Running in Budapest

Back to Budapest. This is my third time here. I thoroughly enjoyed the other two. I don't see why I won't do so again. One difference: the weather is pretty durn cold and yuchy out there - temps around freezing most of the time, and a bit of ice and snow around. Pretty gloomy too.

01/10/08 - The ice was a factor in today's run. I did the run that I've done many times before: over to Margarite Island, around twice, and back. By travelling on the Buda side, and by going around the longest way, it's about 12 miles. I confirmed that with my GPS today. I started slow (extremely slow), especially over the icy and slushy spots, especially on the way there. The tartan turf on the island's path was mostly clear, but there were some bad spots on the west side. I got moving faster during the 2nd time around. Even so, this was a PW at 1:49 - just over 9 minutes per mile. I'd better get moving better.

01/11/08 - The ice was worse today. I did the same run again, but the ice on the route to the island was treacherous this time. Once I got there, however, things were a bit better than yesterday. I did the usual 2 loops - 29 and 27.5 minutes, and then headed home for a total of 1:44.5. Slightly better than yesterday, but still slow.

01/12/08 - I did the same route for the third day in a row, and this one was by far the best yet. It was warmer (mid-30s) but there was still that black ice on the way over. The path on the island was better though. It broke down this way: 24 to the island, then loops of 27, 26.5, 23 back. 1:40 altogether. I finally reached 8 mpm whilst on the island - I was checking my time by the km markings.

01/13/08 - When I’m in a new place, I usually explore a great deal by running, often returning to interesting areas later to explore more fully. I was clued into the good place to run in Budapest (Margaret Island) right from the start, and I’ve hardly run anywhere else. It’s great for running, and the other areas pale by comparison. But on low-traffic Sunday I decided to explore more, and I managed to see some areas that were new to me. The most important of these is Obudai Island. It’s north of Margaret Island, and tougher to get to. Much of it was deserted, and there was ice on the paths and even the roads. I turned back but then found a second bridge onto the island and found a small village at that part. I hadn’t heard of this island until the previous day, but I think it will be more important to Budapest in the future as it will be developed much more. 70% will be left as a park however. Most of this run was excrutiatingly slow. I came back through Margaret Island and picked it up a bit for those last 3. 13 in 2:06. Felt like about 19. Ouch.

01/14/08 - Back to Margaret Island. Back to normal. In fact, this was the best run yet: 96 minutes. I achieved eightness. It wasn't easy - this time the frost was slippery. And once again I started on the slow side. The interesting thing is that I can keep doing this without a day of rest. I'll need one one of these days, but I'll keep going whilst I can.

01/15/08 - As noted, with that soft surface on the island, I don't seem to have any trouble with recovery. I've been able to run every day, and hope to continue. I've also been able to continue to get faster each day; always a good thing. It's bound to get tougher though. Today was especially good. I got the the island fast, and found the sub-8 minute pace on the first lap especially easy, so I thought I'd attempt a tempo for the 2ns one. It's been a long time since I've done an outdoor tempo. There's even been some failures. But this was a gem: 3 miles in 20 flat. 21 to the island, loops of 26, 23.5, 22.5 back. 93 minutes altogether.

01/16/08 - How long can this go on? I somehow managed to get faster still. This was in spite of being tired and running slightly slower (20:17) for the tempo and the early miles. I said slower, but it wasn't that much slower. The last part was stronger than yesterday, and that made the difference. 92 minutes.

01/17/08 - Well I did it. I wondered if it was possible to improve further. And it wasn't easy. I got to the island in 21.5 minutes and immediately started at tempo pace. For the previous two runs, I had waited until the 2nd loop. It was tough and I had some doubts, but I did just manage to do the tempo - 3 in 20:33. I finished that loop in 24, and then began another tempo - this time a bit faster in 20:17. I completed that lap in 23.5 and the trip home in 21.5. The result was 90:40, a PR for the course - no small feat.

01/18/08 - This would be my last run for this trip - I only wanted to do 9, and so that's what I wound up with. This time I stayed in Pest until the far bridge, and started on the island there. I stopped to place my hands on what I think may be the "lucky tree" to make a wish. And then I headed home. 9 slow ones - in 82. My next run should be from home.