Budapest Félmaraton

Over labor day weekend we took a whirlwind trip to Budapest, Hungary. Our main purpose was to run in the Nike Half Marathon; the added bonus was that we were able to explore such an amazing city!

Pre-race pic in our hotel room on Sunday morning

The Buzzettes and Buzzards who ran the race had matching shirts. This is the back...RULE!

Buzzard on the front of our shirts

The race started at 10am on Sunday morning, and with blue skies and 60 degree weather, we couldn't ask for better conditions. We have been training for a little over a month and were ready to set our own personal records. Caleb far surpassed his training and finished his first ever race at 1:59:10. He had an incredible run! I knocked 6 minutes off of my last half, finishing the Budapest in 2:14:02. We were both proud of our accomplishments, and exhausted from a hard run race!

Me and my running buddy Erica around mile 12.5!

Caleb flashing the obligatory Buzzard Claw during the race (Danube River in the background)

Making great time!

Running picture are not the most flattering, but whatever

After the race, we managed to walk our wary legs to the Terror Museum. Hungary was overtaken by the Nazi-affiliated Arrow Cross Party in the waning days of World War II. Arrow Cross members did their best to exterminate Budapest's Jews, and the building, now housing the museum, was used for the torture and execution of many of those Jews. Shortly after the downfall of the Nazi party, the Soviets took control of the battered Hungary. When the communists attacked Budapest, they took over the same building as headquarters of their secret police. It remained a place for torture and execution. For over two decades, oppression and atrocity marked this building, earning it the name the House of Terror. It was a fascinating exhibit and a chilling lesson in Eastern European/Hungarian history.

Soviet Tank in front of the wall of victims in the lobby of the museum

Once the "House of Loyalty" now the Terror Museum

Monday, still sore from the run the previous day, we decided to spend our day doing a tour through the city on a "hop-on, hop-off" tour bus. It was a fantastic way to catch many of the highlights around the city without walking on our wobbly legs. The weather was quite a bit cooler and rain came in and out all day, but we enjoyed a closer look at many of the sites we had run past on Sunday morning.

Panoramic view of the Budapest Castle, the Danube river, and the city

Matthias Church in Holy Trinity Square

Caleb and me in front of the Fisherman's Bastion. The Hungarian "Eiffel Tower"

Parliament Building

For our last night in Budapest, we made a trip to the Szechenyi Baths, one of Budapest's most popular attractions. The city has 123 natural springs that feed into the Szecheni Baths, and others like it. With many different pools offering a variety of water temperatures, we could choose how to soak our sore muscles. Caleb was a little more adventurous, standing in the 90 degree Celsius sauna and then jumping in the 16 degree Celsius cold bath! I, on the other hand, leisurely relaxed in the warm bath (which felt much like a hot tub) and soaked away my running pains. It was the perfect end to a great weekend!

From one end of the outdoor pools...

...to the other

Although we may not make it back to Budapest during our time in Europe, running the half was a great excuse to see the city. Who knows where the next race will take us...if our legs will allow!

Ciao