Ξέρω τι θα κάνω την Κυριακή. Μου πήρε τέσσερις μέρες μελέτης και αναζήτησης, αλλά νομίζω ότι έχω καταλήξει. Αυτό το δημοψήφισμα είναι ένα άτιμο / άδικο δίλημμα. Οι επιλογές που θέτει στους πολίτες είναι άδικες για τους παρακάτω λόγους:
Ακόμα και το ψηφοδέλτιο είναι λάθος! Η δε πρόταση που υποτίθεται ότι συνοδεύει το "ναι" δεν είναι τελική ενώ πλέον δεν υφίσταται ως πρόταση από την άλλη πλευρά. Αλλάζει και θα αλλάζει καθώς όταν θα αποτυγχάνει θα επιβάλλονται νέα μέτρα κάθε φορά. Και θα αποτυγχάνει καθώς είναι μία ασπιρίνη για ένα σπασμένο πόδι.
Τέλος θα αναφερθώ στον πιο σημαντικό παράγοντα αυτής της αδιέξοδης κατάστασης. Ο πολιτισμός της Ευρώπης έχει καταπέσει. Έχει εκτραπεί σε μία κατεύθυνση που ορίζουν τράπεζες και ο κίνδυνος κατάρρευσής τους μετά τα εξωφρενικά λάθη και κακές συμπεριφορές του παρελθόντος. Η Ευρώπη έχει ένα όραμα και αυτό είναι να προστατεύει τις τράπεζες και τους επενδυτές ακόμα και εις βάρος της ποιότητας ζωής των πολιτών της. Το 2012 στην Ελλάδα έγινε το PSI και οι μεγαλύτερες απώλειες επιβλήθηκαν στα ασφαλιστικά ταμεία και τους μικρο-ομολογιούχους. Οι Ευρωπαϊκές τράπεζες απηλλάγησαν από τα "τοξικά" Ελληνικά ομόλογα κια αυτά μεταφέρθηκαν στα κράτη της Ένωσης. Οι Ελληνικές τράπεζες αποζημιώθηκαν με ανακεφαλαιοποίηση για τις απώλειές τους. Με πόρους από τον Ελληνικό λαό. Αυτό το σχέδιο έγινε αποδεκτό από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Αυτό δείχνει ποιες είναι οι προτεραιότητές τους. Πως μου ζητάνε να τους εμπιστευθώ;
Το νόμισμα είναι πάνω από όλα και πρώτα από όλα ένα συμβόλαιο εμπιστοσύνης. Τα χαρτονομίσματα φέρουν επάνω την υπογραφή του κεντρικού τραπεζίτη που υπόσχεται (γιατί αυτό είναι, μία απλή υπόσχεση) ότι η αξία του συμβολαίου αυτού θα σου επιτρέψει να το εξαργυρώσεις ανά πάσα στιγμή που θα το χρειαστείς σε μία συναλλαγή. Η εμπιστοσύνη αυτή δεν υφίσταται πλέον στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Οι διευθυντές της Ένωσης (γιατί δεν είναι όλοι οι υπεύθυνοι εκλεγμένοι) δεν έχουν εμπιστοσύνη στους πολίτες της Ένωσης, και οι πολίτες δεν έχουν εμπιστοσύνη στους διευθυντές της. Η πορεία που επέλεξαν οδήγησε σε αποτυχία.
Προτρέπω όλους να διαβάσουν τα δύο παρακάτω κείμενα:
Αυτή τη Κυριακή θα τρέχω στο βουνό. Δεν θα πάω να ψηφίσω μεταξύ δύο ανόητων και επικίνδυνων προτάσεων. Θέλω να αποδειχτεί άκυρο αυτό το δίλημμα. Να αποτύχει ο εκβιασμός και των δύο πλευρών. Θέλω να έχω την ευκαιρία να βρω την σωστή θεραπεία για τον καρκίνο της χώρας μου. Για το σπασμένο πόδι της Ελλάδας. Με αποχή άνω του 60% θα έχουν αποτύχει όλοι τους. Και ας μείνουμε όσο καιρό χρειαστεί χωρίς χαρτονομίσματα. Αυτά είναι τα συμβόλαια εμπιστοσύνης στην αγορά. Συμβόλαια με την υπογραφή του κυρίου Ντράγκι.
Κόβω τον Γόρδιο Δεσμό. | I know what I am going to do this Sunday. I 've been thinking about it and analyzing possible outcomes and I made up my mind. This referendum is unfair and pointless. Citizens are supposed to decide between two impossible options.
