Getaway weekend in Świnoujście

This was my birthday present from Radek - a getaway weekend, without kids, with my sister, romantic seaside, a spa etc. I was super excited. I imagined myself night walks and beach running. Oh, well - it could have been so great. Instead I got sick like 5h after our arrival. So sick I actually didn't leave the hotel room until the last day when we squeezed a walk on the beach and a movie on our way back home. Well, after all it wasn't so bad.

That was arrival day and below the final hours :) I really like the seaside in autumn/winter time. Of season sea rocks!

18. Poznań Marathon

When I'm writing the memory of this race, it's already 1.5 half year later but the emotions are still vivid. By no means this was the most extreme thing we both did in our life. But let me write the whole story.
When we came back to Poland in 2015 we were pretty fit after weekly excursions to the mountains. And we also made a plan to climb Mont Blanc the next summer. We had never run before but we both decided it would be the best way to keep our fitness level and prepare to the climb which would be very dificult in terms of needed stamina. And so we started running. I kind of immediately knew I needed the aim and kind of immediately knew this aim would be the marathon. And we both kind of immediately started to like running. But the story ended very quickly as I got pregnant with Kamila. I guess Radek didn't have the motivation to train on his own and we both stopped our preparation. 3 months after giving birth to Kamila I did my first 4 km. My legs felt like concrete but I felt exhilirated like never. I was very happy to be able to train again. And so the training began. I think it was around march that we decided we would like to enroll for Szczecin Marathon which would take place 4 months later. I reached out to Ewa Huryń who is an acknowledged runner and writes running plans and I was very serious about the preparation. Of course, from the time perspective I know I wanted it too much and pushed it too hard but sometimes heart takes over the reason. Anyway, we didn't start in Szczecin Marathon. I got an injury after the halfmarathon I did in May and had to take a break from running. So we set up the new goal - Poznań Marathon.

That's us before the start.

My preparation to this race was very poor. Radek's not perfect either but still better. It was a difficult venture for us as Kamila was still too young to leave her in Szczecin, so we took her, my mum and my sister with us. I am very grateful for the support I got from both of them along the preparation and the run itself. 
An so, we found ourselves on the starting line. Very insecure but also pretty excited. Radek was aiming for 4:00 and me for 4:30. And oh boy, how we missed those estimations :)  Together with us was our friend Marcin, who is a very experienced runner and did countless marathons already.

Long story short - we both started way too fast for our possibilities and for both of us it was not a good day for running. I'll tell the story from my perspective but I know Radek's is very similar. I guess after 7 km I already knew this wouldn't be a walk in the park and that something was not OK with me. On 10th km I had my first crisis... Halfway through, after running for 2h 15 min and having 21 km behind I simply couldn't imagine continue running... I remember that moment very clearly. I stepped over the halfway point line and I was totally devastated and wanted to end my misery. Somewhere around ~30th km I encountered my friend Karot. This was the joliest moment of the whole run! Afterwards he told me I looked like in very bad shape... Somewhere around ~33rd km I started crying. The whole time I was thinking: I can't do it anymore and it's still so bloody far to the finish line. Yet again, I got a stomach upset which only made things worse. Radek told me he was thinking to withdraw during the course... The feelings and the misery was very intense. But we both made it finally. And on the finish line our first words were: never again!

Radek's time was 4h 15min 03s and mine was 4h 45min 31s. I don't exaggerate when I say I still have thrills when I recall that race. But who cares, I could cross out "marathon" from my life bucket list.

K2 race

The K2 race is a mountain race in Szczecin. Sounds strange? Well, let me explain. It takes place on the hills of Bukowa forest. The finish line is on the top of Gubałówka hill which is also our "ski resort" (see more here). The funny thing about this race is that you need to beat the hill twice, as the starting point is down the hill, and the finish line is on the hill. The name of the race derives from a fact that the distance is ~8611m (like K2 mountain) and that it's a hill race. Lots of fun. And seriously, I have no idea how it is possible that I'm smiling on those final metres. The uphill is devastating!

Photo credit: Dulny Photo and Radek

Radków 2017 Day 4

Last day on our way back to Szczecin we stopped in Nazi German complex Riese. The biggest underground building project in III Reich. The purpose of the project remains uncertain because of the lack of documentation. Some sources suggest that all the structures were part of the Führer Headquarters,  according to others, it was a combination of headquarters and arms industry. Complex was never finished and for many years after war was abandoned until a few years ago was changed into tourist attraction.

Radków 2017 Day 3

Third day was the day of the run. So after cheering me on start, Bartek and Wojtek went to Czech to see another rock labirynth often compared to some Lord Of The Rings locations. 

Meanwhile I was running through mountains. 24km with 750m vertical change. I must said that it was much more fun than running on flat. Beautiful views, changes in tempo and style, constant focus on difficult track and less pression for time. I really enjoyed it. Final time 2:49

Radków 2017 Day 2

During our second day in Góry Stołowe we went to Wałbrzych and visited first Książ castle. This third biggest castle in Poland is famous because of mysterious tunnels built under it by Germans during WWII.

Next we moved to see Wałbrzych Old Mine, art and science center located in renovated buildings of mine closed in mid nineties. I must say that this was a treat for me as heavy machines lover. Also we were able to participate in guided tour what was nice.

Radków 2017 Day 1

During our first season of running we decided to try lots of different kinds of running. We signed for marathon in Poznań, I tried triathlon. Ania also insisted on trying mountain trail running. So we signed up for 24 km of Garmin Ultra Race Radków in September. We planned to have a few days trip to Góry Stołowe, hike a bit and run. But a few weeks before the event Ania decided that Kamila is still too small and taking her there and back just for a few days is not worth it, so I took my brother and Wojtek and we made some men road trip.

First day after arriving we went to see Błedne Skały, a labyrinth of old rock formation with narrow passages and hidden routes. Later that day we also visited Szczeliniec Wielki, the highest peak in this mountain range and Kudowa Zdrój one of local health resort.

In Kudowa Zdrój we found Old Toys Museum that was very interesting for as adults and educational for Wojtek.