Run and move

stats of the week: run 41km, cycled 118km, gym 2hrs

With 4 weeks to go to New York it was a convienent weekend to test my speed on half the distance at our home town event, the Ruhrtal-Marathon. There was even a group from UK at the start, some runners from the Cambridge area.

Finishing after 1:38:35 I was just 1 minute slower than 2 years ago. Projecting this to a full distance leads to time of around 3:35 hrs. This allows another 10 min for the hills of Manhattan and my target of 3:45. I still have to build up more performance to be on a safer side.

Yesterday's photos - Fighting to the finish line (it was downhill):

It wasn't my ranking what made me standing on the podium! The audiance serenaded to celebrate 10 years of http://www.laufen-in-witten.de/! I was moved but didn't feel really comfortable ...

Preparing for the Blue Day

stats of the week: run 49km, cycled 103km, gym 4hrs

Finally it was my first somewhat good week since long. Completed an interval workout on the treadmill and a long run on Sunday morning.

Only 5 weeks left until New York City Marathon! I am happy to be placed at the Blue Start, 1st wave. Blue is best, it is the one where the professionals start and where you experience the opening ceremonial at its best.

Beginner's excuses

stats of the week: run 24km, cycled 100km

I'm very unhappy with this week's schedule. The kind of excuses reminds of beginners: bad weather and lack of time. Organising our charity run, helping with school homework and A still staying at the hospital, all this let me seek in vain for time to do some training.

At least I was able to adjust my new bike successfully and enjoyed a speedy ride. I was pleased to feel more safe on the new bike than on the old one. Freehand driving is much easier. The frame seems to be firmer and more smooth. I look forward now to racing the Alps next season.

Setback

stats of the week: run 20km, cycled 30km, gym 5hrs

Reviewing the recent week I have to admit running a sudden marathon was a setback while preparing for New York. My muscels are still complaining and my overall fitness hasn't come back, nor has my mood recovered.

It's only 7 weeks to go and I was hoping to run a decent time on Nov 7. The 3 recent ones at NYC were 3:39 - 3:41 - 3:43. Logically I am aiming for a 3:45 this time.

It even didn't help my mood to buy a new race bike:

A first 30k-ride left me behind feeling not really happy with it. The new Ultegra Group seems to need more adjustment and the carbon finish doesn't look perfectly done. There have to come bad times sometimes ...

Neat and enjoyable

Stats of the week: run 72km, gym 1hr

Running a marathon on the top of our heads turned out to be doable. Conceding a couple of walking breaks we finished after a neat time of 4:09 hours and I was happy to be able to stay at B's side. After 20 K I had to disappear for a pit stop and lost almost 2 minutes. I took me more than 2km to catch up. Then I felt better for the second half and had no problems to keep close to her heels.

We enjoyed the Muenster Marathon - a perfectly organised and staightforward event with a flat route through a beautiful city and nice landscape.

However my muscels now ask for some days to recover. I doubt this was the best way of preparing for New York.

Almost finished B is the one to keep smiling:


Michel Descombes is a familiar face along Europe's marathon routes:

Germany's fastest female boss

Flying along the final lap at Berlin's Olympic Stadium:

Presenting the cup awarded Germany's fastest female boss:


I have to admit this blog is becoming a B-blog ... But there is reason to do so. B ran a fabulous race around the capital's Olympic stadium, finished 6.2 km after 27:48 min and made it 32th woman among 1,000 ladies started. Being the very first female boss she entered the stage mid of the stadium and was given this enourmous cup. A day to remember!

Still excited B affirmed to run a marathon on Sunday. A crazy idea to do without proper training. However - the more crazy the more good is life. - I won't wonder if she outruns me once more.

Onions done - Championships to come

stats of the week: run 25km, cycled 130km, gym 3h

Too little running this week, having in mind that there are only 9 weeks left to New York. I'm not concerned but it was not the kind of schedule to let me feel satisfied. Expecially as it was just lack of time that kept me from training properly.

Our traditional Onion Relay Race is always good fun. The distance everybody has to cover is just 800 meters, but the veggie burden lets hurt one's muscles for a couple of days.

I am curious about my own next weekend's activities. It's going to be B's decision. She's weird ideas sometimes ...

Midweek B'll run the so called German Championships of Companies. She qualified for the final of Germany's fastest bosses. And I look forward to following her to the finish in the Olympic Stadium. An exciting week to come!