Even the actual ballot is poorly designed and wrong! The plan that is attached to the "yes" option is neither final nor available as we speak!!! It is changing and will keep on changing because it will fail every time. It is the wrong medication for the kind of disease that Greece is suffering from. It is an aspirin for a broken leg.
The most crucial part of this situation is that European culture is in decline. It has deviated to paths of exaggerated importance of financial sector. Well being and longevity of Financial sector institutions is paramount and more important than anything else. Even at the expense of the living standards of the citizens. In 2012 Europe accepted the PSI that imposed disproportionate losses to pension and insurance funds, as well as petit-bondholders. At the same time this procedure relieved all private sector finance institutions from their exposure to Greek debt. European banks that had Greek bonds in their portfolio were allowed to transfer these bonds to Central Banks and from there to individual country budgets! Even Greek banks got recapitalized - after losses from PSI - with funds from state treasury, Greek and European. European Union accepted and applied this plan!!! How can I trust their integrity and sense of responsibility after that?
A banknote, a currency, is based on confidence and trust. Banknotes are signed by the central banker that is issuing them as an assurance of their value in any transaction. We trust our financial institutions that this value will be stable and fair. This trust does not exist any more in Europe. Directors of Europe (because many of the leaders are not elected) do not trust citizens and vice versa. Their methods have led to low confidence and lack of trust. They have led to decline.
I recommend reading the following articles:
This Sunday I will go running on the mountain next to Athens. I will not vote for neither of the unfair and misleading options of this referendum. I want the opportunity to the correct treatment of the problems of Greece. My stance is that abstention of 60% will render this referendum invalid. And I am ready to live for as long as it takes with limited availability of banknotes or even different ones. Because these pieces of paper are contracts based on trust. And there is no trust in Europe and among Europeans.
I decided to cut the Gordian knot.
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Thoughts, memories and ideas for sports and society. Aiming at provoking creative thinking for my readers.
Τρίτη 30 Ιουνίου 2015
Η λύση του Γόρδιου Δεσμού - The solution to the Gordian Knot
Δευτέρα 25 Μαΐου 2015
Metsovo Ursa Trail 2015 - 40km trail running
I am very happy that I participated in this event that is the epitome of trail running community gathering in Greece. The starting line was a kind of unofficial National Championship for Marathon Mountain running in Greece. Everybody was there with only 3 top runners missing (Nikos Kalofyris - who is the organizer of the event, Nikos Sideridis and Stavros Stefanis). I have never seen such a deep field in Greece.
Nikos Kalofyris is organising this iconic event at the area of Metsovo in northern Greece. Metsovo is deep in the middle of the big mountain range called Pindos, surrounded by amazing landscapes and big mountains. His team, under his guidance, has managed to deliver a memorable and unique event. All the details were taken care of. From pre-race pasta party, taking place at the amazing Averoff wineries, to course design and marking!
Top performance from Dimitris Theodorakakos who finished in course record time just 2 weeks after his Transvulcania achievement.
I managed a decent 18th place just secs behind 16th and 17th who were good local runners, very familiar with the course. When I started the race my target was to be between 4:35 and 4:45 and I did 4:42. I have never done this race before and I did a good estimation of the course and my ability at this point. I was very happy to get back to my supporting family at the finish line, with my 2 months old son smiling at his smelly sweaty dad.
There are two highlights for me about this race:
Nikos Kalofyris is organising this iconic event at the area of Metsovo in northern Greece. Metsovo is deep in the middle of the big mountain range called Pindos, surrounded by amazing landscapes and big mountains. His team, under his guidance, has managed to deliver a memorable and unique event. All the details were taken care of. From pre-race pasta party, taking place at the amazing Averoff wineries, to course design and marking!
Top performance from Dimitris Theodorakakos who finished in course record time just 2 weeks after his Transvulcania achievement.
I managed a decent 18th place just secs behind 16th and 17th who were good local runners, very familiar with the course. When I started the race my target was to be between 4:35 and 4:45 and I did 4:42. I have never done this race before and I did a good estimation of the course and my ability at this point. I was very happy to get back to my supporting family at the finish line, with my 2 months old son smiling at his smelly sweaty dad.
There are two highlights for me about this race:
- Amazing organization and real love for their event
- Gathering of all top Greek runners in one event, to a historical scale for the Greek mountain running scene.
I hope I see more of this in the future! Mountain running scene is changing in Greece. It is becoming more competitive, more specific and more organized than in recent past. There is an increasing number of dedicated almost-professional runners.
