Tuesday 27 September 2011

Coming to terms with past records

stats of the week: run 54km, gym 3hrs

By the way did you notice that according to new IAAF rules men are still allowed to set world records by the help of male pacemakers while women are not?

8 years ago Paula Radcliffe behaved according to valid IAAF rules and ran a fabulous 2:15:25 world record. Now some elderly so-called officials write backdated laws and cancel her performance. Athletes should in return retract these officials' salaries for the past 8 years.

My personal previous week's performance was somewhat disillusioning. Taking part in the traditional Bertlich road races I tried to do my very best on the 15K distance. I had to face that my speed was lower than at the recent double 10K race. It was one of the days you realise that running could be more enjoyable without competitions.

However, after 11K I had to take a very deep cough of the ugliest kind - and a minute later I could breath again and increase the speed for the final 3K to finish after still disappointing 1:10:20. I found myself aware that I had not yet recovered from the recent infection.


Monday 19 September 2011

Time Out

stats of the week: run 20km, cycled 114km

Last Sunday's malaise developed to a mild illness probably caused by a foodborne infection I caught in a Dortmund snack bar. At least I was finally able to do a season closing bike tour today.
Six weeks to go until my autumn marathon in Dublin/Ireland. I feel I should now think about setting up a training schedule and build up the mileage. Program is to do two long runs of 30km. I hope this will make me finish well clearly sub 4 hrs. To be honest I hope to run 3:45 hrs. I know it will be tough as my season was long and hard and it will be difficult to build up another peak of performance.

Monday 12 September 2011

16 laps down town Dortmund

stats of the week: run 54km, cycled 96km, gym 3hrs

A proper training week ended up with an unscheduled double 10k race! Now I know I shouldn't have done it. Performance was fine, determination was too high. As planned I ran the 10k aside of B. Like always her speed was impressive and we finished after 49:30 min.

I had already carried this spleen in my mind - to run the following 10k, too, which was open to runners sub 50 min. It would have been okay if I had slowed down to around 48 min but once started my determination developed. I clocked the first kilometer in 4:26 min and now tried to keep the pace. Finish time was 45:03.

2 hours later I found myself in breathlessness, high heartrate, nausea and stomach problems. The symptoms still stay the following day what let me accept a low key week now.

Smiling only after request:

It's not as easy as it looks:

My typical finish, this time too hard:

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Sunday Suffer

stats of the week: run 47km, cycled 313km

On Sunday morning I had to learn that my legs and lungs had not yet recovered from the midweek bike tour. Right from the start I suffered running the Bochum Half Marathon.

After half the distance I had to let fellow G run ahead and what was left ended up in a struggle to get to the finish in sort of style. Everybody was affected by the humid and hot weather conditions but for me it was mainly the self made fatigue that made me slow down seriously. During the final 5km I was overtaken by at least 50 runners. Having crossed the finish line after 1:45:35 I felt like I had done a full marathon.

Photo shows me still alongside G before soon falling back.

Friday 2 September 2011

Trans Sauerland

After I had to cancel the cycling marathon Dortmund-Winterberg a fortnight ago, the idea didn't let me go. This week I decided to do it on my own - eased on two consecutive days but with a longer distance as I started and finished at home in Witten with an overnight stay at Altastenberg which is Northrhine-Westfalias highest village at 790m.
First day had 149km and 1730 vertical meters, second day summed up 163km and 1560 vm.

Lunch stop at Möhne Reservoir. It is famous for its war history when the dam was destroyed by British Bombers in 1943 and about 1,600 people lost their lives.

The beautifully placed village of Hirschberg is known for its medieval witch hunts.

One has to climb the tower of the Kahler Asten to get to Westfalias highest point. The peak itself (841m) is only second highest while nearby Langenberg is 2m higher.

The route is a chain of short ups and downs. Below is the touristic village of Wenholthausen.

Sauerland is a low mountain range with extensive forestry industry and tourism in winter and summer. This is the view close to the village of Hövel.

I have to admit this tour was'nt the best preparation to run a half marathon in Bochum next Sunday. But this one must not be missed as it takes place on the streets of my childhood. I have ever thought about dying while running - this one would be one of my favourite events to pass away.