Larnaca Marathon

I saw this sign shortly after arrival in Larnaca and decided to come and watch. 

But yesterday, after seeing people on the streets wearing green t-shirts, signed up too. Not for the marathon, of course, but for the 1K. I have been walking a lot but not running. Hope that's enough training. 

There is a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, 5K corporate, 1K for adults, and 1K for children. A LOT of people running!

Start of the 10 K race

5K corporate had two starts because of the numbers.

Finished!

I love getting medals!

Decision time

This morning, all of us in the marina received an email with an offer of a reduced price for the months that we may not be able to move our boats. I have been here since November on a winter contract which although not cheap, meant my boat was safe in case I had to leave it for some reason and I could stay aboard in a community of other cruisers and liveaboards. I enjoyed my stay here but the contract expires at the end of March and my plan was to sail through the Ionian and then the Corinth canal.
This is not possible at the moment. No one knows how long we will be under lockdown in Greece. It could be a month or the whole summer. No one wants that. The charter companies are hoping to welcome their clients as soon as possible, the hotels, restaurants, and cafes would like to open again. But there it is. We are stuck.
As far as the yachts are concerned, we are not allowed to leave the Lefkas harbour without special permission and then only to go to our normal destination and stay there. 
The marina owners have offered us a 20% discount on regular, high season rates. For me, this is beyond my budget. I normally anchor out during the summer in order to save money for winter moorage or haulout. Of course, I do enjoy sailing and anchoring out when the weather is fine, but finances also play a role. 
There is a town quay in Lefkas with water and electricity available, but there is also a charge for that. Not as high as the marina, but nevertheless, difficult for me to pay every day. I may, during the summer stop in a place like that now and then to top up my water tanks, but again, I am not able to justify the expense. Besides, the town quay is noisier than an anchorage.
There are a few free harbours still in Greece. Palairos, Little Vathi on Meganisi Island, and Vonitsa are a few of those. But at the moment I am not sure if I would be allowed to sail there. I must ask at the port authority office. 

Unfortunately, cases of infection are increasing. We now have 695 people ill with 19 dead. But according to the reports in the news, the real number of people who have the virus and perhaps are not showing symptoms as of yet is more likely 8-10,000. This situation looks more and more serious.

On a bright note, this morning I sent a text message to an automated citizen safety permission centre and received an OK to go for exercise. Yeah! So, shorts on for the second time this spring, I turned my music on, started the C2 10K app, and pressed the start button on Strava to keep track of my route. 

Causeway looking south towards Lefkas town.

I saw hardly any people out at 10 in the morning. A few cars and mostly service or delivery trucks. No fishermen on the quay. A police car passed me and there were officers checking documents on the mainland side of the swinging bridge. I saw three other people running or exercising and three more walking. One older man sitting on a bench. No problem keeping my distance.
Halfway through my run, I was rewarded with a stunning view of the north coast of the island.

North coast of Lefkas Island.

Join me virtually.

Little island bridge in Vonitsa.

As long as it is possible, I will continue running. I've started only a couple of years ago and had to stop several times for a variety of reasons (weather, traveling, a broken leg). So, it took me a year to finish the first eight-week training program that can be downloaded to a smartphone, the Couch to 5 km (C25K). 

Even before finishing the program, I ran and walked two 5km races last fall, one in Vonitsa and another one in Preveza. No one says you have to run them and I badly wanted the medal (LOL).

I have now downloaded the Couch to 10 km (C2 10K) app and have finally begun to mostly run the 5 km. Still not non-stop, but getting there. 
I am doing this, as I told my son, Justin to run as far away as possible from the grim reaper. ;)
Since we can't spend time together in real life, I would love it if you would join me on C25K or C210K and on Strava where we can record our routes and keep encouraging each other while keeping fit. Keeping fit strengthens our immunity and that's so important at the time of the coronavirus. Strava works for running, hiking, walking, skiing, skating, snowboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and many other activities, so if you're not a runner, we could still encourage each other no matter what your activity. 



Check out my activity on Strava and I hope to see you there.

Day 7. Couch to 10 Km. Week 9 day 2.

Since we're still allowed to go out to exercise, I ran to the beach at the north end of the island again. What a lovely day!

View north

The sign says, stay home, avoid unnecessary travel, be responsible, take care for the well-being of individuals and the community.

Causeway looking south towards Lefkas town

Solitary charter boat heading to home port.

Boats are no longer allowed to leave ports except with special permission to haul out in a boatyard or to head to home port.

Charter boats along the town quay ready for clients.

The rest of the day I varnished and tried and failed to remove mildew from some sheets and pillowcases.