My race in terms of nutrition/hydration:
- I drunk a total of 1.2lt of isotonic in my Ultraspire Human bottle (one refill during the race - no other liquid)
- I consumed 4 gels (3 High5 Isogels and 1 GU), all in the last two hours of the race.
- One piece of orange at one of the check points (half way)
I used my waist belt for the bottle, since the terrain required use of my hands in some cases.
The terrain is soft and grassy throughout the race. So I chose my old pair of Inov8 Mudclaw which provided with excellent grip.
Below you can see my race as recorded by my Garmin 310XT and some photos from this event.
Big appreciation to the most popular Greek mountain runner, Mr Nikos Kalofyris and his team for putting this event together. Thank you!
Δευτέρα 25 Αυγούστου 2014
Το ταξίδι του Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc
Το 2009 ξεκίνησε ένα ταξίδι εξερεύνησης των ορίων μου με την συμμετοχή στον πρώτο μου ορεινό αγώνα 100 μιλίων. Ήταν το UTMB του 2009 που είχα την τύχη να το συν-τρέξω με τον φίλο μου Δημήτρη Μπεζά κάτω από καλές καιρικές συνθήκες για τέτοιου είδους αγώνα. Στόχος ήταν ένας: Να ζήσουμε την διαδρομή και την μεγαλοπρέπεια των συγκεκριμένων βουνών και να φτάσουμε στον τερματισμό.
Τα καταφέραμε τότε! Καταφέραμε και αποκομίσαμε ότι θέλαμε να πάρουμε από αυτή την εμπειρία. Πήραμε και κάτι που δεν το περιμέναμε: Το κίνητρο να δοκιμάσουμε ξανά και ξανά σε νέα μέρη τις δυνάμεις μας και την όρεξή μας. Αυτές οι εμπειρίες είναι που μας διαμορφώνουν (πάντα υπάρχει κάτι να διαμορφωθεί...) σαν χαρακτήρες.
Φέτος η χρονιά ξεκίνησε με μία "ζαριά". Η πρώτη αφορούσε το κατά πόσο θα μας "βοηθήσει" η τύχη στην κλήρωση για το UTMB (μαζί με τον φίλο και συν-δρομέα Νίκο Πετρόπουλο) και η δεύτερη ζαριά αφορούσε το κατά πόσο θα έχω ξεπεράσει το "κληροδότημα" από το σοβαρό ατύχημά μου στην Ροδόπη. Οι γιατροί είχαν πει για 12μήνο αποθεραπείας για την χτυπημένη μέση μου. Και εγώ έκανα σχέδια για αγώνα ζόρικο στο 9μηνο. Η πρώτη ζαριά μας "έκατσε"! Όλη η καλή παρέα θα βρεθεί την Τετάρτη 27 Αυγούστου στο αεροπλάνο για την Γενεύη. Και έχω μάθει ότι οι παρέες κάνουν τις εμπειρίες πολύ καλύτερες από το να τις ζεις σαν μονάδα.
Μένει να δούμε την δεύτερη ζαριά αν θα αποδειχτεί "καλή". 2840χλμ έχω τρέξει μέσα σε αυτούς τους 8 μήνες και καθ' οδών για τα βουνά του UTMB. 57.000μ αθροιστικής ανηφόρας από τον Μάιο μέχρι αυτή τη στιγμή έχω ανεβοκατέβει. Εγκατέλειψα και δύο προσπάθειες λόγω ενοχλήσεων στη μέση μου (Ψάθα-Αέθλειος) γιατί έκρινα ότι το να διαλυθώ δεν εξυπηρετεί κάτι στην προσπάθειά μου να είμαι καλά στην γραμμή εκκίνησης του Chamonix. 287 ώρες τρέξιμο (δεν υπολογίζω τις ώρες πάνω στην σέλα του ποδηλάτου μου) μέσα σε αυτό το 8μηνο. Αριθμοί που δεν θα είχαν ιδιαίτερη αξία αν δεν είχα διασκεδάσει κάθε μέτρο και κάθε λεπτό. Πάντως δεν πιστεύω στην τύχη, αλλά στην προετοιμασία!
Όλα καλά λοιπόν. Με παρέα και υγιής στην γραμμή του Chamonix, στην σκιά του γίγαντα με τους παγετώνες του. Ελπίζω ο καιρός να μην είναι τέτοιος που θα αλλάξει τα σχέδια των διοργανωτών. Τα υπόλοιπα δεν με νοιάζουν, καθώς το βουνό έχει την χάρη του ακόμα και "τσαντισμένο".
