Kiev and the "Ukranian Cup"

Kiev is cool! We woke up in Tania, Ross, and Clem's apartment in the morning after our mission across the border from Romania to Day 1 of the "Ukranian Cup" (which was the long distance event grrr). To get there we headed down the steps right outside the apartment, then we bought a month long unlimited metro pass for 25 "Grovies" which is about $5! Then we swiped through the gates and headed down the most ginourmous escalatour I have ever seen!

It speed down and down and you couldn't even see the bottom. It was crammed with people, and Tania commented that this wasn't even rush hour. 4 million people live in Kiev, and it is a very busy city. The metro train hurtled into the station and we packed onto it like sardines, and a second later it zoomed away, and we all clung on to each other to stay upright. After stop 6 we joined the rush off the train, out of the metro and onto an even more crowded bus. The 30 min ride cost 25 cents NZ, and we only got off in the right place because we spotted people milling around in O suits outside, so we made a wild guess this was the right spot.

At the start our start times were posted. Chris, Ed and I were all feeling pretty tired from our travels still, and consequently the running seemed like hard work. Half way through the race a huge thunderstorm struck, and my map got thoroughly soaked so I couldn't read it. At exactly that moment a Ukranian girl ran past, and I asked if I could just follow her. She smiled, said "no english" and we were off. The best thing was, whenever we had a route choice she would get me to look at her map and say which way I thought we should go! Luckily most of the time I seemed to make a good decision, and it wasn't long before I reached the end of my course, even though I didn't have a map. Tania also gave me a hand as she came running past. So I was pretty chuffed to still have finished.

Ed and Chris both had less eventfull runs, but agreed they were feeling pretty knackered. It was then back on the bus and metro for a shower at the apartment. We went out for dinner at a buffet place, which we all decided was kind of 'safe' because you could see what you were getting, and could kind of work out what it was - although Chris and Rob's supposed 'steak' was actually liver, yuck ! Rob, Ed, Chris and I then walked to our apartment which is about 10 minutes from the others, and is right opposite a great supermarket with heaps of delicious cheese, juice, breads etc...what more could we want.

Day 2 of the 'Ukranian Cup' was the middle distance event. It was a stinking hot day, at least 30 degrees. We meet the others down in the metro, and once again it was a metro followed by a short bus ride to the event. Today we met Iryna, a Ukranian woman who now lives in NZ, but has come back to Ukraine to help out the New Zealand team - very handy. She knows all about the terrain, have been the National orienteering coach here some years ago.

The terrain for the middle was much nicer, there was less stinging nettle and balckberry than the day before, but unfortunatly I was so tired I just wandered round slowly. That was a shame, because my time wasn't actually that bad, I beat several people, so if I'd actually tried....? Chris had an ok run, he was about 5th, which I think is pretty good, but he reckoned he was also still very tired and not feeling so good. Ed had a really good run, except his 50 minute mistake on one control! Once he gets those big mistakes sorted he will be flying round (-: We cruised home and tried a different buffet restaurant for dinner.

Day 3 was the sprint event, which I always dread a wee bit, cause people can see you! The event was in a city park a bus ride away from our apartment. We got all our gears on and warmed up, and I had another chat with my new Ukranian friend - the girl Maryna I followed round on day 1 when my map fell apart. She got her team mates you spoke better English to translate for us.

The park was very steep, lots of steps and banks everywhere, and Chris had the first start. He charged off up a hill to begin with. I started after Ed, and managed to run pretty well round my course, only making a couple of mistakes and out sprinting a girl at the end. I was about 6 places below last..wow! Ed also did well, he was mid field in his 21 A grade, so we were both chuffed and had enjoyed it. Chris did a pretty speedy time,but was a couple of minutes down on the winners, so we decided he definatly wasn't quite his usual speedy self.

We arrived back at the apartment at about midday, so we had time for some sight seeing before a group dinner at the others apartment. Rob, Ed, Chris and I wandered through the many big squares looking at statues, fountains, and the amazingly beautiful women who live here! So many of them have the most amazing outfits and look like super models -Ed and Chris agreed the 'scenery' was very good.

We visited 'St Sophia's' cathedral built in the 11 century, and saw the sarcofagas of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, evoking some conversation about 'The Mummy' movie (-: The churches had gold plated tops and look quite Arabic. We walked back past the supermarket and to the others apartment for a big feed of 'Spag Bol' prepared by Tania, which was most delicious.

We cruised back to our apartment nicely contented and ready for some more relaxing days of ahead of us.

The next day Rob and Chris went for a run around another park map in the morning while Ed and I went in search of some internet. We wandered through some of the shops and admired some of the fanciest shoes I have ever seen. The amount of 'mafia' like sparkling black Mercedes, Audis, Jeeps and Porshes is amazing - and you have to wonder where all the affluence is coming from. I managed to buy some long soccer socks to protect my legs from all the horrible nettles in one of the many underground malls, so when we headed out for some training in the forest in the afternoon I was well prepared.

There are lots of stray dogs in the forests here too - particularly because there are lots of residential areas nearby. Ed and I ran around together in the forest for our 'training' - neither of us were feeling particularly motivated, and the highlight was finding several smll wild raspberries which were sooo delicious in amongst all the nettles and stingers we had to battle through. There were also heaps of vicious mosquitos biting us. I stuck a little raspberry in my pocket for Chris to try. Ed and I proceeded to get a bit lost, then more lost still, and eventually we were bashing our way through the forest just rying to get back to the finish, let alone doing any 'training'.

Finally we found our way out, and all the others were back and waiting to go. I took my O pants off to find my leg had gone bright red! Everyone thought I had been bitten by something horrible, it was only a few moments later I realised it was my wee present for Chris - the raspberry - and there wasn't much left of it. Opps (-:

By the time we bused home from the training it was 8 oclock, and there was only time to pop to the supermarket and cook up some leftovers from the night before and it was bed time.

This morning Ed and our found an internet cafe to do some skyping while Rob and Chris went to another map for some training. Some more sightseeing is on the cards for this afternoon, so it should be a nice relaxing few days before the world champs start this Saturday (-:

Oh, and by the way, there is an article about Chris on Sportzub if you want to have a read.