A Personal Duathlon: Running and Chess in Bucharest

A traditional duathlon typically combines running and cycling. It’s less well-known than the triathlon, which includes swimming, cycling, and running—in that order. In both formats, the winner is the person who crosses the finish line first.

While I was in Bucharest this May, I experienced a rare coincidence. Two major sporting events were scheduled for the same weekend. One was the Bucharest Half-Marathon, and the other was the Bucharest Chess Grand Prix.

I wanted to participate in both, but unfortunately, the starting times overlapped. Luckily, the running festival included a 10 km race on Saturday morning, which ended before the chess tournament began. That turned out to be the better option. Not only did it fit my schedule, but running 10 kilometers requires significantly less energy than a half-marathon.

The venue for the chess tournament. Also the finish for the running was in front of the same building

I set myself a simple goal: to finish in the top half of both competitions. For the 10K run, this meant aiming for a time under 58 minutes based on the previous year’s results. For chess, it was more ambitious: scoring at least 5 out of 10 points. My best previous performance had been 4.5 points at the 2022 edition, and I hadn’t done much preparation this time.

The Running Phase

The day began with the 10K race, an event as well-organized as ever. The weather was perfect for running: cool (6–8°C) with a light drizzle. I started at a pace of about 5:20 per kilometer and maintained it for the first half. I was feeling strong. I sped up for the second half and dropped below 5 minutes per kilometer. I even sprinted the last 200 meters at a pace of 4/km.

I finished with an official time of 52:08, far better than expected. I placed 312th out of 2,957 finishers, putting me in the top 10.5%. However, this statistic is somewhat misleading, as most of the stronger runners competed in the half-marathon on Sunday. So, the field for the 10K wasn’t as competitive.

After the race with colleagues from Trupa lui Fane

A major factor in my performance was the training I did for a month with “Trupa lui Fane” in Bucharest. That preparation made a big difference. For context, I ran the Berlin Half-Marathon in 1:59:32, while the 10K time I just achieved projects to about 1:55:00 for a half-marathon. That gives me hope to break 1:55 at the upcoming Tallinn race.

Many thanks to Ștefan Oprina, who has helped me overcome health challenges and become a better runner over the years!

The Chess Tournament

After the run, I had time to shower and eat before the chess tournament began.

The tournament followed a 10 round Swiss format. That means each player is paired in each round with another player who has the same score. Each game was timed at 15 minutes per player. There was a 5-second increment per move. This is standard practice these days to avoid losses on time in winning positions. The schedule included 4 rounds on Saturday and 6 rounds on Sunday.

I started with 2 points from the first 4 rounds, not great, but acceptable. Sunday started well with a win. Then, I lost against a Candidate Master. I followed up with two more wins (one also against a Candidate Master). That brought me to 5 points from 8 rounds, achieving my goal of finishing in the top half. Unfortunately, I lost the last two rounds against stronger players.
In the end, I placed 213th out of 475 players. This result put me in the top 45%. Additionally, I gained 5 ELO points.

A New Type of Duathlon?

This experience made me think: what if we organized duathlons that combined very different events like running and chess?

One idea is to use a simple average of ranks or scores across both disciplines to determine an overall winner. A more refined method could involve using normalization. Each result could be compared to the best and worst performances in each category. This approach allows fair comparisons.

I was thinking of a way to compare results from independent events. In this case a rough formula could be:

Eval = 2×ELO Performance−Race Time (seconds)

The idea is to reward high chess performance. The higher the performance, the better. It also aims to penalize long race times. The lower the race times, the better. I’ll work on refining this formula in a future post.

A Special Chess Anniversary

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the Romanian Chess Federation. With almost 500 players this was the biggest chess open tournament ever organized in my country. It attracted many strong players and also gave me the chance to reconnect with my chess roots.

I was delighted to see my former coaches again.

I first met Iulian in 1992 when he visited our class during a math lesson. He had just opened a chess club and invited students to join. Our teacher asked who already knew how to play chess, and a few of us raised our hands. He encouraged us to learn more about the game. Shortly afterward, I joined the club, and chess became a lifelong journey. Iulian didn’t play this year, but he was there coaching five juniors. I was part of his first generation of students; since then, many others have followed. Here we are 33 years later still enjoying the game.

Cristian, a chess master, coached me between 2018 and 2020 before I moved to Poland. He was one of the referees at the tournament and continues to coach young players. During our time working together, I focused a lot on the psychological aspects of chess—understanding how emotions influence decision-making. Chess often goes beyond logic; it’s also about how you manage your internal state.

I’m deeply grateful to both of them for their impact on my life.

Seeing them again, by chance, after several years was one of the weekend’s highlights. We’ve kept in touch, but nothing compares to meeting in person.

There’s a quote I really believe in:

“In life, what matters most is the people you meet and the books you read.”