Θα ήθελα να μην περάσω δεύτερο βράδυ στην πορεία μου για το Chamonix. Θα το προσπαθήσω αλλά οι καλύτερες οπτασίες έρχονται μετά τις 30 ώρες! Απλά τις είδα μια φορά και νομίζω ότι φτάνει!
Θα τρέξω με τον εξοπλισμό της UltrAspire που μας εμπιστεύθηκε σαν χορηγός. Αξιόπιστο και ελαφρύ σακίδιο πλάτης UltrAspire Revolution και στην μέση την MBS ζώνη Electron+Quark. Θα έχω και μπατόν (είπαμε για την μέση...) τα πανάλαφρα Black Diamond Z-Poles και ένα δεύτερο μπουκάλι Simple Hydration. Η τροφοδόσια ως επί το πλείστων με υδατάνθρακες σε υγρή μορφή και στερεά τροφή στους σταθμούς.
Πλάνο και στόχος επιδόσεων δεν υπάρχει, πέραν του ότι θα ήθελα να αποφύγω το δεύτερο βράδυ στο βουνό.
Ένα μεγάλο ευχαριστώ πάει στην Ελπίδα μου που με άντεξε τόσο στα δύσκολα μετά το ατύχημα όσο και στα "μανιώδη" μου όταν έτρεχα ώρες ατελείωτες. Με βοηθάει να πάω πιο μακρυά.
Τα λέμε ξανά μετά την επιστροφή. Πιστεύω ότι το ταξίδι που ξεκίνησε το 2009, θα ολοκληρωθεί αυτές τις μέρες και θα αφήσω πίσω μου τα σχετικά με το UTMB για αρκετά χρόνια. Έχει γίνει αρκετά πολυπληθές πλέον.
Υ.Γ.: Πάντα θα θέλουμε να έχουμε κάνει κάτι περισσότερο. Λίγο περισσότερη ταχύτητα, λίγα κιλά πιο κάτω να έδειχνε η ζυγαριά. Οτιδήποτε. Αλλά η ουσία παραμένει. Έκανα αυτό που ήθελα να κάνω και όχι μόνο αυτό που έπρεπε να κάνω. Το "θέλω" μου είναι πιο σημαντικό από το "πρέπει". Γιατί μην ξεχνάμε: ΚΑΝΟΥΜΕ ΚΑΤΙ ΠΟΥ ΜΑΣ ΑΡΕΣΕΙ. Κανείς δεν μας υποχρεώνει και είναι αυτό που θα συνεχίσω να κάνω και μετά το UTMB.
Δευτέρα 16 Ιουνίου 2014
Parnassos Trail 2014 - A fast race!
This is one of my favourite trail races in Greece. It has a good mix of leg torturing uphills, technical trails, a unique scree downhill and beautiful landscapes. The distance (24k) and the elevation (1440m) are such that a fast "all out" run is possible without wrecking the body.
Heading to the start line my view of this race was to give a good effort given the circumstances (this is not a key race for me) and test my legs mostly atthe fast downhill part.
Heading to the start line my view of this race was to give a good effort given the circumstances (this is not a key race for me) and test my legs mostly atthe fast downhill part.
I am happy that after the race I can say that I have improved my personal best by more than 4 minutes on this course. Finishing 4th overall was a good indication that I am doing ok. 6 out of the top 7 runners were 40+ years old. Including myself. And this race had a quality field for men. This is a bit alarming for the dedication to the sport by younger runners. Even in the top 10 I think there were 8 runner in the 40+ category.
The organization of the race is top notch and the marking is excellent. Anyone enjoying trail running in Greece should keep this race in their calendar.
Had a really good time with my friend Nikos Petropoulos, and enjoyed the post race meal and drinks!
The organization of the race is top notch and the marking is excellent. Anyone enjoying trail running in Greece should keep this race in their calendar.
Had a really good time with my friend Nikos Petropoulos, and enjoyed the post race meal and drinks!
Post race I can say that legs feel fine, and I have no pain or problems. Getting ready for the real big thing in my life, which is my wedding next weekend to Elpida Kourtzi.
Good times!
Equipment used:
Good times!
