Running in Zurich

The consulting firm Mercer ranked the Swiss city of Zurich number one among global cities in its 2007 quality of life ratings (Tokyo is 35th. My hometown, Seattle, at a distant 49th at least managed to edge out Dhaka and Port Au Prince).

I certainly found Zurich a pleasant place during my stay there this past week. Everywhere I looked was so aesthetically perfect that it ceased to seem real, and felt more like a movie set or a Las Vegas casino faux version of a European city.

Of course the real criteria of livability for the readers of this blog centers around triathlon conditions. I can report that Zurich ranks pretty high on these standards. Most impressive was the sight of people swimming in the clear blue water of Lake Zurich right outside of the center of the city. In April no less. I also saw a number of cyclists on the bike lane around the 55-kilometer lake.

As far as running, fellow Nambanner and native of Zurich, Christian Sommer, suggested a wonderful course from where I was staying in the center of Zurich, the Hotel Schweizerhof; http://map.search.ch/8023/bahnhofplatz-7

The only real traffic I encountered during the entire 15km run was the trams and train commuters pouring onto the street just outside my hotel at 7am (people start work early in Zurich). After negotiating the first 200 meters from my hotel to the river, I was never forced to stop for traffic. I crossed a pedestrian bridge and followed the Linmat (river) straight out to the lake, running along the "Gold Coast" side of the lake until I reached China Garden, a gift of Kunming. I then returned back to the river, take the first bridge and continuing my run on the other side of the lake. It was all very convenient and efficient. Apparently if I had just a bit more time, the nearby mountain forests offer even more appealing runs.

While I am not yet convinced Zurich would rank at the very top of my triathlon location list (cycling must be tough in January), it was certainly scenic and efficient. Now I am pondering signing up for 2008 edition of Ironman Switzerland

Running in Edinburgh

Now I understand why Edinburgh has produced such great runners. The city center is remarkably compact and remarkably hilly, and my 15k, seventy minute run incorporated several ideal running areas and wonderful scenery. (MAP)

I was told that Scottish triathletes thrive by consuming lots of haggis, the local delicacy. Determined to emulate their stamina and keep my protein intake up, I had a hearty meal of haggis and mashed potatoes upon my arrival in Edinburgh and found it quite tasty with a smoky spicy flavor and nutty texture. I later learned was made from sheep`s guts (intestines, liver, hearts, lungs..) sauteed in the sheep`s stomach and then mixed with onions, oatmeal, herbs and spices.

Sufficiently fueled by my fine meal, I headed out yesterday morning at 630am from my hotel, The Scotsman, a building much like Harry Potter`s school Hogswarts. I ran down the Royal Mile, a medieval street scape which took me to Holyrood Park an extinct volcano that looms over the east side of the old city center. I followed a dirt ridge trail up around the mountain which provided a panoramic view back at the spires and castle towers of Edinburgh.

Coming down out of Holyrood it was only a few blocks to The Meadows, an expansive lawn crisscrossed by tree-lined paths. Apparently this is the running epicenter of Edinburgh, I spotted a half-dozen other runners around the perimeter. After a few kilometers around The Meadows I climbed a bike path through the University of Edinburgh campus to the Castle.

then looped back through town to the hotel.

The hotel manager told me that the Edinburgh marathon is coming up in May and Edinburgh is such a wonderful town that I am tempted to stay for it.

Running in London

 

Having run with throngs of competitive runners around NY's Central Park, Tokyo's Imperial Palace, Sydney Harbor, etc., and given the British reputation in the sport, I was expecting to be jostled by packs of fast, fellow runners around London's Hyde Park yesterday morning.  

 

Instead the run was an experience in wilderness solitude, more like a hike into the depths of the Olympic Mountains.  I was all alone in the vast emptiness of the Park even at the seemingly peak hour of 7:30am.  Finally I spotted another runner far, far in the distance, but as he approached I noted he was wearing an Iowa Hawkeye shirt which made me doubt he was a local Londoner.   

 

I begun to doubt that the British were such serious athletes after all, but then after a full day in central London it became increasingly apparent that no actual English people live or even seem to work in London at all.  The Russian and Saudi billionaires who do reside in the homes surrounding Hyde Park would not appear to be avid endurance athletes. 

 

Shame too, since Hyde Park is a splendid urban run with the perimeter trail creating at least a 7-kilometer loop and wonderful views of lakes, gardens and the vast open fields.  

 

Ishigaki-jima Triathlon

Today's Ishigaki Island Olympic Distance Triathlon had been the focus of my March training. But, alas, I am off in Europe this week on a business trip and could not join teammates Keren and Motoza for the tropical island adventure.

A large incentive for participating in the Ishigaki-jima triathlon was the excuse to visit the magical Okinawan islands of Ishigaki and Irimote.

But perhaps more importantly、it has become increasingly crucial to me to always have some upcoming target events for endurance sports. The events serve to greatly enhance my motivation, performance and overall enjoyment of the sport.

Now the question is what am I aiming for? What is the purpose of my current training? My teammates are urging me to sign up for another grueling Japan Ironman in June, however the Lake Stevens Half-Ironman in early July has a certain appeal.

Running in Sydney

Americans have a reputation for the diligence and intensity of their exercise regime, but the runners in NY's Central Park and along the ocean trail in LA are a casual bunch compared to the morning runners around Sydney's harbour.

I struggled to get out the door of my hotel Friday at the painful hour of 6:30am and was quickly greeted with an impressive sunrise over the harbour and the impressive sight of the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I was also almost immediately passed by a pack of 7 runners doing some sort of fartlek type workout. I thought this was an isolated case, but as I ran through the Royal Botanical Garden another group zoomed up beside me. Everywhere there were runners, swimmers, and people doing yoga. The most intense scene of all was at a steep set of stairs on a hillside at Macquarie Point which was filled with people doing stair repeats.

I have heard that Australia is a large and spacious place, but I cannot confirm this, my two trips to the country being confined to business meetings in the canyons of Sydney's central business district. But I certainly can say that the 6k loop around Sydney's harbour and domain is a great urban run.