What is life?

Reflections on the SuperHalfs Series: My Experience and Insights

The SuperHalfs program has grown rapidly in popularity. With increasing demand and limited slots available for each race, the organizers have removed the time limit to complete all six events in the series. This move allows more runners to gradually work toward finishing the series over time.

As of May 2025, only 1,113 runners have completed the entire series. This is an impressively small number. Nearly 100,000 people have participated in at least one of the six races. Given these numbers, I thought it might be helpful to share my personal journey and offer some insights for aspiring SuperHalfs finishers.

While you can find the list of finishers on the official SuperHalfs website, gathering deeper data requires some effort. I used ChatGPT to generate code that helped me analyze the number of finishers by country. Here are the results:

Country	Number of finishers
Spain	193
Great Britain	185
Germany	136
Denmark	100
Portugal	92
Italy	74
Czechia	42
France	38
Poland	28
Netherlands	26
Brazil	22

The numbers are interesting. Not a surprise that Spain and Great Britain are on top. In Spain people run fast, they have half-marathons with 2.5 hours time limit to finish, while in the rest of Europe is 3 hours. The UK, meanwhile, has a rich running culture and offers wonderfully organized races. I highly recommend racing in the UK for an unforgettable experience. The first 5 countries from the list are also organizing races from series. Italy is the first country that has many finishers but doesn’t have a race in the program. Interesting Brazil is the only non European country that has many finishers.

Before the Berlin Half-Marathon this spring, only about 480 people had completed the series. Berlin added nearly 700 new finishers in one go, largely because it was newly included in the program just last year.

The SuperHalfs calendar includes three spring races—Lisbon, Prague, and Berlin—and three autumn races—Copenhagen, Cardiff, and Valencia. Since 2025, demand has surged, and most events now use a lottery system to allocate entries.

If you’re not lucky in the lottery, there’s an alternative: official travel agencies offer guaranteed race entries. I used one of these agencies—Germany’s Interair—for the Cardiff Half-Marathon when I joined the event late and couldn’t find an open spot. Their service was excellent.

If you are not lucky winning the lottery, you can use one official travel agency. This agency will guarantee your participation in the race. I had used a travel agency only once during my campaign for the Cardiff half-marathon. I decided to join this race too late and there were no available spots. I used the services of the German travel agency Interair and I was very happy with them.

I’ve written posts about my experiences in each of the six races. Here are a few personal impressions:

Top Picks: For me, the best races are Valencia and Berlin. Both offer outstanding organization and scenic, fast courses—ideal races to conclude your series on a high note.
Cardiff: A very well-organized race with amazing crowd support. However, the course is not flat. It is less ideal if you’re chasing a personal best.
Copenhagen: The course is flat, but I had some concerns when I ran it in 2022. The start was chaotic because there were no wave starts. The course became crowded. Pedestrians were crossing in front of runners, especially in the city center. The finish area was also quite congested. Hopefully, these issues have since improved.
Lisbon: Be mindful of the weather—it can get hot. The course begins with a downhill section, then transitions into rolling terrain before flattening out from kilometer 7 onward.
Prague: My least favorite race. The course includes cobblestone sections in the city center, which can be tough on the legs. Weather can also be unpredictable. A simple way to improve the course would be to extend the riverside sections and avoid the city center altogether. Interestingly, Prague also has the smallest field of runners among the six races.

Here are some highlights of Superhalfs races. Best finish is in Berlin. Valencia has the best atmosphere. It also has the best organization at the start. Cardiff boasts the best public. The best routes are in Valencia and Berlin.

The SuperHalfs program is a fantastic way to combine travel, fitness, and personal achievement. Running a half-marathon isn’t about proving anything to others – it’s a personal journey. And this series makes that journey unforgettable.

If you’re considering joining, act fast. As the series continues to gain traction, getting a spot will only become more challenging.

Berlin Half-Marathon 2025: A Memorable Finish at the Brandenburg Gate

The 2025 edition of Berlin half-marathon concluded my Superhalfs journey. Ending the series with the most impressive finish of all the races was a good decision. This took place at the Brandenburg gate. More than just an architectural masterpiece, the Brandenburg Gate stands as a powerful symbol of European unity. Before 1989, it marked the border between East and West Germany. It also served as a stark reminder of the Iron Curtain that divided the continent after World War II. As someone who lived through the communist era, crossing that finish line under the Brandenburg Gate carried deep, personal significance.

In the distance you can see the runners split in starting waves. Also some highlights of Berlin landmarks

This year’s race drew an incredible 35,000 participants to the start line. It was a chilly morning, with temperatures hovering between 4°C and 6°C. Runners could come with extra clothes that they donated before the start. It is good to get warmer before the start but not fun to sweat a lot during the race. The runners received a poncho at the end of the race to keep them warm in the cold wind.

