Final German run

part 16, Bremen 14th August

Just before I headed home with Aj I thought I would try my final international “monster run” before I actually do THE international monster run!

Set off while Aj was cooking dinner for the both of us. Ha ha. We are like a travelling couple. I went out in the blazing sun, only aiming to run for 90 minutes, and see how I fared.

Off along the river I ran, sweating buckets within about 30 minutes. The port is really nice, and has lots of green open space around it, so I had lots of company. With the Berlin marathon only the next month, there were also lots of other runners on the loose.

I lasted 85 minutes before my right knee gave out in pain. The bad footwear has seemingly caught up with me and I hobbled achingly the last 5 minutes in mild agony. If those words can be put together…

Nice...eek!

Sweaty diners in Hamburg

pt 15, Hamburg, 14 – 15 August

22 minute run – Not much to report here. Went for a short short “tried to make it hard run”. Wasn’t that hard apart from some small sprints.

However, more interestingly, a portly “gentleman” with a greying goatee, a leather jacket with the arms cut off and tatts. He smiled and shouted at me in a thick German accent as I ran past his kebab stop off shop outside the hostel I was staying at.

(This was all while he was tucking into the biggest kebab)

Several times. I think it was encouragement.

"Go on son!"...(chomp chomp chomp)

Upping the ante in Berlin

part 14, Berlin 9th – 11th Aug

Run 1 -

40 minute run. This again proves a good way to see a large amount of the city. Running and making a route up as we run always keeps the run entertaining! Admiteddly I have severe hygiene issues as well. Not that I have bad body odour, but that I just bought one set of running clothes. The same for Aj. Given our bi daily runs, I simply chose not to wash them the whole trip. This meant I needed a 1 feet perimeter around me when running…

Feel the burn. Feel the pain. Just don't smell the smell.

Decent enough run. I am becoming comfortable over this distance. Aj begins to get heel pains. From running hard with no prior training, and also running in tennis shoes. Sadly this is to be his last run, as he has to drop off.

I continued the run, and had more time to appreciate Berlin’s architecture.

One more run – 55 minutes. Good run out on the roads. I found my “mode” with my music and was able to push myself a fair old bit. Don’t know what the diners bathing in the sun whilst eating outside thought about the sweaty Indian constantly running past.

Ha ha. Its called running in straight lines! Quickest way to not get lost.

Setting out from the doorstep.

The Castle of Nurnberg

part 13, Nuremburg, 8th August

64 minute run. Aj joined me again on my jaunt, and this time it was around the city walls, a castle complex. We had been out on foot all day so we were pretty tired going out.

Aj beating up the pavements of Nurnberg...

Sun was beating down again, but as we worked our way around the castle wall, we managed a cool 34 minutes around first time. Aj stopped here to go back to the hostel and I made a second loop, and managed a further 30 mins, going 4 minutes faster (all approx.). A good day’s running today!

City walls...

Hot 'ol Munich

part 12 Munich, Germany, 6th August

55 minute run. Aj came out with me for my first run in Europe. Impressed by his natural fitness, probably higher than mine. He lasted around 25 – 30 mins of solid running.

However, I am still having issues really pushing myself hard.

Heat played a role here as I was sweating buckets.