Saturday, November 6, 2010

Who’s In? Kiev Marathon 2012

Kiev Marathon 2012. Who’s in?

kiev

Ready… Steady!...Go!…You are running… your heart beating is rising…your muscles get more and more adrenalin. In fact, for you to run is more important than just going in for sport. Express your abilities while running Classic marathon (42km 195m)! (From the website)

Weird to plan two years out.

Weird to pick a random place like Kiev, Ukraine.

I have my reasons.

First, I love to travel, to explore. Second, I love to run. Travel + run = Kiev Marathon

Third (and the real reason), my brother and his family are moving to Kiev in 2012. I don’t know much about this city. Before I checked out the cultural offerings or even where it was on the globe, I naturally Googled “Kiev Marathon.” No better way to experience a city than to run through it, right?

Here’s what I learned:

  • Cost:  70 UAHs (not the University of Alabama at Huntsville) – this is $8.78 USD.
  • Time of Year: Mid-October (Oct. 13, 2012). Average temp 7* C  (44* F).
  • Start Line - Maydan Nezalegnosti, Main Post Office. 10:00 a.m.
  • Route: Through the central part of the most beautiful European capital – Kiev city. Runners will see the sights: Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Khreschatik Street, Vladimir Hill, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Michael Square, Bessarab Square, Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya Street.
  • Photos: Every participant will get the result and picture on finish line. After passing finish line don’t forget to smile, photographers will make pictures.
  • Timing: Time will be measured by seconds on a starting number which must be reliably fixed on participant’s chest. My goal time will be 13,200 seconds (3:40).
  • Charity: Support will be provided to HIV-infected people and abandoned kids.
  • Perk: Everyone will be able to run hand in hand with professional marathon racer, star of show business, politician and sportsman of world scale
  • Mission: The marathon is method to unite all habitants of Ukraine and other countries under Kiev autumn sky for the sake of mass impressions, emotions and getting new friends.

Take that Boston Marathon!

There is no mention of aid stations along the way. I assume they will be stocked with vodka and maybe potatoes. This will be one race where I wear a fuel belt for sure.

I have no clue how many people run this marathon. Couldn’t find results anywhere. I am assuming it is pretty small. Maybe I will win finally.

I love the idea of being united with habitants of the Kiev, racing under the “autumn sky” and getting new friends. I need some new friends, preferably Ukrainian. I also love the thought of running hand in hand with professional marathon racer or star of show business. I hope it will be the Ukrainian equivalent of Oprah.

kievmarathon

I said, who’s in?

And if it’s not Kiev for you, where’s your bucket list destination marathon?

Planning ahead,

SUAR

39 comments:

  1. Fukuoka for me. Just need to cut an hour off my time to qualify!

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  2. Just checked. Fukuoka has a 2:27 entry standard, but a 2:42 "B" standard. No mention of women, so I guess the B-girls have to break 2:42.

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  3. I'm totally looking ahead to 2012 because next year is likely to be another baby year for me. I don't see myself in Kiev (totally jealous) but am planning on doing the Top of Utah (TOU) and the Red Rock Relay - my virgin debut. This will be my third TOU race and I REALLY want to BQ. Third's time the charm right!

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  4. Wow, that sounds amazing! And for less than $9, how can you go wrong?

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  5. Come to Israel and run the Tiberius Marathon with me on January 6, 2011!

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  6. That sounds like a fab race to run!! All the aspects seem very cool!

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  7. i'm in? hahah. i wish. but planning for 2 years away? i don't even know what i'm doing in one year!

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  8. I subscribed for updates. I don't know why. Thanks?

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  9. Potatoes and vodka at aid stations.... mmmm yummy!

    My husband thinks I'm crazy because any time we talk about traveling somewhere I always say maybe we could go when/where there is a race. I would love to run anywhere. After googling worldwide marathons though, Napoli looks nice.

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  10. So excited for you! Kiev- woo-hoo! I would run in Sydney, or China, and I want to run in prague again...

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  11. OMG, I am so tempted.
    I am not sure they will have potatoes though. Why keep those since they are so easily converted into vodka.

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  12. Wow that sounds like a great trip and a fun run -- what an interesting choice! So cool that your brother is moving there!

