Champions!!

I'm handing over to my trusted friend Ron Snail who criminally in this day and age doesn't have a column in a major fantasy newspaper. He's here to tell it how it happened in the parallel universe of what is the CoB Intercontiliga Euro - basically a world which everyone who's ever needed a life dreams of being a part.

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By Ron Snail
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Cosmos claimed their second major title in 2 years after winning the CoB Intercontiliga Euro 2008 with a deserved victory over their rivals.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was Chao Praya's goal hero, striking after 33 minutes when he cleverly lifted a through pass over Cosmos keeper Jens Lehmann.

Cosmos dominated the final throughout, with Torres heading against the post and Marcos Senna almost adding a second from close range after 80 minutes.

Michael Ballack came close for some other teams, but Cosmos couldn't afford him after experimenting with the moody three-time loser, shooting narrowly wide after the break.

Panaya Park DEBATE

I'm delighted that the best team, playing the best football in one of the best tournaments ever, wins it

Alan

This was a richly-merited victory for veteran coach 'The Gift of Yahweh' and a team that played outstanding football throughout the tournament.

Match-winner Torres enhanced the reputation he forged at Chao Praya Cosmos and virtually every other team in the CoB Intercontiliga last season, but this was an all-round effort for a side that is young enough to already be marked down among the favourites for the 2010 Virtual World Cup in South Africa. Who would bet against 'The Gift' making it three in a row and possibly going down as the greatest big-occasion fantasy manager of all time?

Andres Iniesta would have almost created the opening goal for Cosmos in the 13th minute had he been in the side when his driven cross didn't take a deflection off Christoph Metzelder, also nit in the in the same side, but Lehmann pulled off a fine reflex save.

And they came even closer nine minutes later when Torres rose to a cross, but his header bounced to safety off the post.

But he was not to be denied and put the Cosmos Euro outfit ahead with a trademark piece of sharpness in front of goal after 33 minutes.

Torres shrugged the too expensive Lahm off the ball to lift a superb finish beyond his own keeper Lehmann.

Those who had put faith in the overpriced loser's problems threatened to worsen when Ballack needed lengthy treatment for an eye wound after a clash of heads with Marcos Senna, a snip at 4.5 million fantasy Euros and the only bloke Gift could afford as a final jigsaw piece once an auxilliary computer had been rushed to Panaya Park from a nearby room.

David Silva then wasted a perfect opportunity to double Cosmo's advantage when he rushed his finish and shot wildly over the top.

Cosmos continued to look the more threatening side, but there was still the lingering prospect of their leaving it too late to garner the points needed from this last game yielding an unlikely equaliser.

Ramos should have ekualised for the rivals' after 66 minutes when he headed straight at Lehmann from point-blank range as he got on the end of Xavi's free-kick. That point combination might have been the difference from a one point victory for 'The Gift's' talented side made up entirely of Spaniards and German's but it wasn't to be.

Iniesta then had a shot cleared off the line by Torsten Frings - another late signing by the gift and another effort saved by Lehmann as Cosmos looked in the mood to add a second. The tactics were perfect as Cosmos toyed with Comos in wave after wave of attack, knowing that an extra goal for themselves would might have consigned them to second or third spot. The defence of their own attack was instinctive.

And Cosmos had a remarkable escape after 80 minutes when substitute Daniel Guiza, possibly a geezer for another team - on for Torres - headed the ball straight into Senna's path right in front of goal, but he could not apply the final touch. Had Senna scored who know's if Cosmos defence could have coped with the loss of more points for their two german defenders.

Cosmos were not made to pay for their generosity in front of goal and ran out worthy winners.

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Cosmos: Lehmann, Jansen (46), Marchena , Mertesacker, Silva, Frings, Schweinsteiger, Senna, Fabregas, Podolski, Torres
Subs Not Used: Van Persie, Panucci, Pepe, Runje
Booked: Torres.

A Korea move

I was in Seoul, Korea for the past week with a group of people from the UK, Korea and Taiwan. While it was for work I still had a little time to enjoy this facinating city of technology and nice people.

I also managed to pretty much stick to my running plan and between Sunday and Thursday knocked off another, er .... 12+7+3.2+8km = 30.2km. That means there are 928.8km still to go and I should be able to complete the first 100 of those some time this week.

