Jack orienteering - a forest near Kozmice

Michael writes...

I drove with Jack for about half an hour through some lovely countryside - small, steep-sided river valleys, awash with mixed forest - to a village somewhere past Sazava. Whilst he ran, I strolled in the trees, ate a sausage - normal Czech stuff.

So I'd know when to be at the finish, I asked how long he would be. "25 minutes - in my wildest dreams. 45 minutes if I have a bad day."

It was a good day - this picture of him sprinting up the hill to the finish was taken only 26 minutes after he set off:

Here's one taken a few moments later:



There was a traffic jam on the way home on our short stretch of motorway. Might there be a good alternative route? Fortunately I had in the map-reading seat a man who did orienteering for a hobby...

Babice 1/4 marathon 2014

Michael writes...

What do we learn from today's Babice 1/4 marathon?

This year...
...I was a year older than last year.
...I was 2 Kg heavier than last year.
...I did absolutely no training.
...the day before the race I drank four beers and a slivovice.

Me today - after the race

Result? 55 min 25 sec.

Only a minute slower than last year - and Vera said I looked more comfortable crossing the line than she'd ever seen me at the end of a race.

So what we learn is that training is of questionable benefit and that beer is good for you.

Michael's new job

If you click here you'll see some photos of the PE teacher in action...