Year of records ends / blog moves

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stats of the week: run 16 km, Zwift cycled 78 km, hill walked 40 km
stats of the recent week: run 11 km, Zwift cycled 72 km, hill walked 27 km, gym 2 h 
stats of the week before: run 4 km, Zwift cycled 152 km, gym 2 h

A year of both kinds of records approaches its end. The negative record is that I only ran 714 km this year which is a weekly average of a mere 14 km, by far the lowest distance since 25 years. My only comfort is that I could finish the London Marathon once more and even by an acceptable time.

The positive record is that I made more than 7,000 km on the bike, more than ever before. However, thereof 2,800 km were indoor with Zwift which I learnt to enjoy this year. The next year will hopefully become a bike year again as I plan to realise a long kept dream of a long cycle journey.

New setback

stats of the week: zwift cycled 24 km, gym 2 h
stats of the previous week: run 22 km, zwift cycled 45 km, gym 2 h

The photo gives a wrong impression. I had to stop my 7.5 K race after 4 K due to a suddenly strained calf. I walked on until I was reached by C and we ran the final 1 K to the finish together. I wonder how long this injury will last as it is the same that last time prevented me from running for more than 3 months. This time I will be more cautious.

Confirming old rule

stats of the week: run 27 km, zwift cycled 46 km, gym 2 h
stats of the previous week: run 27 km, zwift cycled 103 km, gym 2 h

An old rule has been confirmed once again. Double your 5 K time and add 2 minutes to get your possible 10 K time. This time I doubted this would be realistic having in mind that I did very few runs up to 10 K in training, only 3 during the recent 7 weeks.

But it worked. Following 24:30 for 5 K two weeks ago I was now able to finish after 51:14 at 10 K. Unfortunately the heel spur problem restrains me to increase my mileage otherwise I could probably attack the 50 min border.

With the Covid situation getting worse and worse some organisers now cancel their races once again. Winter seems to become depressing again with very few events to enjoy.

photo: 10 K start at the Blumensaatlauf alongside Baldeneysee

Surprising pace

stats of the week: run 17 km, indoor cycled 110 km, gym 2 h
stats of the previous week: run 27 km, indoor cycled 26 km

Although Covid is worse than ever in our country, life is almost back to normal and a number of running events are on offer again for vaccinated runners. 

I was happy to pace C to a 29:04 finish at our local 5K race on Halloween evening where she won her age group. Next Saturday I raced on my own account and was surprised that I was able to keep a pace that I have not trained for. I finished the flat 5K in 24:30 min what lets me hope for more in the near future. However, my heel spur problem still keeps me from intensifying the schedule while some intervals would be needed to build up more speed. C again won her age group while I was only placed 5th.

This weekend was New York Marathon weekend! Within 16 years this was only the second time I could not be there to run myself or watch and guide German runners. Now I wonder if I will ever come again and this is somewhat a sad feeling. Otherwise I should happily look back to what I could experience and be thankful.

This is Irina 2019:

Recovering in different ways

stats of the week: run 14 km, cycled 98 km, hill walked 42 km
stats of the previous week: run 6 km, cycled 39 km, hill walked 35 km
stats of the week before: indoor cycled 1 h, hill walked 8 km

Recovering from London meant a lazy week at home first, then a week of easy hill walking on the island of Sardinia, followed by a sportive week in France.

I still suffer from a mild heel spur that keeps me from intensifying my running. Luckily I am able to do short jogs up to 10 km without bigger problems.

Some impressions of Sardinia:

Walking Mt Ventoux was a very different experience after 10 times up there via bike:

A happy day - Number 22 in the box

 London Marathon 2021 result: 4:31:34, 133rd M65 of  333, 19,600th overall of 35,867

As you see in the photo, my 22nd London Marathon was a very happy day. The world seemed to be back to normal. More than 35,000 runners on the route, the crowds were nearly as big as ever and the people's behaviour let me forget the Brexit. Londoners are as polite and helpful as they have been in better times.

My race plan - alternating 5 km running by 500 m walking - worked until km 32. Then I had to extend the walking parts and to shorten the running parts. It was a strange feeling to walk already after 5 km when everybody raced by. But it payed. In spite of my limited preparation I was able to keep my pace far into the race and was very happy to finish after roughly 4.5 hours. This experience makes me hope that I will be able to keep on running for some more years.

From Ventoux to the Mall

stats of the week so far: cycled 133 km
stats of the previous week: run 42 km, cycled 205 km

Finally I managed to do a long jog of 23 km - having walking rests in between every 5 km. I still hope this enables me to get to the finish line on the Mall in London. My plan is to walk 500m every 5 km from the beginning on.

On the way I celebrated a jubilee at Mont Ventoux: my 10th ascent on the bike, 5 from Sault, 3 from Bedouin and 2 from Malaucène.