Vienna and before the final week

stats of week 2: run 58K, cycled 73K, 1 gym

Greetings from Vienna where I guide a group of runners around the 26th Vienna Marathon.

One of the town's famous landmarks: The old big wheel

The very typical residents' view of the world: (And you should hear them speaking ...)

The pasta party is a "Kaiserschmarrn Party", held in the town hall:

A half marathon runner in high spirits shortly before the finish:


I now nearly finished the best marathon training I have done since 2004. But I very much doubt that I will be able to run 3:30. I think I can do something around 3:40... but I'll try anyway. The weatherforecast promises a rainy race day what would be the best case for me.

56 and very tired

stats of week 3: run 56K, cycled 4hrs, 2 gyms

I am 56 now. FIFTY-SIX! When I was 24 my father died of a double heart attack. He was aged 56. Since then I always have imagined myself to pass away at 56.

However, I don't feel like dropping dead tomorrow. In fact I feel like 40! Okay, there is lost hair, a weak sight, wonky teeth, arthritic knees, a deaf ear. Er - I have to admit this doesn't sound like 40 ... but most body functions are still working! Come back in April 2010 to see if I still will be alive.

Once again I missed a running workout this week. I did a tough cycling tour instead, so I am not concerned. But today I had trouble to get through my urgent long run of 30K. I got so tired I don't think that I would have been able to finish a marathon today... It will be really important to recover satisfyingly until race day.

The Beauty and Berlin

stats of week 4: Run 46km, Cycled 30min, 1 gym

Due to travelling to Berlin I missed a running workout but there is no reason to worry. Berlin Half Marathon was a very good speedy run (1:48:02) what makes up for the lost mileage. I was happy to be tolerated as B's pacemaker - in fact it was just sort of escorting.



German readers might enjoy my photo report, B's fans will definitely like the gallery, and finally there are some videos.

Recovered by record week

stats of week 5: run 65K, 1 gym

As you see I once more managed to beat the schedule! Nevertheless I got some recovery by cancelling the cross training workouts: no cycling, just one gym session, so I had rest days on Monday and Wednesday. Finally I found today's long run of 20 miles easier than 18 miles last Sunday.

Just a short look back at Hastings. I was really happy to receive the Hastings Observer, a weekly local newspaper the organisers sent as a nice surprise. And I proudly will show the Hastings award on my presentation desk in the guests' loo. The Brass depicts William The Conqueror banqueting after his famous victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066:

Next Sunday I will be part of the Berlin Half Marathon, a really big and attractive event with more than 20,000 runners taking part. I hope to have some fun as I will once again be allowed to work as a pacemaker for B who always guarantees enjoyment.

German Humour - unintended

Off topic

Find of the day in local newspaper "RuhrNachrichten":

It may be sort of a try to implement English black humour to serious Germans. At first glance one can be amused by naming the club's shooting after the most important Christian festival.

The above clipping shows an invitation to the "Easter Shooting" of the local gun club. What turns it into a morbid event - it is "open to all friends of the sports gun from 12 years on". I am not sure whether it can keep us calm that it doesn't take place in a school.

Hurting legs and 5 weeks to go

stats of week 6: run 58K, gyms 1

Once again I managed to put more miles into the box than I had scheduled. But I have to admit that I am close to my limits now. Calves are hurting, legs feel heavy, the overall state of fitness seems to drop down significantly. My body is crying for some days of recovery. I think I'll have to rest for one or two days now. My most important target still is to get to the start in London, overdoing would set this on risk.

Perfect rehearsal

training stats: run 46K, cycled 1hr, 2 gyms

Apart from visits to London I haven't been to Britain since 2005 which is really a pity. Coming to England is like coming home. Setting foot on British ground let me feel better. Logically my Hastings Half Marathon turned out to become a big success!

After having a look at the route profile the evening before the race I was totally frightened. I knew that there was a climb at the beginning ... But I didn't expect the organisers to put in every hill around Hastings they could find. It is a really tough race.

However, conditions were perfect with sunshine and 13°c. Frightened as I was I started carefully and later I got more and more surprised by my own performance. Still able to smile on the promenade stretch I set a new age graded PB of 1:36:50 (= 1:23:22 = 71,6% perf.grade)!

The theory suggests that I would be able to run a full marathon well below 3:30... Alas I know that the longer the distance the weaker I run - but be sure I will try.

Photo: Kiplimo Kimutai of Kenya made the lead right from start to finish and cut off nearly 3 minutes off his own winning time of last year. He clocked an impressive 1:02:50 and crossed the finish line more than 3 min ahead of the runner-up.

Photo 2: The winning lady, Caroline Hoyte, had only 26 men in front of her at 1:16:56.

Photo 3: No 716 is a very happy finisher.

See complete gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/uli.witten