My Plan to Run through Europe

The next major city will be Prague.  I plan to be there around 3 August (sooner if I decide not to make a side trip to a small border town to Copenhagen).  Yes, I would like to run across the border from town to town.

At any rate, I will keep everyone informed via http://twitter.com/runindc

Here's my 11 km run

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Prague has been the political, cultural, and economic center of the Czech state for more than 1100 years.

The extensive historic center of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. The Prague castle is the largest medieval castle in the world.  Prague is also known as the "mother of cities', "city of a hundred spires" and the "golden city".

I guess I will find out why.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Berlin: "The Hub of Culture" and my plan to Run it

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Proposed Itinerary: 31 July

Berlin, the old capital of Prussia and the capital of the reunited Germany,  will be my next stop (approximately 31 July) after Frankfurt

My plan is to start running from the Hauptbanhof (train station) towards the US Embassy.  The reason for the run to the Embassy is because of the link to the 9 May 27-EU Embassy run in DC:

http://embassyrun.blogspot.com/

The route will be an approximately 8 mile course:

(Please refer to the Google Map above)

** The famous Tiergarten (German for Animal Garden and a large park in the center of Berlin)

**  Potsdamer Platz (public square)

** Checkpoint Charlie (name given by the Western Allies to a crossing point between East and West Berlin

** Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Museum

** Leipziger Platz,  an octagonal square in the center of Berlin. It is located along Leipziger Straße just east of and adjacent to the Potsdamer Platz. Leipziger Platz was reduced to ruins during the Second World War and once part of the no man's land surrounding the Berlin Wall, but has since been reconstructed in its original configuration, albeit with modern architecture.

If any one has any suggestions of other neat places to add to the run, or if anyone would like to join me on the run or meet up with me at any of the historic sites, please send me a note (via this blog or via twitter)

I will be tweeting at major stops, so you will know where I am in my run.  (I heard there's good WiFi there)

My username is http://twitter.com/runindc

Let's see how this goes...

Friday, July 24, 2009

Possibly a Crazy Idea but I'm Running (or swimming) Anyway: Frankfurt Lake

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I've come up with a crazy idea, but I'm doing it unless God or Country stops me.  

Remember last May, four intrepid souls decided to tackle 27 EU Embassies and cover seven distinct DC communities covering 12 miles in just over six hours:

http://embassyrun.blogspot.com/

The most challenging aspect of this run was not actually the run but the fun of having to participate in the food, arts and craft and meet the staff from over a dozen embassies

Indeed, there were a lot of remarkable people and places that we greeted and visited that grueling, action-filled day May day in the friendliest embassy capital of the world.  

But probably the most memorable (due to our circumstances) were Germany (where we kicked off the joyous event), Hungary, Czech Republic (because it was a long, rugged trek through narrow, curving streets and a heartbreak hill through a very densely forested part of town to get there.)

And finally, Austria, because of the gracious embassy staff who celebrated our completion with a warm reception, warm embrace and a round of chilled champagne.

Well next week, I'm catching a Medevac hop from MD to Germany.  Coincidentally, the other three countries that I will visit on my Eurorail ticket will be Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary -- the last three embassies towards the end of our May day 27-Embassy trek and the ones that we worked really hard to reach.

So here is the first part of my schedule:

First, I should arrive in Germany by Fri, July 31st.  (That's if I don't get bumped off the flight in the Azores)

Frankfurt  

I'm actually catching a train from Ramstein to Frankfurt. 

Will run from the Airport/Train station to the Langener Waldsee.  

My goal is to do a small loop for about 1.2 miles then run around the lake which should be both paved and cobbled ground.

(I need to find a place to secure my backpack while I swim)

Then I'm going to run back to the station and then  catch a Eurorail train to Berlin for the beginning of my adventure. Yes, this was just a teaser and a sample of more to come.

Please stay tuned to see what I have planned for the rest of the Five Country Trip ...

Going to be a Colonial

I got accepted to GW! After a nearly eight years hiatus from any type of classroom training, I am thrilled to be attending such a prestigious institution of higher learning.

Yes, it's been a while but I'm sure I'll fit in since each student is required to have at least 10 years of work experience. Wonder if my 20 years in the Navy fits the bill?

Centrally located at the heart of DC, near the State Department, the White House, Dupont Circle, and the Pentagon, George Washington is one prime spot for learning, networking and of course running.

I'm stoked -- Intensive training starts Aug 16th.

The schooling starts and the running never ends..

Taking Space-A to Europe

Next week, I plan to take a Space-A flight to Ramstein

From there I will board a Eurorail and travel to Berlin.

 

This is my projected schedule:

 

Fri (31 July): Berlin

 

Sat: Train to majestic Prague, Czeh Republic

 

Mon (3 Aug): Train to equisite Vienna, Austria

 

Wed (5 Aug): Train to beautiful Budapest, Hungary

 

Fr (7 Aug): Train back to Ramstein

 

I plan to run and blog from all locations.

Fly back to BWI