Warsaw Marathon Preparation - Part 1

Last summer I used to plan my running routes along the metro line. Starting in Natolin, I would head straight to Metro Ursynów, then swing into Park Kozlowskiego and over to Puławska so as to get to Słuzew, Wilanowska, Wierżbno and Racławicka before making my way back. It was a bit over 12kms. I wondered what length the metro line from Kabaty to Młociny would be - when I measured it on mapmyrun it turned out to be 46.1kms, a little more than the 42.195kms of a marathon. Actually, from my starting point at Natolin the distance to and from Młociny is almost exactly the same as the marathon stretch. I use mapmyrun to work out the distance and routes I wanna go on.
I've been half thinking for a while about doing the Warsaw marathon on September 25th this year. My bro. did the marathon in Ireland a few years ago and I'm not sure whether he has ever run since, so I was a little wary of pushing myself too much too early. Training during the piping hot Polish summer with Warsaw's urban heat and exhaust fumes en route have made me hesitate. I've found some nice routes to do 7-10kms in the Ursynów area. They are semi-lit and adjacent to lots of greenery to get your head out of the urban zone.

Given that the recent sunny Polish weather has been taking it's toll (If your stuck in a fanless classroom all day you feel so drained when you come home), I realised there is only one solution - more exercise). Having a little girl dictates the time of departure and length of my runs. I find 11pm is a good time as she is usually fast asleep, there is little traffic, the temperature is quite good and I like running in semi-darkness listening to the classical radio station while mulling over my thoughts.

Since the temperatures began to rise though I've felt so exhausted after each run. I went jogging late on Wednesday night, when I thought the worst of the storm had passed, although little did I know it was only getting started. So drenched wet from sweat and heavy showers I wobbled by a massive concert at SSGW and into the shower to try and cool off. There is nothing like the feeling of a cold water beating against you after running yourself into the ground.



The Warsaw marathon has 4,000 places for participants so if you are interested then sign up asap. Entrance fee is 100 zł and all the details can be found at the above link. Fundacja Maraton Warszawski page can be found here so all the latest news and preparation runs will be posted on their wall.

Did ya hear the one about the parrot....

On Sunday I joined some friends who were having a birthday picnic in Pole Mokotowskie, one of the most popular and action packed parks in Warsaw.

Bad Polish

Niedziela dołączyłem z przyjaciołmi w pole mokotowskie (jedna najpopularniejszy oraz pełny rozrywka w warszawie)z powodu impreza urodzinowy.

Good Polish

W niedzielę byłem z przyjaciółmi na polach mokotowskich (jedna z najpopularniejszych i pełny rozrywek park w warszawie) na imprezie urodzinowej.
***

As we were about to leave, I saw an old woman casually walking around with a parrot perched on her right arm.

Bad Polish
Kiedy mieliśmy wyjść, widziałem starę kobietę która szła swobodnie z papugę posiedzenia na prawym ramieniu.


Good Polish
Kiedy mieliśmy iść, zauważyłem starą kobietę która szła beztrosko z papugą na prawym ramieniu.

***
Today I was telling my students about it and one of them said he was also in the park at that time and knew about her and the parrot.

Bad Polish
Dzisiaj powiedziałem moich uczeniowie o tej sytuacje ale największość już ją wiedzieli oraz jej znana papuga.

Good Polish
Dzisiaj powiedziałem moim uczniom o tej sytuacji a jeden z nich też był wtedy w parku i ją wiedział oraz jej papugę.
***

I thought it a good occasion to explore whether there are some interesting phrases or idioms in Polish about parrots or birds.


Bad Polish
Pomyślałem że to byłoby dobry okazji żeby się dowiedzieć jakieś polski wyrazenia o papugach albo ptaki.

Good Polish
Pomyślałem że to byłaby dobra okazja żeby się nauczyć jakichś polskich wyrażeń o papugach albo ptakach.
***

But I probaby haven't translated it well yet.

Bad Polish
Ale chyba jeszcze nie udało mi się dobrze wytłumaczyć.

Good Polish
Ale chyba nie udało mi się ich dobrze przetłumaczyć.

Some sayings

* Papuga znaczy też naśladowcę - Parrot can also mean a copycat

**"Kruk krukowi oka nie wykole" - A Raven won't gorge another raven's eye

***"Zły to ptak, co własne gniazdo kala" - it's an ill bird that fouls its own nest //You shouldn't shit on your own doorstep

****"Sowa - mądra głowa" - Wise as an owl

*****"Jeśli wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one" - If you are among crows, you have to caw like them

******"Jedna jaskółka wiosny nie czyni" - One swallow does not make a spring

Bits of Polish blog have some other interesting ones

Mia goes to John Paul II's Theme Park

Does photoshop first come to mind? Well, believe it or not, this picture is as genuine as Mia's (my 7 month old daughter, spawn of an Irish and Polish immaculate conception) boredom at being brought to the surreal Beatification theme park that occured last weekend at the Temple of the Divine Providence (Świątynia Opatrzności Bożej) in the Miasteczko Wilanów district of Warsaw. The Temple is a musuem, but it's a church, but it's a museum, but it's a church. Oooops, sorry, you see, the only way they got about 40 million zł in taxpayers money was by designating it as a museum, and not a place of worship, which of course it is.



