European running Challenge

Sunday 31st March 2019 Constanta Sand Marathon  Romania No 28  Richard 02:28:19 Jackie 02:37:41 So this is our final run , Romania was the only country in the EU that we had not visited and run in . We had a late flight from Liverpool and with the 2hr time difference we arrived in Bucharest at 02.55 so it was 4 am when we arrived at the hotel . We were up for breakfast at 9am as we had to catch the train to Constanta on the shores of the Black Sea . Buying a ticket late all seats had sold out and we had to stand for the 2.5 hr journey . It was with great relief that we arrived at our hotel , it was 4 star but very inexpensive and we weren't disappointed . The room was lovely and  had a large balcony overlooking a lake , we had 3 nights here and a chance to relax after all the traveling.       Constanța is a city on the shores of the Black Sea, in southeastern Romania. Its long history,  goes back over 2,000 years.   Having a beach length of 8 miles, Mamaia an admi

Sunday 24th March 2019 Sezana Half Marathon  No 18 Slovenia (re-arranged ) Richard 02:11:05 Jackie 02:20:51 This is the run that was re-arranged after we had to cancel the Ljubljana half marathon due to my kidney stone in October .  With the internet it is fairly easy to find the runs but a little more tricky to get there . Sezana is located close to  the border with Italy and the nearest airport is Trieste .  The only airport we could find a cheap flight to Trieste was Ryan Air from Stansted so this involved a 3.5 hr drive . We got back from Cyprus on Wednesday 20th March and left for Stansted at 5.30 am on Friday 22nd March , just a day to cut the lawn and catch up with bills . Hiring a car from Trieste  we realised we were only 1.5 hrs away from  Ljubljana and decided to find a hotel there and do the 1 hr drive to Sezana on the Sunday morning for the run . It didn't start till 11.00 am so it gave plenty of time and the roads in Slovenia are very good and drivin

Paphos Half Marathon Sunday 17th March 2019 No 27 Cyprus Richard 02:07:43 Jackie 02:20:46 If you want to combine a holiday with a bit of running this is ideal . The only draw back is the 5hr flight which was our longest yet but with the whole series of "Line of Duty " downloaded on my phone the time passed quickly . On all our flights I would say 70% to 80 % of passengers are watching films or playing games on phones and tablets and I wouldn't be without mine . A pleasant addition to this trip was the inclusion for the first time of the "Wine Run ". It took place on the Friday and was a 5km route round a wine estate up in the hills . The 30 euro entry included a t- shirt the bus to the start and back and a  tour of the winery (including tastings) after . It was a huge success and massively oversubscribed as it was limited to 200 but I guess that could easily have been doubled .   The race was on the Sunday and after a couple of cloudy days the su

      Before I start I just want to raise the question of Brexit and I will try not to mention it  again , if that's possible! We wouldn't be doing it if not for Brexit .So lets say it was inspired by Brexit . I have learned so much from Brexit that I didn't know before . There are 28 members of the European Union , could I name them all , not a chance . Can I now , yes I think so .There are 19 countries in the Euro Zone , could I name them , no way , can I now errr probably not . I have a fair grasp now of the single market and how it works and I get why trade deals are so complicated and important . In fact I am now more European than I ever was .        So why are we doing it ? Because we can for a start , we were very lucky to sell our business after 25 plus years in 2007 just before the financial crisis of 2007-2008 . We now run a small online retail business from home which gives us a small income , but also bags of free time . Lucky us , but free time has to be fill

 I  have done a blog that covers information about the trips . This is primarily for anyone who fancies trying one . My sister has expressed an interest , new to running and on her second park run (33 mins), she wants to build up to a half marathon sometime next year , so if anyone fancies checking out the info it's all here.                                      ricardoandjackiechallenge.blogspot.com So far we have entered Clonakilty in Ireland , Malta , Paris , Berlin, Sofia, Helsinki and Porto , so a few to go yet . The rest of this blog will be in diary from updating events as we go along . Hope you enjoy it .                 We  have pledged £10.00 for any half marathon I do in over 2 hrs and 2 hrs 15 mins for Jackie and £50.00 for any country I miss . Below are our previous and updated  half marathon results . Richard                                                              Jackie Lisbon     2015  02:02:52                                 Lisbon      2015  02:15:22

Nafplio Half Marathon Sunday 3rd March 2019 No 26 Richard 02:03:06 Jackie 02:15:50 This was now our 4th run in a row after Belgium on the 9th, Verona on the 17th and Split on the 24th . We had arrived back from Split on Tuesday 26th and we were off to Greece early on the Friday . I had never heard of Nafplio before and hadn't been to Greece for over 30 years .   " Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf"  It has an impressive history and is overlooked by the Palamidi Fortress built by the  Venetians in the 1600's. It is possible to reach by road but we chose the 999 steps on the day after the run and we paid the price the day after .    " During the Greek war of independence  Nafplio was a major Ottoman stronghold and was besieged for more than a year. The town finally surrendered on account of forced starvation." " Tourism emerged slowly in