March 2012

[marathondan]

Well sorry to hear about your health issues. Positive healing vibes being sent your way.

Sports clinics are always expensive, but somehow the Zurich Sports Clinic sounds like it might be one of the more pricey ones in Europe. I hope you're in a position to try your new treads soon.

BTW, you may be disappointed about London. In 2011 I was told that they were withdrawing the "5 strikes and you're in" rule - although they were honouring it for anyone who had, I think, three or more amassed, which included me (and I deferred that entry to this year). So I'm not sure if you'll make it - were you aware of these developments?

[El Gordo]

Well sorry to hear about your health issues. Positive healing vibes being sent your way.

Sports clinics are always expensive, but somehow the Zurich Sports Clinic sounds like it might be one of the more pricey ones in Europe. I hope you're in a position to try your new treads soon.

BTW, you may be disappointed about London. In 2011 I was told that they were withdrawing the "5 strikes and you're in" rule - although they were honouring it for anyone who had, I think, three or more amassed, which included me (and I deferred that entry to this year). So I'm not sure if you'll make it - were you aware of these developments?

Dan, give me some credit Dude.... I have a watertight case for London 2013 (or poss 2014 - depends on whether forced eligibility is year 5, or the year after 5 misses - can't recall). Marathon HQ is in near-daily contact with me, monitoring my availability. Am playing hard to get, but even emigration hasn't put them off. I'll be there.

As for the sports clinic, I was amused that the registration form at reception began with 5 check-boxes: [rough translation from the German]:

-- I am a member of the Swiss Olympic team
-- I am a member of the reserve Swiss Olympic team
-- I am a professional footballer playing in (Swiss) Liga 1 or 2
-- I am a professional footballer playing outside Switzerland
-- I am an ordinary athlete

TBH, I felt that there should have been a sixth category....

[marathondan]

Sorry, I guess I was viewing you as a little out of touch, living the near-retirement expat lifestyle, gently enjoying the expensive health clubs and mountain walking trails, drifting away somewhat from the hardcore international marathon scene.

Whereas in fact you're hanging with the Swiss olympic team and calling people "dude".

So I look forward to seeing you in London in 2013!

(Or is it 2014? See, you don't even know what year you're running. You really are losing the plot.)