People from Poland and abroad were invited to send their picture to make up a montage of John Paul II to be hung on the date of his beatification in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI. The end product consisted of 105,000 photos of the flock.


The Faithful queued up to board the John Paul II beatification train -uuh, whatever that is supposed to mean! These brave folks waited for ages to go on, well, it has to be said, a pretty fucking lame trip around the area of the Temple on a beatification choo-choo. It capped off the theme park feel of the whole scenario. There was candy floss, fast food, helium balloons (with F-16's being a favourite amongst boys), real nuns in multi-coloured habits (something Ireland hasn't seen for a while), and the essential religious book stands pawning off an abundance of material on the former Holy Father. Let see now: Religion, Jesus, marketplace, tables - now where have I heard that narrative before?


The loyal disciples of John Paul II were glued to coverage of his escapades being shown on an enormous screen beside the montage, so much so that this man on the right, who was dying for a piss for at least 15 minutes point blank refused to head to the jacks until a commercial break appeared.



The Catholic Church's head for 27 years appears a bit chubby in this wind-proof work of idolatry. I pondered for a while as to how this may have come about, given the fact that he was such a strapping bulk of fitness all his life. It eventually dawned on me that the belly area of the montage consisted of an extraordinarily unblanaced amount of his fat followers, hence the unseemly largeness of his mid-section. How unfortunate.



This kind gentleman got wind of my appearance and donned my local hurling and gaelic football club's blue and yellow colours to make this Irishman in Wilanów - neither in designer clothes nor with a latte cup holder strapped to his crotch - feel a little more at ease and at home in this upwardly mobile, sinking residential area of Southern Warsaw.



And so Mia uttered "Mam dość" (I've had enough) of this whole debacle, let's get the fuck out of here. So we waded through the throngs of JPII flags and other paraphenalia, back towards our humble abode in the irreligious flat that is our home. Mia did a big dump to show her discontent at our choice for May 1st. Next time, she appeared to convey through her drooling dribble, bring me on a real outing to the May 1st Worker's march and not to some ridiculous fair organised by a cult that adores a man who helped cover up child abuse in his church for 27 years. "Wow", I thought to myself, "what an articulate young baby I have."

Fantasy Government of Ireland

Fantasy Government

Pick a cross/non-party gvt. involving current members of the Senate/Dail or those you think who are Irish citizens with expertise in a certain field. Positions to be filled:


1. Prime Minister - The people of Ireland

2. Minister For Finance - Joe Higgins

3. Minister for Foreign Affairs - Michael D. Higgins

3. Minister for Women's Affairs - Ivana Bacik

4. Minister for Human Rights - David Norris

5. Mininster for Children's Affairs - Mary Raftery

6. Minister for Energy - Willie Corduff

7. Minister for Culture - Michael Flately

8. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food - Darina Allen

9. Minister for De-Gardai-afication - Every citizen assaulted by a cop

10. Minister for Arts - Raymond Deane

11. Minister for Sports - DJ Carey

12. Minister for Tourism - Peig Sayers Ghost

13. Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs - The cast of Ros na Rún

14. Minister for Defence - Ireland's Judo/Karate champion

15. Minister for Education and Science - Pearse Doherty

16. Minister for Environment - Friends of the Irish Environment Board

17. Minister for Justice - Judge Joseph Mangan

18. Minister Disabled People's Affairs - Kathy Sinnott

19. Minister for Health - Mary Harney's Stomach

20. Minister for Social and Family Affairs - David Quinn

21. Minister for Transport - The Swiss Dublin Bus Driver who juggles to his passengers when caught in traffic



Disclaimer - Some of these are just for fun and obviously would prove hazardous to the health of the nation. You are entitled to separate the Ministries or create entirely new ones that are either a good idea or complete and utter rubbish.

Odd Warsaw

I might visit this business to see what they are up to.


A new anti-smoking sign at a bus station: 'Smoke-free zone'.


Some people think the President of Warsaw is a Commie even though she is as capitalist as they come.


???Who knows what this means???


I love my cellulite - You don't have to be ideal.


*Cheapest* Pharmacy in Warsaw will be based here.

(Note: *Probably* in the bottom left)


ThinkBud


Nice street name