At start they played Chariots of Fire by Vangelis to get the crowd in the mood for the race.

The race was very well organized with waves of people based on their earlier official times in other races. The start was from 10:05 AM but different waves started every 15 minutes. For example, I was in the wave of people with targeted time from 1:52 to 2:00 which started at 10:35.

Berlin’s course is flat and spacious, offering plenty of room to pick up the pace when you feel strong. Hydration points offered water and isotonic drinks at several stations. At the 12th kilometer mark, every runner received a free Maurten gel. Pacers were available for most goal times. For those interested, you could have your time engraved on your medal. You could also buy official race photos.

A band was singing this song around 10th kilometer. I will always associate this song with the Berlin half-marathon

I was not fully recovered after the pulled hamstring injury in January. I was cautious about the risk of not finishing the race. Nevertheless, this was my last Superhalfs race and I really wanted to achieve a time under 2 hours.

I started conservatively, averaging 5’49″/km for the first 5 kilometers, then slightly quicker at 5’45″/km over the next 5. By the 12th kilometer, we passed Potsdamer Platz and continued into East Berlin. The architecture here is unmistakably different. The former communist-era buildings are less charming. However, the atmosphere became increasingly cheerful. Bands played songs, and people encouraged the runners.

From the 16th to the 18th kilometer, we ran along Karl-Marx Allee. It is a grand boulevard so reminiscent of Moscow that it has stood in for the Russian capital in films like The Queen’s Gambit. Feeling strong, I picked up my pace to 5’23″/km for the final stretch. The last two kilometers are a straight shot down Unter den Linden boulevard. With one kilometer to go, I was still feeling good. I pushed to 4’56″/km as I passed under the Brandenburg Gate. I crossed the finish line in 1:59:32 — mission accomplished.

The spectacular finish of Berlin half-marathon

Our running group, “Trupa lui Fane,” had four members at this race. Bogdan ran an impressive 1:42:08, missing his personal best by just 3 seconds. Andreea and Mihai, the younger, faster duo, also had great races. Andreea finished in 1:35:47. Mihai finished in a blistering 1:25:04. For both, it was their second Superhalfs event after Prague.

Berlin was the final Superhalf race for Bogdan and myself. It was a project we started in 2022 in Copenhagen. We finished it in two and a half years. As mentioned the first Romanian finished the program last October. In Berlin another group of five Romanians got the Superhalfs medals. And speaking of medals, it’s a hefty one. It weighs 360 grams. That’s 60 grams for each of the six races.

With Bodgan once we got the Superhalfs medals. It was a 2.5 years journey!

I highly recommend the Berlin Half Marathon. Alongside Valencia, it stands out as one of the best running experiences in Europe. A heads-up for those eyeing next year’s race: a big change is coming. Entry for 2026 will be decided by lottery, with registration open from April 10 to May 22, 2025. The lucky draw results will be announced by email starting June 2, 2025. So remember: for Berlin, training hard isn’t enough… you’ll need luck too!

P.S. My next race is 10k on May 10th in Bucharest.

Rome-Ostia half-marathon

For those passionate about running, Rome hosts two major half-marathons each year. The first is the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon, held at the beginning of March, and the second is the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon, which takes place in October. These races offer distinct experiences: Rome-Ostia takes runners from the city to the sea along a highway, while the Wizz Air Rome route winds through the city’s iconic tourist attractions.

This year marked the 50th edition of the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon. The race was first organized in 1974 by a group of young Romans with a passion for exploring the sea. Over the years, it has grown into a major international running event, attracting around 12,000 participants, with 38% being international runners in 2025.

Over five decades, the average age of participants has increased from 30 to 50 years, reflecting a shift in society’s approach to running and fitness. Notably, the first edition had only six female runners, whereas today, one in three participants is a woman—a remarkable sign of progress in gender participation.

At the start of Roma-Ostia Half Marathon

Rome-Ostia is a race I truly enjoyed. The wide streets ensure a smooth run, with no pedestrians crossing your path. After an initial section with a few turns, the rest of the race follows a straight-line route toward the sea. The finish line, set against the backdrop of the coast, is spectacular. The race is well-organized, with plenty of volunteers and excellent medical assistance. It’s clear that the organizers have perfected the event over the years.

If you’re planning to run the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon in the future, here are a few key things to keep in mind:

Baggage drop-off: You must leave your bag before 7:45 AM so it can be transported to the finish line in Ostia. Some runners missed this deadline and had to run with their backpacks.
Course conditions: The entire race is on asphalt, with two key climbs—one at km 6 and a longer incline between km 10 and 12. Be sure to conserve energy for the second climb.
Water stations: There are only three hydration points, so make sure to use them wisely.
Return to Rome: After the race, you can take a bus or train back to Rome, but expect long queues. If you’re in a hurry, consider taking a taxi instead.

