Torun Trip - Wed 22 March - Wed 05 April
Blog - The Torun Trip – March & April 2023
Trip summary
This trip definitely had some highs and
lows. I went into the trip in a rather poor state of fitness. I travelled from
LHR (T5) and met up with Keith for a meal at the Cast Iron Grill restaurant at
the Sheraton. I had too much alcohol! The outbound journey went pretty well. I
travelled to Warsaw and onwards to Bydgoszcz. I then used public transport to
get to Toruń. There is a direct flight from Bristol to Bydgoszcz. Only a couple
of flights per week but maybe that would provide a better journey route. My
Airbnb apartment was very good. A bit expensive maybe, but I would like to use
it again next year if I get the opportunity. The 8K cross country was tough and
I acquired patella tendonitis which was a big downer. Travelling back, the
Courtyard by Marriott hotel at Warsaw Chopin Airport was nice. It was good to
meet up with my chums. I need to be fitter next year,
Wed 22 Mar 2023
Outbound Journey
All went pretty much to plan. I got a Dragon Taxi to the
Riverfront and had a diet coke and crisps. The Nat Express journey was on time.
I was sitting at the back of the coach, next to the loo (which wasn’t great).
The 423-bus ride was as expected. I had an afternoon nap at the hotel for 90
minutes, it was needed. I met Keith, we had a nice meal (at the Cast Iron
Grill) and a chat. I got back to my room just before 10pm and quickly updated
the blog before grabbing a few hours’ sleep.
Thursday 23 March 2023
Travel to Toruń and Apartment check-in
I had two alarms set for 04:55, one on my iPhone and one on
my iPad. As it happens, I didn’t need them. I didn’t have the greatest few
hours’ sleep, but I was up and about at 04:40, feeling a bit lethargic to be
honest. The bus stop for LHR T5 is directly opposite the hotel. It took a few
minutes to get there and the bus ride was only 10 minutes. Bag drop was
self-service and reasonably easy. I need to remember to scan my documents
properly. There was not too much of a queue at security. We boarded the BA flight
on time but had to wait on the tarmac. My comment to Keith via Whatsapp was: “Well,
we were 15 - 20 minutes late taking off because the pilot needed a tug.
However, we landed on time and my journey from the plane through passport
control, bag collect, departures and security took just over 30 minutes. Most
of that time was spent at the queue at passport control. My missed plane
back-up plan was not needed. I had water and a grain bar on the BA flight but I
was feeling hungry so I had a tuna baguette and a coffee in the departure
lounge at Gate 31. The flight to Bydgoszcz was very quick maybe 40 minutes and
the plane was half empty. We had time for a free apple bun and water. I had
about 25 minutes to wait to get the bus to the train station. No English was
spoken at Bydgoszcz airport and the only refreshments available were from a
machine. The journey started with the bus at 15:10, then train, bus and walk to
the apartment took about three hours. It took me a while to find the ticket
office at Bydgoszcz Główny, it was down one level from the entrance and
platform level. I just missed the 15:54 train and I got the 16:31. I had a
coffee at Bydgoszcz Główny while I was waiting. Note that the buses are
cashless, they have a contactless payment machine on board. I waited longer
than necessary at Toruń Główny bus stop because I wasn’t sure where the first
two buses were going. I got to the apartment at 18:00. I had an evening meal at
Stary Młyn (£22.00), I went to the Biedronka to buy a few things for breakfast
(coffee, milk, cheese, Polish sausage, bread roll and butter).
Friday 24 March 2023
1st day in Toruń - Shopping, acclimatisation, Registration
I had a breakfast of tea and coffee plus cheese &
kielbasa with some bread and butter. I went to the indoor arena to collect my
race pack, all was good. I used the tram to get back to the old town as I was
told that the ID card was valid for transport already. I did two shops at
Biedronka today. Early afternoon I picked up some Coke zero, water, olive oil
and eggs. These are located upstairs. The upstairs bit was closed when I went
there yesterday. Later on, I went to McDonalds and had a double cheeseburger
and a coke zero and I and threw the bun away. I did my second shop at Biedronka
and bought some minced beef.
Saturday 25 March 2023
parkrun & Arena Visit
I allowed myself 20 minutes to get to the tram stop at Plac
Św. Katarzyny 01. I jogged it and it didn’t take me much more than 5 minutes to
get there. So, I did a few strides and stretches while I was waiting for the
tram. When I got to the other end at Olimpijska 02, I walked across to the
parkrun start. The first person that I saw was Steven Doxey. Ros & Andrew
were there too, as was Rebecca (Rebecca Louise MILLS). I ran the parkrun at an
easy pace in 31:17. I came back to my Airbnb for some breakfast and a snooze. I
got the tram to the arena. I waited at the wrong tram stop which meant I had a
longer wait. I saw Barrie and Katie plus David and Linda Oxlade at the arena. I
found the GBR notice board and also checked out the lie of the land to locate
roughly where the BMMS team will be tomorrow. I came back to the Airbnb,
picking up some provisions on the way. The first 3000 metres race tomorrow is
at 08:30, it features Betty Stracey. Wendy’s friend Rebecca is running in the
VW40-44 race.
