When i closed the door of my house in Belfast it just started to drizzle. Perfect conditions for a road race on a Tuesday night…

I cycled the 20k to the start just outside of Lisburn at a place called Maze. Also know for the infamous H-Blocks. But they were far away from the actual race venue just beside the scenic Down Royal (Horse) Racecourse.

Every week the local cycling clubs Phoenix CC and Maryland Wheelers have club races lined up. On the Saturday spin the lads from Phoenix CC invited me to race and after a short thought i gave them my heads up! A good decision after todays race. It was pure fun.

The weather and the roads were rough but that didnt bother me at all. It was more motivation then anything else. To stay in the pack, draft, cover breaks or get droped was a new but very exiting expierence.

We had to race 3 loops on backroads protected by marshals on all junctions but NOT closed for traffic. It was not busy but sometimes very close for some guys. Overall i complettly enjoyed it and the 42k just flew by.

I finished at the back of the main pack. When the group further increased the tempo just 6k from the finish line i could not respond anymore. A pure cycling race is different but exiting. Ill be back on the roads around Belfast for some serious midweek racing. Trully adictive!

Then it was 20k home on the bike. In drizzling rain…

Finally i am home.

The planned weekend trip to Boston took a bit longer then expected. Thanks to some serious pyrotechnic in iceland i had to extend my stay in America.

Instead of waiting in Boston i went to NYC to stay with Uli until the air got cleared off. Thankfully i had a great time there again. Went out for a bit of cycling around Central Park and New Jersey.

Weather in New York was great and i was a bit sad when i had to leave. It is always a pleasure to stay in the big apple – Thanks to Lidia and Uli for hosting me again!

Finally i got a nice business class flight back from JFK airport. I enjoyed some beer and good food in the lounge prior to the flight. When i left the lounge i was so ready to sleep. And i slept until we arrived in Dublin. Business class rocks – no doubt!

As my legs are still tight i am not running. To get the engine going i continued to go out on the bike. Met with a nice crew from the local Phoenix CC in Belfast on Saturday morning. We went out for good spin around County Antrim. I really enjoyed riding in a good group again. I might consider racing in the club league next tuesday night. I am not “bike fit” but the race in Belfast seems to be fun. We will see…

On sunday i was on my own. I skipped the morning ride with the club to watch the London Marathon and then went out for an easy spin along the coast towards Bangor. The weather was shit in the morning. Rain showers and wind. I stayed in the house watched the rain radar and waited. When i went out it cleared off and i had a sunny ride for 3 hours along the beautiful coast line. On the way back to my house the rain set in again. Lucky enough i was just 1 minute away from my doorstep…

I still try to get a doctor appointment. The legs need to be scanned. I want to make sure that my bones are 100% before i go out running again. The pain does not really ease off. That is what affraids me the most. I got the contact for a good laser clinic in Dublin. The negative thing is – that doctor has a 8 weeks waiting list. But i think i can squeeze in there soon enough.

Keep it up!

Im stuck. No flights back to europe!

Aer Lingus Disruption Information for Tuesday 20 April 2010

The plume of volcanic ash emanating from Iceland has lead to the continued closure of Irish airspace. As a result all Aer Lingus flights have been cancelled today, Tuesday 20th April.

The service between Washington and Madrid is scheduled to operate.

We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our customers by this action, which is entirely beyond Aer Lingus’ control. This information will be updated as the situation progresses.

It was tough, very tough for me. Watching the race from the sideline was not easy.

Boston is not known for the best weather conditions on race day but this year the weather was just phenomenal.

Uli went out early for his long run and when i woke up and had a look out of the window i saw that the weather was just perfect. A bit windy but i could not judge the direction. It was a tailwind blowing in from the Hopinkton direction as i found out later on. Together with the sun raceday weather was just perfect.

We watched the first 45 minutes of the race from home and then made our way towards the mile 21 mark shortly after the famous heartbreak hill. The course was so busy and loud. I would have loved to run here, no doubt. The crowd, the weather just everything was perfect for “Marathon Monday”.

As the leaders flew buy and the crowds arrived i swore myself that i have to come back one day. It is a class race with a exiting atmosphere.

It was early in the morning when i left our B&B in Brookline. The 5K race was on in the city centre and Uli was racing it. The tram was busy as 5.000 people had to get to the startline. A good idea by the B.A.A. to set this event up a day prior to the main race.

After the race i visited the Dublin Marathon crew at the expo and helped out for a bit as it got fairly busy. Had a walk around the city and enjoyed beer, coffee and some spells of sun and a bit of rain. The weather is irish here – no doubt.

At the moment it looks like i have severe problems getting back to Dublin. My flight for monday night is cancelled and the next available flight is heading out of Boston would be on Saturday…

And i scored a flashy pair of lunarracer 1 at city sports. The colour is wicked!

Still cold and rainy here in New England. The weather forecast for Marathon monday looks dry but windy. But that does not bother me as a spectator.

Went out for a little walk around Brookline after breakfast and then collected Uli who came up with the “China Bus” from NYC.

The city is still very quite despite the big weekend. Uli picked up his number for the 5K on sunday and i collected my startnumber (which i dont need…) and we had a walk around the very busy expo.

It seems to be the same everytime. Busy and crowded everywhere. Marathon Expos, love it or hate it…

There is not much movement in europe at the moment. Not much movement in irish airspace aswell. Three flights went out of sunny Dublin today. One of those three was the aircraft going to Boston. Lucky me, as i had a seat booked in exactly this one.

Havent seen Dublin airport so quite. Beautiful – for me. The only rush in the building was in front of the Aer Lingus Information desk. No rush for me. Checked in in seconds and at the gate in a minute. Love it!

Same secenario in Boston. People tried to get spaces on the trans atlantic flights. The few that went out. I met Martin Fagan who was just in the middle of a little airport odyssey. Coming from Flagstaff he tried to get to Dublin for the 10k on Sunday in Phoenix Park. After several stops across the US he was lucky with a seat in the plane that left Boston for Dublin. One of the few that actually went today.

Weather in Boston is shit. Trademark irish weather in the states. Rain and wind. Dont like it at all. The city is nice and im looking forward to get a bit of the Marathon spirit despite not running in it.

Went to a Red Sox game tonight and left after 1,5 hours due to the lack of exitment. What a sport. Unbelivable.