My race was almost in jeopardy due to a pulled hamstring injury I sustained in January while training on a treadmill. My recovery attempts weren’t successful until I started physiotherapy, which finally helped me get back on track. To protect my leg, I ran cautiously at 6’30” per km at the start. However, in the second half, I picked up the pace so my teammates wouldn’t have to wait too long for me. In the end, I finished in 2:11:29, far better than my 2:25 pre-race estimate.

This year, four of us from “Trupa lui Fane” participated in the race: Lucian, Andrei, Bogdan, and myself. Andrei and Lucian are serious runners with good performances. With a time of 1:16:44 Andrei was in top 100 of 10500 finishers. Lucian also had a good race finishing in 1:23:11. Bogdan started fast but struggled on the hills, finishing in 1:46:46, a solid result, especially at the start of the racing season. He has time to improve in upcoming events.

One of the best parts of Rome-Ostia is its breathtaking seaside finish. Crossing the line under the spring sun, with waves crashing nearby, is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a scenic, well-organized, and historic event. Here’s to many more anniversaries of the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon!

PS. History section. The Rome Ostia half-marathon finishes just two kilometers south of the place where the legendary poet and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini was killed 50 years ago. His voice, bold and unyielding, stood against the tide of extremism – until extremism took his life. In today’s world, where radicalism and division rise once more, his story is one we cannot afford to forget.

A song by Fabrizio de Andre dedicated to Pier Paolo Pasolini

Short history of half-marathons

When registering for the 50th edition of the Roma-Ostia Half-Marathon, I became curious about the history of this race distance. I had always assumed the half-marathon was a more recent creation, but I wanted to learn more.

To understand the history of the half-marathon, we must first explore the origins of its full-distance counterpart: the marathon. The marathon’s roots trace back to the famous legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger who reportedly ran around 40 kilometers from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a military victory. Legend says he collapsed and died from exhaustion after delivering his message.

Interestingly, there were no marathons or long-distance races exceeding 5 kilometers in the ancient Olympic Games. The marathon as we know it today began with the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. That first race was in fact from Marathon to Athens as in the legend. For the first editions of the Olympiad, the marathon distance varied between 39-42 kilometers. The first Olympic marathons were races full of challenges, with the 1904 St. Louis Marathon being the probably the most strange running race of all times.

Spectators at Olympic Stadium in Athens waiting for the winner of the first Olympic Marathon

The marathon distance of 42,195 meters (26.2 miles) was officially established during the 1908 London Olympic Games. The race was originally planned to be 26 miles long, but at the request of Queen Alexandra, the starting point was moved to Windsor Castle’s lawn so the royal children could watch the start from the nursery. This adjustment added 352 meters, creating the now-standard distance.

London Olympic Marathon 1908 – the first race of 42195 meters

As the marathon gained popularity, races began appearing outside the Olympics. The Boston Marathon, for instance, was first held in 1897, inspired by the Athens Olympics. In the UK, the Polytechnic Marathon was established to train athletes for the Games, while in the continental Europe, the Kosice Peace Marathon, which began in 1924, is the oldest continuously running marathon on the continent.

While the marathon’s history is well-documented, the half-marathon’s origins are more ambiguous. The longest distance ran inside stadium at official competitions was 10 kilometers. There was a big gap between 10k and marathon and this is how appeared the need for an intermediary distance. Why they chose half-marathon instead of 20 kilometers or 15 miles? Because the marathon distance was standardized by mid of last century and meant the same thing everywhere in the world.

Wikipedia mentions as the first race the Route du Vin Half Marathon which started in 1961. But they also say that it was not the exact 21097 meters (13.1 miles) until 1990s. Given this situation other sources mentions the Freckleton half-marathon as the the first race to match this exact distance in 1965. There are also other events that claim to be the first half-marathon. For sure the first half was run in the 1960s. Regardless, the half-marathon emerged roughly 70 years after the marathon.

One reason for this unclear history is that the half-marathon remained relatively unpopular until it became part of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in 1992. This addition helped elevate its profile, making any half-marathon with more than 50 editions, like the Roma-Ostia, a truly special event.

The popularity of the half-marathon has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2019, more than 2 million participants ran half-marathons globally, double the number of marathon runners. Many major half-marathons now sell out months in advance, reflecting their appeal to both seasoned runners and beginners alike.

Social media and the internet have undoubtedly played a significant role in this surge. Seeing friends share their running experiences online has inspired others to try it themselves, discovering that long-distance running is achievable with consistent effort. The half-marathon, in particular, strikes a perfect balance, challenging yet accessible, making it the ideal entry point for many aspiring runners.

Half-marathon has a history of only around 60 years but the best times of this race are still ahead. You can contribute to this history too!