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  13. This looks awesome! I am getting ready for my first in Florida in a couple months. If I live through that, why not Kiev? It looks gorgeous though!

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  14. Fantastic idea!! I'd like to combine my love of marathoning and traveling soon, too :)

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  15. that's awesome! :) my bucket list marathon is boston lol... seems like nothing to run boston for you guys but im slow ;)

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  16. David - sorry to let you down. Since I can't run, these are my updates.

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  17. Oh wow!!!!!!!! That looks amazing!! I wish!

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  18. We'll see how my first marathon goes in January but it's actually a real possibility for me to run this since we're moving to Germany in February. I'm hopefully going to be running in several European countries in the next 3 years so I see no reason not to run in Ukraine...and who can beat $8.78 registration?

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  19. first I just wanted to share that I dreamt of you last night. it was a weird dream. You emailed me to ask if I could make you a header and signature for your blog. LOL! Told you it was weird. I said yes though, haha!

    second, the race fee there reminds me of how cheap ours are back home. Imagine if the fees were that cheap here?!

    third, my dream out of the country race destination is the Athens Marathon. I love Greece and I would really love to run on the "original" route. From the Pikermi all the way to Marathon =)

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  20. AWESOME!

    A couple of my international bucket races are London and Great Wall! One day...

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  21. Sounds like another great experience.

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  22. That sounds amazing... totally jealous... I need to make a non-US destination run happen soon!!!

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  23. so so so cool! that sounds amazing!!!

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  24. LOL!! Sounds fun! I'm doing St. Petersburg next summer.

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  25. Kiev would be absolutely amazing!! I would love to do the London marathon or the Maui!! Someday:)

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  26. That race fee is way too high for me! lol You might have to empty your piggy bank to register. :)

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  27. I went to Kiev a few years back and it was beautiful. I was there for 3 weeks. The people were really sweet. Literally, everyone I met or had exposure to there was a total angel.

    I hope you and your brother and family have the same experience that I did!

    Running a marathon there sounds great :)

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  28. The entry fee sure is priced right! Too bad the airfare probably isn't. It'll probably be another baby year for me, too, so alas I'll have to live vicariously through you. I'd love to do an international race at some point. Somewhere in Italy would be awesome. One of my friends just ran the Athens Marathon - 2500th anniversary! I could see you doing that one given how much you love Greece.

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  29. Fun! And very appealing. Ukraine has been on the travel list for a while.

    Bucket list location? Greece. Run in the first place a marathon was ever completed.

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  30. I found your blog today and feel it only fair to tell you that I love you. Honestly, you are fifty kinds of inspiring with a splash of hilarious. I have been a sporadic runner for twelve years but have struggled with having babies (4), getting stress fractures (tibial), and psyching myself out whenever I try to get too serious about the mighty run.

    I have been reading through your archives and loved your voice, your pep, and your honesty. Mostly, I'm terribly inspired by what you've achieved in the short years since you began running; I'm convinced that now, at 34, I can be half as awesome.

    I'd love to see you post someday, in all your lush free time, something about how you made the transition out of the gates to the runner you are today. I'm a 3-4 day a week runner, 15 miles a week. Running my first half marathon in the Spring (only ever done a bunch of 5ks and a 180 mile relay).

    Keep inspiring me. Plus, you're unbelievably hot.

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  31. $8 and 13,200 seconds?! European marathon-by-numbers are awesome! My destination race is the Rome marathon, but if I decide to go a cheaper route this might come onto the radar ;)

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  32. Super cool plan. I think my first European marathon will be Bordeaux though.

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  33. I told my husband my the other day my long term plan in a 1/2 marathon in every state and a marathon in five countries. I really want to do the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottinghamshire, but suddenly Ukraine is looking pretty good. I need some new friends too. ;-)

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  34. Sounds good! I would also love to run London.

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  35. Running Kiev would be so awesome. Do you think I can cancel my entry to the NY lottery?

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  36. I wrote the marathon organizers and there is a race in October 2011..........why wait till 2012?

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  37. Did you run ? and can you email me how you found it.. i did warsaw this year.. really good

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