Tracking Thyra Zerhusen's Fairpointe Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Thyra Zerhusen's Fairpointe Portfolio US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2014. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:






 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.


Tracking John Griffin's Blue Ridge Capital Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows the changes to John Griffin's Blue Ridge Capital Holdings US long portfolio holdings as of Q3 2014. To have an idea of how the holdings have progressed click on our previous update:



John Griffin is a "tiger cub" who posted an outstanding 65% return in 2007 and followed it up with just an 8% loss during the financial crisis. To know more about Julian Robertson and his legendary Tiger Management, check out Julian Robertson: A Tiger in the Land of Bulls and Bears.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Eric Mindich's Eton Park Capital Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows the changes to Eric Mindich's Eton Park Capital US long portfolio holdings as of Q3 2014. To have an idea of how the holdings have progressed click on our previous update:








To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Robert & Jeffrey Bruce's Bruce Fund Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows the changes to Robert & Jeffrey Bruce's Bruce Fund Holdings US long portfolio holdings as of Q3 2014. To have an idea of how the holdings have progressed click on our previous update:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.
 

Tracking Larry Robbins' Glenview Capital Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows the changes to Larry Robbins' Glenview Capital Holdings US long portfolio holdings as of Q3 2014. To have an idea of how the holdings have progressed click on our previous update:




 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking John Armitage's Egerton Capital Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to John Armitage's Egerton Capital US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2014. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:






To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Spice Coast Marathon (SCM) and Cochin International Half Marathon (CIHM) 2014 - Experience - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly



We had the privilege to participate in two half marathons in the space of three weeks right here in Kochi -
Spice Coast Marathon (SCM) on November 16th and Cochin International Half Marathon (CIHM) on December 7th. This is indeed a big step - a couple of years ago having even one such event was a faraway dream. At the outset, we should mention that we are non-runners - we just run for fitness. The difference between a runner and a non-runner became crystal clear after participating in these two events - runners regularly push themselves to reach the next level while non-runners are quite happy to be able to keep their weights in check while continuing to enjoy culinary options to the maximum - the less we need to exert to achieve this objective the better! Also, the expectations of these two groups from a race are very different - for runners, the event is all about themselves - PBs (personal best timing), medals, certificates, post-event pampering (food primarily), etc. For non-runners, it is more about the festivities, camaraderie and the quality of entertainment on offer.



The two events were a contrast to the extreme in many respects.


Spice Coast Marathon - SCM (organized by Soles of Kochi):


The Good:




  1. The race started precisely when it was supposed to. 
  2. The full marathon was a Boston Qualifier (BQ) event - only a few in India have that designation.
  3. The after-run refueling was a proper breakfast.

The Bad:




  1. Pre-run warm-up was a farce and the commentary left much to be desired. There were two people with mikes, one in fancy dress (protective gear and helmet making someone comment it is to avoid the stones thrown his way) and the other with a female voice but pretty much hidden from participants (again a comment that it was the same guy acting out both roles). There was some talk about the structure of the course and the guy kept mentioning about a small ‘iffy’ stretch but irritatingly refrained from elaborating on what exactly was the ‘iffyness’. As far as warm-up, the idea was to get warmed up from the enthusiasm of this one guy with the mike...
  2. There were several running professionals that offered talks and such during the bib collection event. While on the outside, this appeared a very good gesture, it was again pretty much a farce - although these invitees had obvious marketability (Guinness book, etc.), their actual reputations were rather spotty.
  3. The event was publicized as an eco-conscious effort with even the medals being made of eco-friendly coir - however, the medal ended up being quite unwieldy, size-wise. The execution of the eco aspect of the race was well below par - the most glaring gaffe was a glossy booklet issued as part of the bib packet that explains the heritage sites on the course - an online link to the content would have been ample and would have saved many trees - the content was not copy-edited and hence had numerous errors.

The Ugly:




  1. A number of portable potties lined the entrance but to most everyone’s chagrin, no water. There was no alternative although the KV (Kendiya Vidyalay - the school whose grounds were used as the starting point) bathrooms were right by the side - the organizers made no effort to get those accessible to the participants.
  2. The event started at 5 AM. As we started running, it was fairly dark - the 5AM start was really unnecessary for the half-marathon.
  3. We couldn’t find even a single distance marker throughout the course. The volunteers were clueless about their own position in the course and kept feeding us erroneous information. (One of the organizers later told us that their eco-friendly markers were too small to be of any practical use).
  4. Medical and potty facilities were missing throughout the course. It is a miracle that nothing undue happened.
  5. One of us had a podium finish within our category. To this day there has been no acknowledgement or trophy. Besides, even after three weeks, there is still no way to even download the finisher’s certificate (there is a link which downloads something that looks like an SCM Ad instead of the certificate).

