Monday, 27 January 2014

Prizes luring

stats of the week: run 60km, indoor cycling 1h, gym 4h

It was a week of tough training that unsurprisingly ended with tiredness. 3 weeks to go to Peninsula Marathon and the longest run is now extended to 18K. Plans are to complete two more longish runs and take the South African event as a further build up with a target time around 4:15h.

However, I just discovered that the age group winners are offered prize money! The three first M60+ will earn 750 Rand / 400 Rand / 250 Rand. Last year the 3rd man M60+ clocked 3:48:24, still a capable time for my old tired legs. Remember 100 Rand are worth 6.50 Euro (8.90 US$).

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

More holiday than training

stats of the completed week: run 27km, cycled 340km, gym 1h

Lanzarote weather was slighty disappointing due to strong winds most of the time and unusually frequent showers. Cycling wasn't always a pleasure, so training was limited.


photo: cloudy day above Haria
 
4 weeks left to Peninsula Marathon. Target is now to build up long runs. The marathon is planned as just a build up for later challenges, so I don't worry. However, weekly mileage should soon increase to more than 30 miles/50km.

Friday, 17 January 2014

Cycling away the strain

stats of the week so far: run 14km, cycled 210km, gym 1h
stats of the week before: run 9km, cycled 60km, gym 4h

The strained muscle in mind I started the yearly Lanzarote cycling week without big hopes.
Luckily the problem decreased after the first tour and now I was already able to cautiously take up running again.


It's my 4th time on the island but the first time I experience rain. We had 4 nice days of cycling before we preferred to take a rest day due to bad weather. However, one touristic day is not the worst you can do escpecially when visiting the local vinemaker and buying some very good bottles.

Monday, 6 January 2014

Mad way to change the year

stats of the week: run 36km, indoor cycling 50min, gym 3h

I know I must be mad. The strained muscle was just cured I took part in a shorter New Year's Eve race of 10K. The thigh was fine but my lung was still sick. Nearly struck down to the ground by cough attacks I finished the 10K after 46:23min giving more than I had. Afterwards I wondered that I survived.


Only 5 days later - on Sunday - I felt I should be part of the inaugural 13K run around the wee Phoenix lake at Dortmund, called New Year Run. I reasonably took it as sort of speed training and followed the 5min/K pacemaker for 3 laps before I increased the speed for the final 4th lap. Surprisingly fast enough to win my age group ... but the result was another strained muscle.