Athens Olympic Stadium where history of long distance races begins – and I was in Arcadia

Remembering George Enescu: Stories of Humanity and Art

George Enescu was a renowned composer, orchestral conductor, and violinist, born in Romania in 1881. Today, he is celebrated not only for his remarkable musical creations but also for his influence on legendary pupils such as Yehudi Menuhin and Ivry Gitlis. During his lifetime, Enescu was regarded as one of the greatest violinists in the world, sharing his profound knowledge with countless aspiring musicians.

A child prodigy, Enescu was admitted to the Music Conservatory in Vienna at just seven years old. His extraordinary memory was legendary; he was known to have memorized the entire works of Beethoven and Brahms. Renowned musicians often marveled at his ability to recall intricate compositions. Enescu had a unique gift for teaching, imparting his art to those eager to learn, and he remains one of the few individuals about whom only positive stories are told.

In the following accounts, I will share three poignant stories that illustrate not only his genius but also his extraordinary humanity.

Luchian

In the summer of 1916, the famous Romanian painter Ștefan Luchian struggled with multiple sclerosis. As his illness progressed, he was confined to his bed and could paint only with a brush tied to his hand. One evening, George Enescu, who had never met Luchian before, visited him and played his violin for two hours. This heartfelt gift brought immense joy to Luchian, who later recounted the experience to his close friend, the poet Tudor Arghezi. It was not until Enescu’s passing in May 1955 that Arghezi publicly shared this touching story.

The poet Tudor Arghezi recounting Enescu playing for Luchian in the summer of 1916 (you can set captions in English)

Jora

Later that same year, Romania was engulfed in the turmoil of World War I. The situation was not good for the Romanian army and a big part of country territory was lost. George Enescu was behind the front line doing concerts for wounded soldiers to raise their morale. Once he did a concert for a young composer who just had a difficult surgery after losing a leg and was about to die. The name of the wounded composer was Mihail Jora. Upon hearing Enescu playing his compositions, Mihail Jora felt something powerful and a strong desire to live and started to fight for his life. Jora later described this moment as transformative. Sometimes music can make miracles. Jora eventually resumed his studies in Paris after the war. Even later during the challenging times of communism, Jora dedicated himself to honoring Enescu’s legacy.

Mihail Jora (1891-1971) expressing his thoughts on George Enescu

Moscow

As time passed, Enescu gained international fame. After World War II ended in 1945, Romania found itself under Soviet occupation, facing political strife due to its previous alliance with Germany. To foster better relations between Romania and the Soviet Union, Enescu traveled to Moscow in 1946, performing concerts at the age of 65, despite no longer being at the peak of his abilities. He played alongside some of the greatest Soviet musicians, including David Oistrakh, who was then considered the world’s finest violinist.

Below you can hear Enescu and Oistrakh playing the double violin concerto by Bach. Enescu was playing on a Guarneri violin called “The cathedral” while Oistrakh was playing on a Stradivarius violin. It is interesting that both instruments were created during Bach’s lifetime. This sounds like two people who are trying to give their best to the world. Try to listen this music with your soul.

Bach – Double Concerto in d minor, first and second movements

Bach – Double Concerto in d minor, third movement

Enescu undertook this tour not for personal gain, but to support his country during tumultuous times. Later that year, he traveled to the United States and the United Kingdom, and settled in France, never to return to Romania, which had fallen under communist rule.

It’s essential to recognize the many contributions Enescu made to his homeland. He traveled extensively throughout Romania, seeking out and nurturing talented musicians, helping them pursue their studies at the conservatory. He also championed folklore music, discovering talented singers like Maria Tănase and Ioana Radu. Enescu’s unwavering dedication to music and musicians demonstrated a profound commitment to the cultural enrichment of his country.

In our increasingly individualistic society, it is vital to remember humans like Enescu, who dedicated their lives to making the world a better place through compassion, knowledge, and artistry. A quote from Yehudy Menuhin, says a lot: “Enescu gave me the light that has guided my entire existence.”

Milano 21 half-marathon

Running becomes increasing popular in Europe. Milano has two important half-marathons, Stramilano in March and Milano21 in November. Both are flat, fast courses and are considered among the best routes in Italy. This year, Milano21 saw over 6,000 finishers, a 33% increase compared to the previous edition.

For years, Italy wasn’t a top destination for foreign runners due to a law requiring all participants in long-distance races to present a medical certificate. This rule was introduced after studies showed that improperly trained runners had a higher risk of heart attacks during long-distance events. However, since last year, foreign runners are no longer required to provide a medical certificate. Unfortunately, they aren’t included in the official rankings, which seems unfair, given they run under the same conditions as everyone else.

The race organization was solid, offering everything needed for a good half-marathon experience. However, the atmosphere was quite relaxed, with relatively few spectators lining the streets. On race day, temperatures ranged between 3°C and 5°C, cold but manageable for running.