Equipment used:
- Shoes: The North Face Ultra Guide
- Race belt: Ultra Aspire MBS
- Race Bottle: Ultra Aspire Human 8
- Tracker: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact + Endomondo
Δευτέρα 5 Μαΐου 2014
A trail race with a historic background: Efialtes trail 2014 (Anopaia Atrapos)
This is a trail race that I had in my sight for several years. But every time something was keeping my away from the starting line. So this was the time to do it.
Even though this was not a key race for me, and the distance is quite short for my taste, I tried to push a lot from the start, and test my body against the fatigue from the training sessions I am having recently in preparation for the 180kms ultra run (Aethlios) that I am having in less than two weeks time. It worked out well. I was close to the leader throughout the uphill part and fell behind in third place at the downhill part, but not too far behind. I finished third overall in a field of more than 220 runners and happy for my effort. Also very happy that my legs were still in one piece after the brutal downhill. Quads were just a bit heavy after race, but that was all.
Time to slow down now in my tapering period before the Aethlios ultra on 16th of May.
Equipment used in this race:
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Just after a month from my spring marathon and with limited trail time on my legs, I was happy to be in this race taking place on the unique historic trail through which Efialtes is supposed to have led the Persian army at the back of the Spartans who were defending the Thermopyles pass. The race is mostly downhill on technical terrain and there are many chances to sprain an ankle. The start is uphill through forest road initially and trails later on. But the last 10kms are all downhill taking runners from an alt of 1100m to almost sea level. |
Even though this was not a key race for me, and the distance is quite short for my taste, I tried to push a lot from the start, and test my body against the fatigue from the training sessions I am having recently in preparation for the 180kms ultra run (Aethlios) that I am having in less than two weeks time. It worked out well. I was close to the leader throughout the uphill part and fell behind in third place at the downhill part, but not too far behind. I finished third overall in a field of more than 220 runners and happy for my effort. Also very happy that my legs were still in one piece after the brutal downhill. Quads were just a bit heavy after race, but that was all.
Time to slow down now in my tapering period before the Aethlios ultra on 16th of May.
Δευτέρα 21 Απριλίου 2014
Rotterdam Marathon 2014 - Back in action!
This was my second visit to Rotterdam for the well known city marathon. It was back in 2010 the first time and it was then that I broke the 3hrs mark for the first time in my running days. This year was also special in some ways for me. It is just 6 months after my serious injury - accident that affected my back and kept me almost 2 months out of any kind of training. My preparation for the marathon started mid January and had to fight with some pains at my back as well as my demanding daily (and many times weekends as well) work schedule. Since I follow my own protocol in preparation for the marathon, and I do it every time for the past several years, I could tell from start that even though my endurance was still there, I was not as fast as I used to be. My accident has affected posture and technique. Main objective was to get my motivation up and enjoy this period as much as possible. I also tried to stick to my protocol with the intervals and long runs without overloading my schedule. from start it was obvious that i was about 4-6 secs slower for my 1000m reps. I kept my focus on my running form and kept any bad thoughts out of the way.
When I stood at the starting line, I knew that my best possible time for this marathon would be in 2:43 and change to 2:47 and change. I started with a nice weather and kept a comfortable pace for the first 15kms. I was running in the area of 3:49/km even though the wind was slowing us down in some segments. This was a nice pace for me. Crossed the 1/2 marathon in just over 1:21. I kept going at more or less the same pace till the 34th km. Then I decided to give it a try for the fastest limit that I knew i could achieve. My legs were fine and still had juice left in them. But just a few hundred meters after I had this thought, a tightness at my right hamstring made me reconsider. There were still 7kms to the finish line. A muscle injury at this point would become much worst if I kept pushing it for 7kms. So I decided to slow down just enough to feel comfy till the finish. And so I did. I kept going at a 4:10/km pace till 2kms before the finish. I picked up the pace a bit when I was close to the finish and there was no risk. I was happy to see the 2:45 on the stopwatch when I crossed the finish line. 1 minute slower than my PB and the same as last year in Boston (which I consider as my best marathon considering the difficulty of the Boston course).
After the race I recovered very fast. Legs are back in shape with just a day of rest after the race. And looking forward for the next race!
Δευτέρα 20 Ιανουαρίου 2014
"Postman" marathon 2014 - Tzoumerka. 42kms / 1250m of ascent road race.
It was a fair organization. The rout was well designed, support was where was needed without luxuries but with all needed by a runner. Finish line was friendly and we had a all we needed there as well. Roads were safe all the way. We were also lucky with the weather which can be very tricky in these areas. Overall I think it was a good organization and a unique concept race. I will do it again in the future. I think times can go down to 3:10.
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