Juneathon Day 3: Münster

It wasn’t quite a regular Saturday yesterday. For over six months, we were looking forward to that day as we would be going to Munster, Germany. Not that Munster was ever a top destination on our list. But there was one difference yesterday: Anna Netrebko was performing there, at the open air opera recital at the Munster Castle courtyard. Ever since our first summer in 2008 when we travelled to see (and listen to) Netrebko, Villazon and Domingo in Schonbrunn, Austria, we knew we would try to attend a similar event again.

So when I spotted the Gipfeltreffen der Stars tickets in pre-sale last November (!), I spent the Christmas budget in one online credit card transaction.

The weather forecast was promising everything but sunshine, at one point there were snow clouds expected. Well, no elements could stop us from unpacking the evening gowns from the cupboards  – we just added 2 supersize umbrella’s and long winter coats.

After arriving to Munster, it was actually dry and sunny and we had about 4 hours to the event so we walked to check the castle surroundings to find out more about the location. First of all, we were thrilled to discover that our hotel was merely 922 m away from the venue entrance (thank you, Garmin!). The stage was already there and the stars were practicing. Jonas Kaufmann was last minuted substituted by Ramon Vargas but Anna was there).

We had enough time to walk through the historical city centre and even spotted some wildlife:

Turns out Munster is actually a very nice place to walk around. We bumped into many nice historical buildings but also shops, café’s, restaurants. The city is well kept, green and pedestrian friendly. The weather was still so good that we actually decided to conquer a bench in front of the castle so that we could listen to Anna rehearsing as we were chewing our dinner sandwiches. Already at that point, it was a perfect day.

Back in the hotel, we dressed up (the sun was still shining and for a moment I was convinced the winter coats were a nonsense) and slowly walked (heels slower than running shoes) to the castle. Of course there was enough time to enjoy the sunset and the fact that we were sitting practically AT the stage:

The concert was great. I know I am slightly biased but hey, this is my blog. (The winter coats were necessary, umbrella’s remained unpacked).

The ‘afterparty’ was twofold: first a quick coffee in a smelly Italian restaurant on our way back to the hotel and then the champagne part… So this morning I woke up with a hangover and a hammering sound in my head (rain drops). Somehow I managed to get up, look up my running gear and hit the road. It is Juneathon after all. Luckily I was well prepared: I googled some walking/running paths in Munster prior to our trip and as my head was still aching, I simply followed the paths. First the Promenade, a famous 4.5 km round path around the city centre:

It was all green and car free and the leaves kept me dry while running.

And then the second loop, a 6 km long path around the Aasee lake:

I connected both the routes to one 10.2 km door-to-door run, returning to the hotel wet and happy, just in time for breakfast. And then we packed, checked out and hit the road again, equipped with 2 kg of fresh strawberries from the nearby strawberry farm. A good weekend!

Juneathon Day 2: Our lake

I must be the first Juneathoner blogging today. Our morning run (7 km around the lake) is done and logged and we are chaotically packing our evening gowns, epilating legs, having a shower, drinking coffee and looking for our beauty cases so that we can start the car and drive to Germany for the weekend. Each year, we try to indulge ourselves with some top classical music event, usually opera. And tonight is the night.

But back to running: it was a great morning at the lake with many dogs and fellow runners. Now that the temperature is still rather low, there are no sun tanners around so the red metal bike stands at the beach can be used for stretching.

Does it sound familiar to you that every since I started running I see so many people around me doing the same – or is it just my impression?

Four reasons for Runner’s High tonight

1. It seems like the winter is slowly getting over and the outside air starts smelling like spring.

2. It is the end of my working week as tomorrow we head for holiday :-).

3. We have a week with friends ahead of us. I am thinking fresh powder snow, skiing, wooden mountain lodge, fire place, Napa Valley wine, good stories, good books, ….

4. I ran 8.5 km tonight practically without noticing. Must be Janis Joplin on my iPod.

Janathon Day 31

Loooong day with  a lot of work. No way I could go running – except for the fact that I HAD to as today was the final Janathon day! Reached the gym just 40 minutes before the closing time and jumped on the treadmill. 5 km later I yelled “I DID IT!” I exercised for 31 days in a row. I do admit I did not manage to run every single day but heeey, I went out there every day to work out and sweat and this is the result:

Run: 130.5 km

Bike: 174.9 km

Cross training (elliptical and rowing): 160.9 km

Walk: 35.3 km

In total, this is 401.5 km and 36.6 hours of exercise.

Janathon Day 26

Australia Day. Despite our night session in front of the TV neither Kvitova nor Clijsters made it to finals.

Gym and yet another 7 km with a new (old) mp3 music mix. How comes that while running, all the old hits sound so good? Is it the endorphines?

 

Janathon Day 25

Yet another day with ‘all work no play’. Except at night while watching Australian Open. Last night V. was up almost all night again and since the female singles approach semifinals and there are 3 players fighting to become the WTA nr 1, I will be watching too. Here is a picture that fits the tennis theme:

Oh not to forget: 18+ biking km’s in the gym tonight while listening to Dvorak’s Rusalka. Sport meets art… in my iPod.