Cochin International Half Marathon - CIHM (organized by Kochi Municipal Corporation):


The Good:




  1. As with their 2013 event, the race was an Association of International Marathons and Distance Racers (AIMS) approved event. The course was adjusted this year to accommodate a new start-point but overall it was very similar as last years.
  2. For a 20,000+ participant race, the event itself was conducted extremely well and started right on-time. The holding area was crowded as expected but there was room for everyone to do their warm-ups and follow the cues from the professional crew at the podium. Parking also was a breeze and the police force very helpful.
  3. The entire course had a number of water stations (water & energy drink) and medical units. The first medical unit was just getting set-up as we passed but as the event progressed they were in action.
  4. It was a pleasure to see the folks from the Indian Navy running alongside the rest of us. Their behavior throughout the course was exemplary and is truly a matter of immense national pride.
  5. The race was flagged off by Padmasree Mohanlal himself - a nice gesture from his part as the brand ambassador.
  6. Quality live entertainment was another big plus this year.

The Bad:




  1. Bib collection experience was a negative compared to last year. The papers said it starts at 11AM on the 4th, the emails said 10AM, while the display at the facility said 1PM. The official excuse was that the flight carrying the bibs was delayed. We reached there by noon on the opening day and spend an hour chatting with the volunteers and the people in the queue as the essential ingredient ‘the bib’ was yet to arrive.
  2. The race categories were adjusted presumably to encourage senior women runners. But, as with most government stuff, speculation is rife that it was done to help a few select participants.
  3. Information sharing improved compared to last year but was still well below par. Downloading the course route with good resolution was an exercise in futility even on the day before the race.

The Ugly:




  1. While the setup and execution of the race went relatively flawless, the logistics at the finish gave it all away - no acknowledgement, no intimation as to where to obtain the medal and food packet, etc. The real bummer was that they ran out of medals. This led to mass-protests and there were even reports of police man-handling some folks. What a shame!
  2. The race was promoted as a people’s run, but the organizers let celebrities and politicians take center-stage while ignoring the participants completely. It was pathetic to see participants finishing the grueling race only to be pushed and shoved at the finish-point.

Overall impressions and some feedback:


Kochiites can be proud to have hosted two international marathons this year. Truth is, from a participant perspective, both were failures although due to entirely different reasons. While SCM probably met some of the expectations of runners it was a disaster for non-runners. With CIHM, the scenario was the exact reverse - it did meet most of the expectations of non-runners but miserably failed to satisfy runners.

SCM claims to cater to runners, but the reality left a lot to be desired. It is an event organized by Soles of Kochi (a runner’s group) and we supported it with our participation mainly because a friend of ours is a founding member.

The reason for the failure of SCM may be summarized as follows:



  1. For the success of any event, it is critical that there should be a clearly articulated purpose. SCM had no such purpose and when pressed for the cause gave very vague responses. The last word we heard from our friend was that the managing committee will decide what to do with the profits from the event.
  2. This would sound harsh but would lack honesty if left unsaid - Soles of Kochi, the organizers of the SCM event behaves like a cult and already demonstrates several characteristics. The core group has perceived noble goals but is in reality shooting for power, fame, and fortune. The rest are recruits at different levels in the hierarchy. Membership is primarily achieved by presenting an image of invincibility (opportunity to be part of an elite group who can do things very few others can and the chance for runners high), but it is just cult messaging at its best.  The core propaganda is that running is a very big deal and running with the group is vital. Come on guys - running is not a big deal at all - anyone can do it - all it takes is practice. It is the right spirit to shoot for power, fame, and fortune in one's pursuits but have the courage to be open about it instead of hiding behind a noble facade. Moreover, there is power-struggle at the top and this contributed to the event’s failures.
  3. Money was a big issue probably due to lack of good sponsors. At almost double the CIHM event fee, SCM was not value for time and money. This was probably the main reason why the participation was only around one-twentieth of the participation in CIHM.
  4. SCM seemed to cherry pick from the upper echelons of the society rather than catering towards the commoner. This probably backfired as it alienated the vast majority. Given they used a lot of the city’s resources before, during, and after the race, it was only proper for them to at least give back a little - an opportunity to let a few hundred promising youngsters take part in the event for a nominal fee would have been only right.

With CIHM, the problems are less severe although the effort and inclination needs to be there to address issues before things get out-of-hand again:



  1. When you come right down to it, the lack of medals/recognition at the end was what made this race a failure. Technically, this can be easily resolved. Hopefully, next year will see a turnaround.
  2. When promoting the race as a people’s run, it is extremely critical to try and make it as affordable to the participants as possible. The Rs 200/- fee last year was perfect in this regard but the organizers chose to make it Rs 500/- this year. It would have been better to increase the fee by 25% and focused more on increasing the participation.
  3. The marketing effort was well below par compared to last year. The participation could easily double or more with concerted effort.

