A tired body, white woods and happy news

stats of the week: run 47km, indoor cycled 27km, 1 gym

It's beautiful but it's strenuous, running in deep snow. This morning I felt rather exhausted on our usual Sunday morning route. It's a hilly path of 15km and 300 meters of height difference. On the way back I was no longer able to enjoy the white woods, just glad to have completed the course.

Saturday's donation run to collect for Haiti was just as beautiful and a great familiar and friendly event. The shortly announced gathering happened to sum up 3,700 Euros - a big success.

I also ran my third speed intervals on the treadmill. Got the impression that it gets more ardous every time I do it. I'll have to think about stretching it to once a fortnight instead of once a week.


By the way: The happiest news of the week was the gorgeous school certificate my afternoon student J brought home. Worth a big party which will take place next Monday on her birthday.

Waiting and spending

stats of the week: run 40km, 3 gyms

The indoor cycling system is delivered and placed in my room. I look forward to using it but when I did first time A complained it would be much too noisy. The pity is A is ill and staying at home since 3 weeks and it will take her some more weeks to get back to work. So my dream bike has to wait for the days I am on my own. Meanwhile I am spending time in front of the PC saving virtual bike routes with Google Earth around the world ... and spending money by ordering videos of famous routes ... I got a video of the Maratona dles Dolomites by an Italian guy but failed to install it because it is built for an older software - damned!

Indoors to Tourmalet

stats of the week: run 50km, 3 gyms

I have now completed a streak of 13 consecutive days of training what makes me feel better. I have to admit I did run more than my knees probably will tolerate. But I felt that my mind would be helped by running outside - I really enjoyed being on my own out there.

Otherwise I have to recognise that I should ease the knees' burden. Meaning that I should substitute some workouts by cycling. In a flash of enthusiasm I ordered an indoor cycling system providing virtual reality. I very much look forward to riding it on my race bike. There is even a dvd available what lets you drive this year's l'etape du tour. Its the toughest Pyrenees' stage finishing on the top of Tourmalet. I have entered the race and now can have a try in advance!

Wiki photo: Tourmalet

Run, don't finish!

stats of the week: run 38km, 2 gyms

Last year's stats document that I have run 1,900km and cycled little more than 4,000km. No personal record, but I still would call 2009 my best sports year ever. With a record of 4 marathons, 3 halves and two alpine bike races. What I notice only now: The amount of time was nearly the same: 185 hrs of running, 184 hrs of cycling. I enjoyed every minute of it.

I would love to do more but have to accept that my body sets the limit. If I could I would run for hours every day. Running makes you happy, but only as long as you are moving. The pity is however long you run you will have to come back to the place where you started. The world around won't have changed. And even worse, you will stay the same person you have been. So best choice is never stop running. I will try 2010.

For your entertainment: My hero movie. (Choose your's)

Happy old year!

New Year's Eve Race: 15km, 1:06:42, 14th M55 of 226, 443th overall of 4,236

Finally it ended up to be a happy old year!

Still being in doubt if my adductors will tolerate the race I managed a speed along 15km what was event faster than recently along less than 10km. So once more the treadmill intervals approved to be efficient.

Always aware of avoiding any sidesteps I tried to concentrate running straight on and keep the injured muscle relaxed. A little Diclo may have tributed as well I have to admit. And it worked. The race was painless and for the first time since Spring I got the feeling of a proper competition. This was helped by the fashionable sun-glassed runner (#734). We changed ranks several times during last 5km and approaching the finish he challenged me to my very limit. I crossed one second ahead. Studying the results it turned out he is even younger than me. Don't I look equally fashionable?

Approaching the finish, not smiling.

Crossing the line, less smiling.
It took my adductor until the evening to start hurting again. Luckily it's not too bad and with a week of recovering and a cautious build-up I hope to be fine. To quote Lizzy Hawker:
"There is a season for everything."

Thanks for your visits all year long. Happy new year to everybody.

May I hint two worth reading blogs:
Hill runner and mountain lover Lizzy Hawker.
Glad she's back: Sabine and her cats.