Sunday 26 March 2023
3000 metres, X-C Check & BMMS 1
I didn’t get a great night’s sleep, so, once I did get up, I
watched the 3000 metres races on TV in my apartment. There were a few rain
showers today so I had to wear my red rainproof coat. I went to the arena and
saw Vicky Brooks. She said she would see me at 14:15. I headed for the
cross-country course. It was raining. I saw Alan Newman and Sue James. Alan had
just done the 3000 metres. He explained where the Cross-Country call room was.
I decided that I didn’t need to venture out into the wet weather. I noted details for tomorrow’s race, that the
course is 4 * 2km laps. That timing chips will be available from 2:30 hours to
30 minutes before the event from the call room. For outdoor events, report to
the call-room at least 30 minutes before the event. Back with the physio team,
Vicky gave me a treatment working from my feet upwards. I feel a bit better
after that. I headed back to the Airbnb mid-afternoon. I called into a deli for
milk and cheese (the Biedronka was closed). I had some pierogi in Stary Młyn.
Monday 27 March 2023
8K Cross Country
It was a very cold morning. Travelling to the arena, I wore
a “T” shirt, my GB Masters track suit top and my GB Masters weatherproof. I had
a pair of tracksters on. Because it was so cold, I used the changing rooms in
the indoor arena to get my racing gear on (running vest and Inov-8 shoes). It
was too cold too warm up properly. I did lots of strides up a short incline
near to the start to get as well prepared as I could.
The race was at 13:00 so I had plenty of time to prepare. It
all went pretty well, except that I am so very unfit. However, I got round and I
didn’t come last. It was Kevin Dillon’s birthday today by the way (age 69).
On the way back I called in at the Jan Olbracht brewery pub and
had two beers. Back at my apartment I had 2 cheeseburgers plus some bread and
cheese.
Tuesday 28 March 2023
BMMS 2
I watched the 60 metres heats on TV. Juliet Sidney was
racing and she qualified for the semi-finals. I then went to the arena to get a
massage (by Vicky). I walked back to town. I bought some provisions and relaxed
for the rest of the day.
Wednesday 29 March 2023
10K Road Race ( I did not compete)
I woke up with a very stiff and sore right knee. I could not
do the 10K Road Race. I walked to the course thinking that might loosen it up
but it didn’t. After watching the race, I went to see the physio team. Carmel
did some work on it. She did some massage; some acupuncture and she taped it
up. I got a bus back to town. Well, two buses actually because the bus that I
got from Bema 1 bus stop took me to Dworzec Wschodni and I had to get another
bus back again. NB. I should have got off the first bus at Odrodzenia.
I had beer and pork knuckle and mash at Jan Olbracht. I had
an ice cream and a coffee at Cafe Lenkiewicz. I bought Emmie an Easter
bunny/teddy from flying tiger for 30PLN in cash.
Back at the apartment I rested and I’m under instructions to
ice my knee for 10 minutes every hour.
Thursday 30 March 2023
Rehab day
This would have been a post-10K race recovery day. However,
as I have mentioned previously, I had a reaction to the cross country. To
recap, I was OK on the day following the cross country but then, overnight on
the second night my knee started to hurt. Yesterday, I had some physio
treatment from Carmel a member of the BMMS physio team and, here orders were
for me to rest and ice my knee (10 minutes in every hour). I did this today
while watching the athletics on the TV. Early evening, I had to go out to the
Biedronka for some supplies. That is all I did today.
Friday 31 March 2023
Physio Day
I had some treatment from Charlotte from Bicester. I walked
back to town. I had a beer and a vodka shot in Ministertwo, a bar on the North
side of the Old Town. After that, I had some chips in FryRogi Frytki i Pierogi
(address: Szewska 25, 87-100 Toruń). I walked home and had a snooze. Late
afternoon, I went round the corner and bought some Pierniki from Pierniczek
Wyroby Cukiernicze Pamiątki S.C. a gift shop at Żeglarska
25, 87-100 Toruń. I also bought a small tote bag for gift safekeeping.
Saturday 01 April 2023
Half Marathon, 1500 metres, Relays
I stayed at home and iced my knee. I watched some 1500s. I
went to Stary Młyn, I bought some more Pierkini (Chocolate covered,
whiskey-flavoured Gingerbread for Mandy and for Zoe & Paul).
