Too busy

Sorry folks, I am feeling too busy to post regularly. Preparing our charity run which takes place on Sunday requires most of my time.

Those who never were involved in such a project may think it is just handing out race numbers to runners and let them hurry through the woods. Actually there are more than 70 volunteers engaged to make the event being successful - hopefully.

First step is promising: We received 627 entries thereof 52 who only donated. Last year we had 485. So this is really amazing!

My own training is somewhat neglected but I worked up the courage to start at the 10K City Run in Dortmund last Sunday. I finished 43:03 min with a look like this:

Laugavegur pictures

Walking across Iceland's highlands from Landmannalaugar to Skógar was simply the best walk I ever did.

Hot springs, glaciers, waterfalls, fast rivers, lava fields, volcanic deserts, coloured rolling hills, green ridges - you just walk being amazed all the way.

Please feel invited to see my "best of" photo gallery of Laugavegur

Off to Iceland

Strokkur is a stop on the popular tourist route of the "Golden Circle".

The hiking trail LAUGAVEGUR is described on the NAT website. The total distance is 55 K, with an additional leg to Skogar on the South Coast which takes another full day. I will travel to Landmannalaugar - the start point - on Monday and start the walk on Tuesday morning.

I just discovered that this most popular trekking path also can be done as a RUN. It takes place in July and this year's winner took less than 5 hours to finish. I am planning to do it in 4 days!
Laugavegur Ultra Marathon

The most visited waterfall of Iceland is Gullfoss.

As last year I am the amateur guide for a group of marathon runners. Reykjavik Marathon takes place on Saturday, Aug 23. Last year's photo shows Stefano Baldini, Olympic Champion 2004, on the right.

Personal Olympics

training stats: unscheduled daily workouts

My training sessions are somewhat unstructured these days. I do go out almost daily and depending on the weather I enter my race bike, do easy runs or visit the gym. There is no close target I am aiming for. So I am not motivated to set up a schedule. I am happy that my knee allows moderate running, and biking in the sunshine is what I enjoy most. This is what I call my own Olympics. So far I haven't noticed much of the competitions in Beijing. One reason is that I don't like to switch on the TV in the morning. Another reason is that TV reporters prefer news like "how did you feel while winning?" And really annoying is that German TV only seems to know German athletes and Michael Phelps. Medals are counted every day and those who don't get through to the final are regarded as failures.

My next highlight what I hopefully will be able to report is a week of trekking on Iceland. The most famous and most trodden long distance path crosses the highlands from Landmannalaugar to Pörsmörk and on to Skogar, from hot pots on the hills along vast glaciers to the South coast the walk takes 5 days, good conditions given. One has to carry all provisions along the route. I have booked accommodation at the huts but they only offer space for your own sleeping bag and a rough kitchen to use.

Long Distance Path Landmannalaugar

Documents of Zugspitzlauf 2008

With a distance of 3 weeks and the media hype finally run out I feel able to publish a selection of photos which document the disaster's development.

A rainy start at Ehrwald (990m) with winner Martin Echtler already in front. Steffen Uebel (left) finished third.




Runners in the mid of the pack are clothed very variably.

This is the scene after the first ascent of 500 meters, at Ehrwalder Alm.


Me, obviously very wet, but still in a good mood at Ehrwalder Alm after 36 min of running.

Feeding station at Sonnalpin (2,550 meters) at around 11.30 am with the weather just having turned to worse conditions.

Me at Sonnalpin, around 11.45am, helped with a fleece to keep me warm on the final stage to the top (2,960 meters). Alas, it turned out to be not sufficient. At around 2,700m I got so cold that I was nearly unable to move my legs and fingers. In a flash of inspiration I managed to turn back to Sonnalpin.

Runners approaching Sonnalpin station, fighting snowfall and icy wind.

A runner moving slowly close to the finish at 2,960 meters.

This runner is finishing at 9th place overall. Temperatur is -4 degrees celsius, but the icy wind is the worst hazard.

More runners approaching the finish at the top.

About 190 participants reached the top at 2,960m, thereof tens who only survived with the help of the mountain rescue team. 2 runners died, 6 had to stay at the local hospital, an unknown number had to be cured by ambulant treatment. Nearly 400 runners abandoned the competition at Sonnalpin station at 2,500m.

No report, no blaming, just dolour

Please don't expect me to publish the usual race report about taking part in the tragic Zugspitzlauf. First I am simply not able to write, otherwise it's now only time to grieve for the two of us who passed away and to feel with their relatives.

Obituaries:
Uwe Moldenhauer, Witten
Hans Pöschl, Ellwangen

Stubai Gallery

A lancscape worth to be framed:
Serles - the mountain guarding Stubai Valley.

This was my first visit to the famous Tyrolian Stubai Valley. One week could only afford a first impression of very high mountains, steep rocks, beautiful alms and valleys, and don't forget comfy hotels. There are lots of challenges for mountain bikers and hill walkers as well as for more ambitious scrambles. I think I should come again.

Please feel being invited to have a look at my Stubai photo gallery.