Koen’s blog

When I finished the Half Marathon today, it was time to rejoin my greatest fan, who at that time was back in bed in the hotel, suffering from a combination of jetlag, flue,etc… So I started looking for the best way to get back to Times Square. TheNew York Subway seemed like a great way to get back fast

So I went to the first subway station I could think about, the one next to Battery PLace. I had understood that Line 1 would bring me back, but I had no other information. So I asked two gentlemen, who appeared to be runners as well, in the subway. One of them turned out to be heading in the same direction as myself. So we started a longer than expected journey, visiting metro stations where we could not enter, as we had no card, metro station that were closed and finally a subway station tht had a train to bring us back and a ticket veding machine… (after 100 attempts to slide my card in the right pace, it finally accepted my 2 dollar…

So our journey gave us a little time to talk about running, about travelling and, about blogging. Where we would have exchanged e-mail-addresses a year or so ago, we now exchanged blog-urls

So now, while blogging my sucess in reaching the finish today, I typed in the URL and found the blog of a loving father that is running in an effort to raise funds for research on autism.As some of you know, my brother Johan had a specific form of autism as well. So, dear readers of my blog, if you feel this to be a right cause, support Rafael in its effort to raise 50 000 dollar this year. Read the blog and/or go immediately to the fund raising page

Success with the rest of your 10half marathons this year, Rafael!

Koen

Update: Continued here

Hi all,

Today I added 13,1 miles to my runs, that can be considered as very memorable. Not only thanks to the warm weather here in New York, or the hills in Central Park, or by the high humidity, despite the weather predictions. What makes this half marathon so special, is its setting. Leaving Central Park at the mile 7, into Seventh Avenue, is a stunning view at 8 in the morning. While Times Square is appearing in front, drumbands, rock-groups and an amazing crowd cheers for the runners. Of course it was one special cheering lady that encouraged me to make it to the finish after I started way to fast. Results? Well, my main objective was to run and complete this race: achieved! And my time? Well, the time leaves lots of room for improvement in next races Especially if I see that Haile Gebrselassie can make it in 0:59:24…

Thanks all of you that supported me in my efforts to run my first half marathon!