Summary:


Despite some of the negatives, we consider ourselves lucky to have been able to participate in two half marathons in the space of three weeks in our backyard. The podium finish and the PBs were a bonus. It is amazing that the two events were a contrast to the extreme and it opens up the possibility of what could be, if the organizers of the two events are able to combine/collaborate. We did provide this feedback to SCM six months before the actual event, but the SCM response was disappointing - they did not want CIHM to steal their thunder. Well, now that their maiden event is over, may be it is time to reconsider this aspect. In any case, we conclude wishing the coming years will witness a truly world class event from our beloved Kochi.



Related Posts:

  1.  Cochin International Half Marathon 2013 - A maiden gala event at Kochi.



Tracking Thomas Gayner's Markel Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Thomas Gayner's Markel Portfolio US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2014. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:




 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Mark McGoldrick & Jason Maynard's Mount Kellett Capital Management Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.   

Tracking Dinakar Singh's TPG-Axon Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.  

Tracking Jim Chanos' Kynikos Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows the changes to Jim Chanos' Kynikos US long portfolio holdings as of Q3 2014. To have an idea of how the holdings have progressed click on our previous update:



 As Kynikos is focused on short-selling, his long positions covered in the 13F are probably hedged. For an introduction to short-selling, check-out the book "Short Stories from the Stock Market: Uncovering Common Themes Behind Falling Stocks to Find Uncommon Short Ideas".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.  

Tracking Michael Price's MFP Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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Tracking Charlie Munger's Daily Journal Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

The spreadsheet below show Charlie Munger's Daily Journal US stock holdings as of Q3 2014. Please visit our previous updates to get an idea on how the portfolio has progressed:








To know more about Charlie Munger, check out the book Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Edward Lampert's RBS Partners Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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  To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.



Tracking David Swensen's Yale Endowment Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

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To learn more about their investing style and philosophy and how to profit from such strategies, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .
 

Tracking Leucadia National Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

The spreadsheet below show Leucadia's US stock holdings as of Q3 2014. Please visit our previous updates to get an idea on how the portfolio has progressed:



 To learn more about their investing style and philosophy and how to profit from such strategies, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking WIlbur Ross's Holdings - Q3 2014 Update

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To know more about Wilbur Ross, check out the book The Vulture Investors.

To learn more about their investing style and philosophy and how to profit from such strategies, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Michael Dell's MSD Capital Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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To know more about Michael Dell, check-out the book Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionized an Industry.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Charles Akre's Akre Capital Management Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Francis Chou's Chou Associates Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

 

Tracking Richard C. Blum's Blum Capital Partners Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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Tracking Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

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To know more about Gates and the Foundation, check-out the book Bill Gates: The Inspirational Life Story of Bill Gates; Businessman, Inventor, and the World's Most Remarkable Philanthropist.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy
 

Tracking Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management Portfolio - Q3 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management Portfolio moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Performance At Expiry Of Financial Crisis Era Warrants Vs. Common Stock - Comparative Analysis

Below is a spreadsheet that summarizes the price-sensitivity of warrants issued during the financial crisis relative to common stock at expiry. To see a detailed analysis, please check-out our Seeking Alpha column:


Tracking Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global Portfolio this quarter.   Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:






Viking Global was established in 1999 and Ole Andreas Halvorsen is considered one of the most successful among the "tiger cubs" and he currently manages over $25B. To know more about Julian Robertson and his legendary Tiger Management, check out Julian Robertson: A Tiger in the Land of Bulls and Bears.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Tweedy Browne Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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 To learn more about Tweedy Browne and its legendary investor Christopher H. Browne's (1946-2009) investing philosophy, check-out his book "The Little Book of Value Investing". To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.


Tracking Dan Loeb's Third Point Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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To know more about Dan Loeb's Third Point, check-out his letters to shareholders at their site. His activist investing style that is epitomized by scathing letters to CEOs is covered in "Chapter 7: The Poison Pen: Dan Loeb, Third Point" in the book "The Alpha Masters: Unlocking the genius of the world's top hedge funds".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

 

Tracking David Tepper's Appaloosa Management Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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 To know more about Tepper's distress investing style, check out Distress Investing: Principles and Technique.

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Tracking Carl Icahn's Holdings - Q2 2014 Update

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Tracking John Paulson's Paulson and Co. Holdings - Q2 2014 Update

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Tracking David Winters' Wintergreen Advisors Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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Tracking Glenn Greenberg's Brave Warrior Advisors Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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Tracking Lou Simpson's SQ Advisors Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .
 

Tracking Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial Holdings Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking George Soros's Portfolio - Q2 2014 Update

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To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

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