perusing some work related business I had taken with me to look over (as a solicitor, you rarely entirely switch off). The bill came to 280 krone (about £23!!). I was feeling content with life and had received good service from the friendly waiting staff so handed over 320 krone, declaring the extra 40 to be a tip. This constituted enough activity for one day and I retired thereafter for an early night.
The concluding part of this wee adventure will appear over the weekend.
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