Galeria Vittorio Emanuele, Dom of Milan, Szorza Castle are on the route of Milano 21

The Milano21 route showcases some of Milan’s most iconic landmarks, including Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Duomo, and Sforza Castle. While the course design highlights the city’s attractions, about three kilometers are on cobblestones, which can be challenging, especially if wet. Personally, I prefer running on flat asphalt rather than uneven cobblestones. If you want to visit the attractions you have time to do that before of after the race.

The race’s start and finish were conveniently located near a shopping mall, allowing runners to store their belongings securely. My colleague Bobo and I stayed at a hotel just one kilometer from the starting line, making it easy to arrive on time. Although the November morning was colder than expected, we had ample space and time to warm up.

I started the race too fast, keeping pace with the 1:55 pacers for the first five kilometers. My optimism got the better of me, and I paid the price in the second half of the race. This time, I experimented with a new strategy, using three Maurten gels at kilometers 6, 12, and 18, and drinking water at kilometers 5 and 10. While the gels helped reduce discomfort, they weren’t miracle workers. Towards the end, I slowed down and finished in 2:04:30.

The race itself was quite fast; I finished around 5000th out of 6000 runners. As mentioned earlier, I wasn’t included in the official rankings, but the organizers provided a list of all finishers’ times, so you can calculate your position if you’re curious. Although my time wasn’t exceptional, I was relieved to complete the race without any health issues. This autumn, I discovered I have lactose intolerance and took steps to avoid complications during the race, which paid off.

My colleague Bobo had an excellent performance after setting a personal best in Valencia. He completed the race in 1:44:15, a great result for him. A funny moment occurred during the race when a tram turned onto the course, and the police briefly stopped runners to let it pass. Similarly, a police car crossed paths with the runners, adding an unexpected twist to the race!

Milano21 was my final race of 2024, marking a personal milestone of completing six half-marathons in one year. From an organizational perspective, if you’re considering running a European race, here’s my ranking from best to worst: Valencia, Cardiff, Milan, Lisbon, Helsinki, and Prague. Keep in mind that the growing popularity of these events means you need to register months in advance. Even Milano21 was sold out before race day.

For now I am back to running on the treadmill until spring when I’ll run in Rome and Berlin. Traveling for races is such a rewarding experience, it not only boosts physical fitness but also significantly improves mental well-being. Running and visiting Milano was fun!

Valencia half-marathon

This year edition of Valencia half-marathon was a real success. It was a perfect organization, the best from all the races I ever ran. During the race a new world record was established by Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia with 57:30. The weather and environment were perfect for running.

There are countless positive aspects to highlight about this event. I recommend that every major marathon organizer send a representative to run in Valencia and take notes. For runners, the course is flat with ample space for warm-ups, and it never felt overcrowded. Organizers provided water in bottles, gels, and isotonic drinks along the route. If you’re aiming for a personal best, Valencia is the place to be, the true city of running.

I traveled from Bucharest to Valencia with my colleague Bobo, and we stayed in a hotel conveniently located near the start and finish lines. We warmed up before the race began and started together.

My race was going well until the 15-kilometer mark. I clocked 10 km in 55:40 and 15 km in 1:23:17, maintaining a pace of 5:33/km. For context, I passed 15 km in Cardiff in 1:25:56. Unfortunately, I experienced stomach issues that slowed me down significantly, forcing me to walk the last kilometer, which took me a frustrating 10 minutes. My official finish time was 2:07:47- not ideal, but I persevered, received my medal, and added another super half-marathon to my list.
Over 24,000 participants finished the race, and the support along the route was phenomenal. I had heard before the event that they were aiming to break the world record and bring it back to Valencia, and I could feel the positive energy during the race. Light rain helped keep us cool as we ran.
Bobo had an outstanding race, running a negative split and gradually increasing his pace. He achieved his personal best of 1:42:05. Congratulations to him on a fantastic performance!

Bobo achieved a personal best in Valencia

Bobo’s achievement wasn’t a surprise; he dedicated a lot of time to training this year. I logged 1,200 km, while he ran a third more and incorporated various exercises. In running, results stem from hard work. There’s no substitute for proper training.

My T-shirt for this race was from “Trupa lui Fane”, a gift from Stefan just before leaving Bucharest. Runners from Trupa lui Fane have recently excelled, with four finishing under three hours at the Bucharest Marathon and winning multiple medals at the Balkan Championships. Bobo’s progress is another testament to the effectiveness of Stefan’s coaching. I also want to thank Stefan for training me remotely in the last years!

