LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Okay I know some of you are going to Rotterdam and others aren't racing a marathon 6 days before the LIM but since I am doing neither, I have just registered myself to do this marathon again. It was quite fun last year despite the rain and I finished in the top 10% and Gav finished in the top 1%. I don't think it will be so easy this year as they have moved it forward by 3 weeks which means it falls before Berlin. A perfect warm up for me and probably lots of other skaters too. However, it gives it a much better chance of being dry.

Alastair, I know you were keen on doing this one. Do you still want to and hook up for travel/accommodation, etc? I know you desperately want to beat my 3 marathons in 15 days by doing 3 in just over 13 days.

By the way, they have relaxed the 1h45m previous time requirement to 2h50m so anyone can do it now. I guess not many were entering was entering. If you enter in the next 7 days you can get in at the minimum price of 48€. If you wait until after 13th then it goes up to 60€. the T-shirts are nice dry-fit Puma ones. I am getting another this year 17€

To book go here http://www.koeln-marathon.de use http://babelfish.altavista.com or something for translations since there isn't an english version.

Alastair · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 10:15 pm Subject:

It was the time limit that put me off and why I was considering switching to Rotterdam. Definitely considering switching back. What is the terrain of the course like? It would be good to arrange travel and accomodation together.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Terrain of the course is basically flat, certainly flatter than Hamburg but not as flat as Berlin. There are a few brick cobbles which are very skatable only one section of which you can't glide over. They were easy to skate in the wet last year so if it's dry then it will be a breeze. The finish is through a pedestrianised area. It is marble style and concrete tiles, very smooth which was a problem in the wet but in the dry will be lovely. The finish is a bit narrow but if you're not in a big pack then it's not a problem. There are quite a few 90 degree bends on the course. Can't remember how many but in the wet was interesting but they were wide enough to take a fast line through.

Alastair · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 11:10 am Subject:

I'll for it tonight. Have you made any travel arrangements yet?

Alastair · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:19 pm Subject:

OK, I'm now registered - just need to sort out flights and stuff now.

Alastair · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:20 am Subject:

I'm about to sort out my flights and accomodation as I want to get a good deal. Let me know if you want to make joint arrangements. Anybody else out there fancy going?

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Sure thing on the room. Gav and I stayed at a small hotel right by the finish last year. If you like I can find the details in my email at home somewhere. Reasonably priced and they let us keep the room for an extra hour so we could shower and change after the race.

I intend to fly out of Heathrow to this one as there are no Ryanair flight to nearby. We fly to Cologne/Bonn Airport and Bus to the Hauptbahnhoff, the hotel was just behind the station.

BA currently doing tickets for just over £80 including taxes and BMI for £88.50. I think I'll be flying BA again.

Alastair · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:09 am Subject:

I was also planning to go out of Heathrow. I'll probably fly out on the Friday morning flight and back on the late flight on Sunday (it being the only real choice). I just did a search on Expedia and it seems to only have single rooms available for that date.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

69€ is an okay price for one night. There is a hostel the other side of the river which is near the start but that is full for individual beds and 2 bedded rooms. They have a 4 bedded room for 92€ which we could split if you only want to do Saturday night. I'm going out Friday morning and back Sunday early evening so no worries about finding somewhere to stay on Friday night.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

I am now booked on the Saturday Morning BA flight at 08:30 and retuning on Sunday at 18:55. Let me know if you find any preferential accommodation and I'll join you. Best is near the finish. Finish is at the Dom (Cologne Catherdral) or Hauptbahnhof. Both in thw same place. There are a couple of hostels around that don't accept online bookings. If you aren't bothered then I'll book a single at the Kristall next week.

Alastair · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 1:32 pm Subject:

Sharon is planning to come with me to visit friends and I don't know what our plans are yet. We may end up staying with them. If not, we'll probably end up in the Cristall as it sounds as good a place as any. If you want to make sure you get somewhere decent don't worry about waiting for me.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

I've booked myself into the Cristall now.

Gav · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:33 am Subject:

I've just booked my flight on the same as yours Rick. £90.50

How much was the hotel?

Alastair · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:52 am Subject:

I've ended up booking into the Cristall too as I am going on my own now...

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914