Arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania

I checked out of the Hotel in Helsinki at midday, wandered around the city for an hour or so, I then took the 2pm Finnair bus out to the Airport which took 30 minutes. I was catching a 4.15pm plane to Vilnius Lithuania, I walked into the terminal and checked in straight away, the one thing with the Fins, everything is on time and well organised, all the trains & bus's ran on time. I then went thru security, sat down at the gate, after praising them, we were a bit late getting on the Finnair plane, then we had to wait for baggage from another plane.

I landed in Vilnius around 5.45pm about 15 minutes late, it didn't take long to get my suitcase, I was met after got thru security by a driver who was taking me to the hotel, he also gave me Bus tickets for my trip from Vilnius to Riga and then Riga to Tallinn. The driver didn't speak any English, so it was a quite trip in,, the driver took me into the old town where my hotel is, the buildings were old but well maintained, the hotel look great from the outside.

My room is up on the 4th floor, it is quite big compared to my Helsinki one, I have gone from a single bed to a King size one, there is even 3 single lounge chairs with a coffee table, plenty of room here.

After getting some money from an ATM, I went down to the local supermarket and got a couple of supplies, juice, bananas etc, the local currency is a Litas, approx 3 to the Aussie dollar 4 to the Euro.

Another day in Heksinki

Yesterday I did a wander around the city, I went up and have a look at the Church in the rock, I saw this nearly 20 years ago when I was on a Contiki trip, the church has been formed around a rock wall, it is quite incredible to see, I have included a panorama picture of it, but it doesn't do it justice.

After that when I walked down to the harbour I ran into Bill & Heather Carr (they were in Jyvaskyla for the Indoors) they were in Helsinki for another day as well before they fly off to Norway, which is a country that I still on my list to visit.

After seeing them I caught a ferry (15 minute ride) out to the Island Suomenlinna, which was a sea fortress protecting Helsinki, it has soldiers based from the 1800's to 1973, now it is a historical park as well people live there, it is really 2-3 islands linked by bridges, it takes you about an hour and a half to wander over the whole Island, it looks a place better to visit over the summer period when more of the Galleries and shops are open.

This morning I did a 7k run around the harbour, it hasn't been as cold but the wind has picked up and made the wind chill a bit nippy.

Today I get a Finnair flight to Vilnius.

Here is the inside of the Church.

Back In Helsinki

After arriving in Helsinki at around 2pm, checked into the Seurahuone Hotel which across from the railway station, very central to the everything, quite a few people had flights during the day, so wandered around, had coffee before they took off in the Finnair bus back to the Airport, had a nice dinner near the hotel at a Czech restaurant, there were a group of Australians at another table, it is hard to miss the accent. I a very nice roast lamb, the Finns do know how too cook their meat, I am even enjoying the smoked bacon for breakfast. Not sure what I am going to do today, I did a 8km run this morning, my first run after the half and I am still feeling a bit sore.

Goodbye Jyvaskyla, hello Helsinki then the Baltic

I am catching the train to Helsinki today around 10am, it has been a great week, I have really enjoyed it here, I wish more ACT Vets would come along to the Indoors, it is a great atmosphere, a very friendly event.

My faith is restored

I did the Half marathon today (final day Sunday)which was one of the outside running events as part of the World Masters Indoors here in Finland, the race started at 12.30, a morning start would be just too cold, I still think it was around zero when we took off. I wore a long sleeve under my Australian singlet, bike shorts and a cap, most people were long tights/top, gloves & beanies, I saw a couple of runners in only shorts & single, they would have been cold, I found that I was ok except my chest seem to stay cool.
  
Down to the run, I did it in 1.42.31, I was really happy to get under 1.45, I went thru the first 10kms in 49 1/2 and got thru the next 10 in close to 48, so I had a really strong 2nd half, I passed quite a few people, but I still was only 40th out of 51 in my age group.

After the run I went back to the track to watch the relays, we had a W60 that got silver and W45 team that took bronze, the 2 mens teams M60 & M55 were unplaced.

Tonight we have our farewell Dinner at the Old brick Inn English pub here in Jyaskyla, I am looking forward to that, its been a great time here and now looking forward to my next 2-3 weeks of travel  tomorrow I catch a train back to Helsinki where I will 2 days there and take it very easy, then on Wednesday I fly to Vilnius in Lithuania.

Here is me after the half.

Here is a video of the Lake before the half, they do call it the Harbour here, it may connect to the see thru the river system.

Even worse day at the track for me

Just when I thought I could run as as yesterday, today was worse, I did 6.07 for the 1500, I just felt awful, my legs were gone half way thru, but i just stuck it out, I think I will do things a lot different in 2 years time for the next Indoors, I think I have learnt a few lessons, tomorrow is the half, if I can get around in about 5 minute pace, I will be happy with that, but I will just glad to finish.

Today we some good result on the track, field and out at the walks down by the lake. Marie Kay W50 picked up Gold in the hurdles, silver in the shot and bronze in the High jump, we had 2 Gold in the women's 10km walk, 2 silvers for the men's individual, but came away with the Team Gold. Then we Gold to Wilma Perkins in the W60 Long jump, Conrad Burge bronze in the M60 hurdles.

Tomorrow we finish with the 400 & 1500 finals and the 4 X 200 relays which we have 2 men's M60 & M55 and 2 women's W60 & W45 I think.

Today was a really nice day, got away with no beany and gloves today for the first time, I got a pair of Gortex Gloves for $40, I think they will keep my hands warm for the Winter bike riding.

Ordinay day on the track for me.

This morning I felt ok going into the 3km on the track, 15 laps, I had a good buffet breakfast at the hotel, you cannot complain about the spread they put on, plus it is like United nations around the place, I saw a Lithuanian thrower at breakfast, that would easily be 150 - 175 kgs, he was huge, I heard that a couple of the Russian throwers were eating whole loafs of bread, huge plates of bacon, which might explain the lack of bacon today.

I went to the track around 12.15, my race is at 4.30pm, I watched a few of the earlier 3km races, Peter Sandery from SA got the Silver in the M70, also Marie Kay got pipped for the Gold in the M50 long jump on the last jump by 3ms, that would have been her third, she has 4 races/throws to go, up to last night Australia was 6th on the Medal tally.

My 3k race, I end up doing 12.24 ish, I went thru the 1km in about 3.58, but I knew I was in trouble by then, I was hoping for sub 12 minutes, but it wasn't to be, I just felt very ordinary out there, so then I thought lets just get under 12.30 which I achieved. I need to get back on the horse for the 1500 tomorrow, during the race I could hear somebody in a stand that was close to the top of the straight yelling out my name, I thought it had to be by USA mate Noel, who I did the Pentathlon against in Kamloops in 2010, he recognised on the Monday before the comp, it was good to catch up with him. He already invited me over for the USA Masters Summer nationals in his home town in August 2014, he will be meet director, I did forget to ask him where he lives in the US, small details,

2014 is already going to be a big year for my first year as M55, Oceania champs in Bendigo in Jan, World Indoors in Budapest in late March then get home in time for the Easter nationals in Tassie for late April (that could be cold).

Here is the Hotel I am staying at.

Here is me with my USA mate Noel, I am standing in a hole.