Valencia half-marathon is part of Superhalfs. You need to finish all six half-marathons to get the special medal. This was my 5th race with only Berlin left to finish the circuit. In Valencia the first Romanian to ever finish Superhalfs was Cosmin Gabinat. We congratulate him for this achievement! Here you can find a list with all Romanians participating in Superhalfs , 111 people registered at the end of 2024. Given the statistics, the next Romanians to finish Superhalfs circuit will be in Berlin.

Despite my challenges and results, I had an amazing time in Valencia and highly recommend this race to anyone looking to achieve great results!

Cardiff half-marathon

Cardiff half-marathon is part of Superhalfs which makes it one of the most attractive races in England. Initially my thought was to run there because it’s one of the 6 half-marathons you need to finish to complete the Superhalfs series. I didn’t know much about Cardiff or the race before going there; hence, this half marathon was a pleasant surprise for me.

By the time I wanted to register for the event in Cardiff, the registration was already closed. Generally, such races sell out more than six months before the event date, so you need to plan your participation well ahead of time. For example, by October 10, 2024, the Cardiff Half Marathon for 2025 was sold out. According to the organizers, all spots were sold within 12 hours of the registration opening.

If you are late and still want to run there, you can get help from a sports travel agency. Such agencies guarantee your participation and accommodation for a fee. They may also organize training sessions and a pasta party for their clients. This time, I went with Interair, a German sports travel agency, and I was happy with their services; everything was great.

On October 6th, it was a good time to run in Cardiff, with temperatures around 12 degrees Celsius and light drizzle at the start. There was enough space to warm up before the race. The runners were organized in waves, as is normal for a half marathon with 28,000 participants.

The start is at Cardiff Castle, and the route winds through the city, including the bay area, before returning to the center and the castle. The first part of the race is either descending or flat; from kilometer 15, it starts to ascend, with some hills around kilometer 18, and towards the end, there is a significant difference in altitude.

I started with a pace of around 5:40 per kilometer and maintained that until kilometer 10 when the two-hour pacers went ahead of me. I made an effort to keep them in sight for as long as I could. By the 18th kilometer, I was confident that I could finish in under two hours. Then the small hills came, and I thought there was no way I would finish in less than two hours. Fortunately, with a final burst of energy, I finished in 1:59:58!

During the race, I used two GU gels and drank water twice, at kilometers 10 and 15. Water stations were available every 5 kilometers and also at kilometer 18.

One must remember that in England, races are marked in miles—13.1 miles as opposed to 21.1 kilometers in the rest of Europe. In this context, it’s useful to have an accurate GPS watch or to keep pace with the pacers if achieving a specific time is important to you.

As you can see, I’ve run many races in Europe, and I have never seen so many supporters encouraging runners as I did in Cardiff. The respect for runners is high in the UK compared to elsewhere. There were thousands of people spread over the half marathon distance, showing support for the runners. This can significantly boost one’s motivation to finish the race. I believe this played an important role in my success in finishing under two hours for the first time this year.

The other pleasant surprise was the city of Cardiff. The capital of Wales has a beautiful, typical British castle worth visiting. You can explore the bay area, the old market, and the city center. There is a village museum outside the city and a cathedral, but I did not have time to see them. There are nice restaurants and many people partying during the weekend.

The weekend after Cardiff, I traveled to Bucharest to watch the Bucharest Marathon and encourage my colleagues from “Trupa Lui Fane”. They achieved great results, with four of them finishing the marathon in less than three hours! That reflects a lot of hard work and training. There were also good results in the 10K, half marathon, and relay races. Many thanks to our coach, Stefan Oprina, who has been training me remotely for the last four years!

With colleagues and coach after their race in Bucharest

Cardiff was a great experience, and I encourage you to try it; it will be fun!

Chess – now and then

This post is split into two parts. The first part talks about my chess activity, and the second part is about the world of chess on the eve of a special celebration. The two parts are independent, and the second one is more interesting.

Part I

Recently, I played in two chess tournaments in Krakow. They were both of classical chess time controls, which lasted 3-5 hours per game.
First was the 35 edition of the International Chess Championship of Malopolska. I played in the B group of this tournament, for players rated between 1750 and 2000. The venue was Galaxy Hotel on the shores of the Vistula River. Many foreigners participating in this tournament were kids from Ukraine from Lviv Chess Academy. They had T-shirts with their club name on them. They played well; of the international players, the Ukrainians were the only ones who gained ELO points. There were also two players from Romania I did not know who also played in the Grenke tournament. We chatted during those days in Krakow; they were also impressed by the Grenke tournament. We all agreed that the chess level played in Krakow was much better than in Karlsruhe at the same rating. If you want to win games, go to Grenke; if you want to play good chess, come to Krakow. My result could have been better, but my games were exciting and fun, even when losing. That made me want to play one more time.