Sunday 02 April 2023
Pack Bags, Tidy Apartment, Meet Barrie & Katie
I actually unpacked some running gear and did an easy 3K run
to test my knee. It was OK! I noticed a Sunday morning food market in a square
over to the North-east of the old town which was selling hot sausages which
looked and smelled good. I checked out the bus times for tomorrow. I met Barrie
and Katie and we went to Pierogarnia Stary Młyn and had some Pierogi. After
that I went to the ice cream café and had an ice cream and coffee. I had one
pint in Ministertwo before heading back home. I packed as much of my stuff as I
could and tided the apartment as best as I could. I wanted to be ready to leave
the apartment by 10:00am tomorrow
Monday 03 April 2023
Travel to Warsaw
I left the apartment at 09:40 and caught an 11 bus at around
10:00. I was in plenty of time for the 10:58 train. I had a little bit of time
to kill at Bydgoszcz airport before catching the 12:24 airport bus (number 80).
I used the Toalety (WC) at the station, it cost me 4 złoty. Bag drop at the
airport opened at 13:00 so the timing for that was pretty much spot on. There
were only three flights on this day from Bydgoszcz so the queue for security
was non-existent. I had a beer and a vodka shot in the airside café. The plane
took off on time at 15:00 and we arrived on time too, at 15:50. It took me a
while to find the hotel. I should have gone to the arrivals level but I ended
up in the car park one level below where I found a lift up to the hotel lobby.
I have settled in OK. I have a touch of gout though, so I have had some
ibuprofen and paracetamol. I had a steak meal in the
hotel restaurant – it was OK to good. The dessert (Crème Brûlée) was
magnificent. I used up 200 Zloty in part payment for the meal and put the rest
on my Starling card. The only need that I had for Polish currency was the public
loo at Bydgoszcz Główna where I had to have 4 zł in coinage (the attendant
changed a 5 zł note for me). I finished off in the bar with a red wine and an
Irish coffee. I slept well, in fact I slept so well that I decided to review my
travel arrangements for the San Sebastián trip, in particular, the Newport
to Bristol Airport outbound journey. I thought I might use the Airport Hotel
instead. I later cancelled my Bristol Fox and Goose booking but research on the
Bristol Airport hotel indicated that it was poor value for money with a
mediocre café bar. So, I have decided to use an early morning Dragon taxi
instead.
Tuesday 04 April 2023
Travel Home
I checked out from the Courtyard by Marriott and went to bag
drop as planned. By checking online – the BA app I think (?), I already knew
that the flight was probably going to be delayed. The airport was fairly quiet
so I got through security quickly. I had potato pancakes with cream at MIS café
(airside) together with a pint and a couple of vodka shots. The flight did
depart late, maybe about 45 minutes late. I noticed a football stadium as we
were flying over Germany. I think it was the one in Hanover. There was a bit of
a wait at baggage reclaim at LHR T5 but I eventually got out to landside with
about 15 minutes to spare. I was getting hungry but there was a big queue at
Costa Coffee so I headed for the National Express coach stops which when you
exit the terminal building are to the left. The South Wales coach was already
waiting at a bus stop fairly close to the far end of the line of stops. The
journey home was reasonably uneventful. I think I may have snoozed for a bit.
We were due to arrive in Newport at 18:15 and despite the queuing traffic on
the M4 around Newport we arrived at the Kingsway 15 minutes early. I was going
to book a Dragon Taxi to pick me up at the National Express Bus Stop. However,
just as I made the booking a Capitol Taxi pulled up so I hopped into that one
and cancelled the Dragon booking. Pretty
much as soon as I got home, I drove up to the Greyhound and had a mini mixed
grill and a pint of Pepsi Max. Back at the house I started to unpack.
Wednesday 05 April 2023
End of trip tidy up
Summary
·
Compile blog and add it to my training &
racing blog
·
Move calendar reminder task to start of next
trip
·
Generate an MM finance report once all
transactions are reconciled
·
Create tasks for any action items
·
Move Desktop folders into appropriate final
resting places
·
Transfer photos and images from iPhone and iPad
·
Food Diary Reinstatement
·
What did I wear v What did I take
·
Do an agile review
Note about the new Calendar reminder task
“PSR - Facebook, Finance, purchases records & Daily
& Cumulative Blog”
Edit it (as above) and change the date to 17 September
(Start of Pescara Trip) for this and following events
Note about the Blog
It would be better to build the blog on
a day-by-day basis to save having to do it all at the end of the week. In fact,
that could be a task on my calendar for the duration of each trip.