2 weeks ago i take part in Rigas Nordea marathon competition, for which did i trained for almost

all winter long. I didn’t want to force my body, so i decided to run a half marathon (21 km). The first time i ever run such long distance as in my trainings i usually run 8 – 12 km.  My result i think is quite good for the first time.  144 place out of about 2.5 thousands competitors and my time 1 hour 32 minutes.  Previously i predicted that my time

ought to be about 1:25, but it’s all right. There was some reasons,  for example my shoes was not intended for running on tarmac surface, so i start to feel ache in my knees about in 16 – 17 km, which cause to slow down the speed.  My target this summer is to achieve 1:20 in 21 km distance. Although i plan to take part in Daugavpils marathon to run 42 km distance at end of the summer. To achieve that i increased my training distance to 15 km (150 – 180 km in month)

My planned competitions:

25 Jul – 6 hour  Latvian championship in rogain (announce dead time 15 jul – 10 Ls)

8 Aug – 21 km Kuldīgas half-marathon (announce dead time 8 jul – 5 Ls)

23 Aug – 42 km Daugavpils marathon (announce dead time 23 jul – 10 Ls)

27 Sep – 21 km Valmieras half-marathon (announce dead time 31 jul – 7 Ls)

29  Sep – 4 hour Folk-Rogain of Riga

Some time ago I took it for a joke, when my friend Martins asked me to join him to take part in some wild competition.  Its all about 12 hour orienting competition Talsu Rogainig 2009.  But when it come closer Martins excite me and we subscribed to this event.  12 hour competition starting at 9 pm and finished at 9 am, so most of the time there was a dark night. I borrowed from my other friend Martins night lamp,  prepared all my other orienting equipment, go shopping to buy food, but only necessaries things, few bottles of yogurts, nuts,  dried plums, few fat bacon broads and that’s all. Notice, you must carried along all this stuff, and every extra kilo is very important in that kind of events. And then we were ready.

We arrived in event center about 2 hours before start would given. There were a lots of car’s from Estonia and Lithuania.  Few moments after we received a local region map with drawing control points in it. Every control point have value from 3 to 7. You must analiesed your path and which control points you attend and which you don’t, evaluating your state of physical condition.  Soon start of this race was given. First 2 hour’s until there were some sunbeams, was quite successful, bet then control point with value 7 was coming, putting in totally jungles. We spend about 1.5 hours on this point, unfortunately that was not enough to find it.  Then till first sunbeams was quite normal, we walk instead of run, so we gave up our hopes to good result in finish.  About 4 – 5 am i starting fight to my self.  Pains in my ankles, feets and knees was terrible. A lot of time and strength was loose, so we should updated our plan and recalculated our path.  We choose going only by roads and paths instead of woods and lands. About 2 hour before finish we met our friends, 3 old, humorous, guys. We acquainted with them short before start. Rest of race we complete together.

After finish I hardly can walk. Our result 106 points in overall rating which give us  36 th place of 55 teams. No so bad for first time, i think.  And i’m sure i take part in other competitions like this,  this summer. I’m even start looking for a better equipment for next event, poket and head lamps, waterproof backpack and some other new stuff.

Last weekend was Easter holidays (4 free days). With my girlfriend went to Daugavpils, where live her parents and relatives.  Weather was fantastic and we went out of Riga on Friday, and trip to Daugavpils was 230 km long. All my girlfriend’s relatives are Catholic and Easter celebration for them is very serious and traditional.  On Friday and Saturday must be following strict diet. It means that in menu is  no eggs  meat and milk courses, respecting the passion of the Christ.

Sunday morning in very early hours we went to ministration of the church.  End after this ceremony people going home celebrate resurrection of the Christ, drinking wine, eating eggs and meat courses. Monday morning all family went to countryside near Daugavpils for birch juice. Afternoon went back to Riga.  Thanks my girlfriends family for nice time.

Yesterday i visited dentist again. I do it very often. About two years ago i decided to use dental breketes to correct my tooth geometry, so why i must visit dentist every month. This time i am signed to dental hygienist first and after this (45 – 50 minutes)  other dentist adjusted my brackets.  Dental hygiene doc start to take around my tooth.  Doctor, young lady speaking with me very much, but mostly she talk’s about something like this. You have very dirty, smelly teeth. Are you smoking? Are you cleaning teeth? You have a lot of  dental stones in your mouth.  And repeating all time. After only 15 minute I’ll  sit on orto dentist chair already.  Soon I can walk without brackets, she promised me.  But she promising every time i see her. Oh Good I really waiting this moment.

So my visiting was only 20 minutes long, but i paid for dental hygienist 35 lats and for orto dentist  20 lats. Total 55 lats. So i felt realy fucked up. Big deal for them 55 lats for 20 minutes. I get drunk when thease tooth brackets take off me.

Last weekend there are finishing contests in orienting sports was occured.  And the main price which could be win in lotery amoung all competotors who finished at least in 20 compatitions was new bike. Of course, i lucky men,  who all life long did’t win any price, did’nt win anything although this time. But not to warry about, after summer season the main price will be a new car. So good luck for me in next time.

Last week astranomic spring has come. Wheater was just briliant, so i decided to spare  time in outdoors.  Near the Riga city in woods there was last winter orienting competition occurred.  During all season i take part in 19 stages (1 stage short to compleate season). All competitors, who finished with 20 stages take part in lottery, in which main price would bee a bicykle.  Thanks my girlfriend, she agreed to spare time in woods with me and take part in cometition also. So we decided walk through 4 km distance.  There was still 5 – 10 cm deep snow all round, so walking was a little bit tiresome