I went out this evening and only managed another 9km as it was remarkably hot and I wasn't feeling too great - I would much prefer to run in the relative cool and much more pleasant surroundings of the stream that runs through Seoul but for now I can only look at a picture of it and imagine that nice breeze!

At least I had Charlie to keep me going



919.8km to go.

The day after the day after ...

Still here despite the track record. Managed to knock 21 km off the total over the past three days. The last two were different as it was impossible to get on the train due to the masses of pseudo-middle class socialists trying to get rid of the government that the majority of apparently illiterate farmers voted in. Seemed alright for 4 or 5 years before Thaksin did an Adolf Hitler but it seems the Bangkokians have their tails in the air.

Anyway, now is not the place for defending farmers even if I have aspirations of becoming one and the often proudly announced literacy rate in Thailand is 96% (more much later) and just wanted to say that the 21km were achieved by pounding Ratchadapisek which was alright for the previous 2 marathons so should be ok this time.

960km to go. Piece of cake. Please.

A bit more ...

I couldn't run yesterday as it was hammering it down with rain when I got home and therefore the traffic was a nightmare - bad Bangkok traffic is not a good atmosphere to run in.

I was at the hospital in the morning getting a blood test and X-Ray. I'm trying to stop being a workaholic but nevertheless I still managed to be checking my emails as I was waiting for the results. One of them left me in a state of shock and rather upset. An ex-colleague of mine who I only knew a little had died of cancer this Saturday gone. She was a lovely woman and as far as I know had only had been battling the disease for a year. I think she had a young family and she was certainly quite a bit younger than me. It's really sad news and I feel for her family.

Could've been me instead of her, but as it happens, I am still in remission and go back for another test in September. The news shook me up for the rest of the day.

Anyway, back to today and i ran in the park and then walked home which adds up to 7km which is now 981km to go with 158 days to go which is an average of just under 6km/day.

A bit scary really and the more I blog here and on other sites the more I'm going to have to see it through! I'm going to have to get more songs for my MP3 player but for now here's my favourite of tonight's run. Who said Elvis was dead?

12 down, 988 to go ...

Well one of the hardest parts is over - the first 12 km. Admittedly it was a walk/run/walk/run job but nevertheless felt good to be back pounding the pavements of BKK again.

2 bananas kept me going as I had heard on the radio on Saturday that they contain three types of sugar and enough energy for 40 minutes, which seemed to do the trick although the 12km took nearly 2 hours.

I know it's slow but I forced myself to walk every part I planned to walk as I have a lot of time and a lot of distance to cover between now and November 23rd.

Plenty of time to think along the way and I thought it'd be a good idea to see if I could raise some money for a good cause. How about a grand? A thousand quid could be very useful for someone so I'll see what I can do over the next few weeks to get people signed up to giving over their hard-earned cash in 5 month's time.

Only 5km to do tomorrow but I might go for 6 as I've somehow got to 'find' an extra 36km
from somewhere according to my plan, which I'll post tomorrow when I come back.

I'm also going to have a look at Buddhism to see if there are any tips for sticking to one's plan and not falling to the wayside of procrastination!

I need an appropriate song. Er ...

1000km - 10KG

I have decided, yet again I might add, to do something about my procastinatory approach to life.

A few years back, I managed to train for and complete the Bangkok Marathon which I repeated the following year. Last year, however, I had the convenient excuse of having major surgery followed by six-months of chemotherapy and radiation. It hasn't stopped others but I guess I don't quite fall into that category.

Anyway, one year and 6 days from that turning point in my life - I was still in hospital this time last year, and came out a trim 5 kilos lighter than I went in.

Alas I have managed to put it all back on plus more and it really is about time I got it together to get fit again. I'll excuse myself the indulgence of the past six-months of doing bugger all after finishing the post-op treatment but now it's got to stop!

So, I have set myself the target of either running or walking 1000km between now and the next Bangkok marathon, which is on November 23rd. I will save the final 42.195km for that day and have theorised that I could also lose 10kg in the process.

By blogging about it here and exposing myself to ridicule as usual, I hope to use this as an incentive for achieving my goals.

Over and out and it's off to JJ market to kill some time looking at things I don't want to buy!