Rock, Cornwall - the place where is always sun

In march this year it came that situation I got to know my favorite place to run.
Family and very good friends invited us to stay in their house for a few days. Coming from a few days of hard work in Germany and having a long trip in the car I was looking forward to have some rest.
Cornwall, the land of Rosamunde Pilcher, is beautiful!
I probably do not have the right words to describe it but saying that tells you: Go, and check it yourself - it is one of the Lords favorite places on earth. Since march, we have been there whenever we had the chance and opportunity. Our friends have done everything to make us curious for coming over another time - having a six hours drive from Preston down south. But who cares...
What is it? Definitely for me it is the weather, which was always amazing when we were there. It is the family and friends we have met, definitely the food but for sure my favorite place in the world to run trails. Along the coast, up and downhill, trough sheep and cow herds, seeing the cliffs and the colorful water, having the wind and the sun in my face and than in the evening really good food - what else should I say. Have a run around Rock and you know what you are training for!
Thanks to B & S for showing us that amazing place!

Dublin Marathon 2011

Not having ran a pure Marathon this year - Dublin has fit absolutely into the picture. We wanted to go anyway to Ireland to see what's what and so it was a good opportunity to combine ... running and Guinness.
After doing quite a bit of trail running the last couple of months and not having the chance to do any 30k I did not have that huge expectations about the race - finishing under 4h would have been great, I thought.
We booked the flight for 0 Euro (yes free, just taxes and fees) and flew with Air Lingus to Dublin, 2 days before Halloween. Respectively the City welcomed everyone in a cruel look - just learned, that this tradition comes originally from the Island and got exported probably all over the world by now.
2 days of power sightseeing were a good preparation for the Marathon ;) and on race day I did not feel at all like running another 40k as the 2 days of walking around town. But at least the night before I've got the chance to see Windmill Lane ("U2 roots") and listen on the course next day right in the beginning to an U2 song on full volume was huge motivation. So I could push from the beginning. The first 10k I tried to stick to the "4h pacers" (thanks a lot guys) but decided then to try on my own. I was so happy that I run trough the whole race - beside a with a quick pit stop for a "p" and a "drink" - you can't imagine. Up until the end I did more or less the same speed (well, there were some hills on the way ;) really cool. So I will go ahead doing the trail running and obviously -lesson learned - there is a way of finishing a Marathon and not necessarily doing a lot of 30k training runs before. This is usually a time issue. Thanks to everyone for the amazing time in Dublin.