International Chess Championship of Malopolska

The second tournament was the 12th edition of the Cracow International Chess Championship. I played the B group of players again, rated below 2200 ELO. The group consisted of 185 players from 27 countries. I was the only Romanian this time. The venue for this tournament was Hotel Premier in Krakow, situated outside of the city center but easy to reach by car or bus. The special guests of the tournament were the Botez sisters, who streamed their games online. They have a well-known Youtube channel with 1.6 million subscribers. They were born and lived in Canada, but their parents are Romanian. Also, more than 15k people were watching their games live during the tournament. They finished with 5.5 points from 9 rounds each, while my result was 5 points from 9. I will share one of their rounds below to show how difficult playing an official chess game is. Their coach’s commentary is instructive.

Live streaming from BotezLive channel

I’ve discovered a powerful connection between sleep and chess results. The nights I slept well, I ended up with 5.5 points out of 6 games, while when I did not sleep well, I got 0 out of 5 games. It is not that I was biased. I tried to play better in each game. In one of the games, I had a winning position but made a mistake and lost.

With these tournaments, my results for the 25 classical games I played in 3 tournaments this year are 13 points, a little over 50%. I won 11 games, made 4 draws, and lost 10 times.
This concludes my chess games this year, as I don’t have enough vacation days left. I will focus only on running, with three half-marathons planned for autumn, the first of which is Cardiff.

Part II

On July 20, 2024, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) celebrates 100 years of existence. On that day, in 1924, 14 countries, including Romania and Poland, signed a document establishing FIDE in Paris. This part of the article is a small tribute to chess history.
If you want to understand the rest of this post, please watch the documentary below. No chess knowledge is required, only a sense of humor. Stephen Fry went to Thessaloniki in 1988 and made a movie about the 28th Chess Olympiad. The chess Olympiad is played every two years and is a team event; it is the most crucial chess team event.

This was the last Olympiad before the fall of Iron Curtain in 1989. Many things have happened since. Yet, in the chess world time flows differently. Grandmaster Anand, 55 years old, who played at that event for India is rated 11th player in the world today, 36 years later.

In July 2024, in Krakow, the World Senior Team Chess Championship was held for players over 50 and 65. This tournament was played in Galaxy Hotel, the same venue as my first tournament in Part I. In chess, there are only two categories for veterans: 50+ and 65+. I’ve counted 20 to 30 players from the Thessaloniki Olympiad playing in Krakow 36 years later. Team England 65+ featured two players from Stephen Fry’s documentary: John Nunn and Jonathan Mestel. However, the rest of the players in the documentary continue to be close to chess; Jonathan Speelman plays in many chess tournaments each year, and Nigel Short plays in a chess tournament this year.

What happened with the members of the USSR Olympic team who won in Thessaloniki? Kasparov retired from chess 20 years ago and moved to politics, being one of the most important Russian opposition leaders. Karpov also stopped playing chess about five years ago. Artur Yusupov retired for many years. Beliavsky plays for Slovenia and is an active player. Ivanchuk, at 55, is the 100th player in the world, is still very active, and plays for Ukraine. Jan Ehlvest plays for the United States at the World Senior Team Chess Championship in Krakow.

World Senior Team Chess Championship in Krakow

John Nunn and Jonathan Mestel played for the England team for the first time at the 22nd Chess Olympiad in 1976 in Haifa. That was almost 50 years ago. Nunn played on the primary team of England until 1994 and later moved to the senior teams. England won the World Chess Championship in Krakow in the 65+ category. They did not win in 1988 but continued and won in 2024. This is indeed true in a different context. As you can see in chess, playing strong for a very long time is possible.

England’s team won the World Chess Championship for seniors 65+ in 2024

Another English player has even more impressive results in time. Michael Adams played for the first time for the England team at the Chess Olympiad in 1990. He has played in the main team ever since and is expected to play even this year. At 53, rated 2672, Michael Adams is the 55th player in the world and the third player in England. However, as he is over 50, he also played in Krakow’s senior championship 50+ section.

Unlike other sports, the world of chess has changed slowly over time. These people are in their seventies, still going strong, and very sharp mentally. Studies have shown a much lower risk of mental diseases for people who play chess.

Chess is an individual game and such the history of FIDE is made of many such individual histories and dramas. It offers many lessons of life for people willing to pay attention.

Across the world, many events celebrate the anniversary of chess. In Bucharest, a special event was held at the Triumphal Arch to mark the 100th anniversary of FIDE. In Krakow, a chess photography exposition was opened. In London, in Trafalgar Square, on July 7th, more than 23000 people gathered to play chess in a special yearly event.

World Chess Torch at the Triumphal Arch in Bucharest

FIDE motto, “Gens Una Sumus,” translates to “We are one family.” FIDE has 201 state members in 2024. Another chess Olympiad, the 45th edition, will begin in September in Budapest. Chess has a history of over 1500 years but has never been as popular as it is today.