Tired legs don't like cycling

stats of the week: run 18km, cycled 136km

Not surprisingly my this year's fifth Maratona dles Dolomites was my slowest one. On the 106K course summing up 3100 vertical meters I was 4 minutes behind 2009. The cold conditions were no excuse. My low performance obviously was induced by a lack of cycling training and sort of fatigue after two marathons and the ultra race just 4 weeks ago.

photo: On Passo Pordoi the day before the race

However I still hope to do better next Sunday when attending my 5th L'etape du Tour which will be the same as the 20th etape of the professional cyclists.

Documents of a very long day

stats of the week: run 47km, cycled 120km, gym 2h


Comrades Marathon 02/06/13: How it all began in the dark.

 

 

80K to go. Already sweating.

 

 

Meeting my supporters after 35k, still smiling.

 

 

My watch shows 9:30, no problems yet.

 

 

It seems to be hurting.

 

Kids enjoy viewing the runners.

 

Can't believe: It's me approching the finish line after 11:46:02 h. Just in time.

 

Still impressed

Back home from South Africa and Durban I'm still reviewing the unique impressions of a unique road race: The world's most traditional long race - the Comrades Marathon.

Around 15,000 runners take the challenge every year, most of them do it year after year, most of them local runners of RSA. It started all in 1921 and this year sees the 88th edition. What it means to the locals has been shown by building up the "Wall of honour".

 

This is how it looks. Not just the winners are documented, every finisher may buy a badge. Only runners who finished at least ten times get a green one.

 

Famous Charly Doll, a dominant hill runner and blackforest cook, was the first German to win the race. He was followed by Birgit Lennartz and 3-time-winner Maria Bak.

 

 

Arthur's seat is another landmark on the route.

 

 

 

Roses are given to the runners just before the place and thrown on the seat in honour of Arthur. Good luck for the rest of the race he wishes them in return.

More of my own race see next posting.

Handsome decision

What am I doing here? To laugh is my very last help.

Weather is good, wine is good, eating is good, jogging along the promenade is fine...
Sunday's going to be different ..

(it's not the finisher shirt - it's the applicant's shirt)

Climax after 30 years

stats of 2 weeks: run 30km, cycled 490km, gym 1h

It took my legs more than a week to recover from the marathon. Anyway the 2nd week was planned as a cycling week on cold and rainy Mallorca hills. After all we were able to do four decent tours counting more than 5000 meters of altitude ascent. Hopefully this will help my thighs to cope with the load of next Sunday's 87 km.

I'm glad it's not 90km as I thought. It will make a big difference once I made it to km 85 ...

My plan is to trot 4 half marathons in 2.5 hrs each. Sounds not too hard, does it?

Last year 659 men of age 60+ entered but only 307 made it to the finish in time.

Next Sunday is going to be nothing less than the climax of my 30 years of running.

Mind Marathon

stats of the week: run 66km, cycled 160km, gym 2h
Ruhr Marathon result: 3:55:44

You could rate this as a failure and you'd probably be right. Today's marathon was intended to become a build-up run to put miles into the box for the Comrades challenge.

The marathon ended up as another race and the burden I feel now is even higher than last time. There is no part all along my legs that doesn't hurt.

The pace seemed to be easy and once I noticed that I was too fast I wasn't able to slowdown. However, I could keep the speed until to the end but it was a matter of mind.

Relaxed attitude after 20K

 

See the difference after 36K

 

 



Back to proper training

stats of the week: run 50km, cycled 190km, gym 3h

For the first time in 15 years I missed the London Marathon Ballot! It was closed at noon on Monday after it was opened at midnight. Organizers didn't tell how many applicants had been accepted. Last year there were 170,000.

Overseas runners should make their agency reservation well before September 2013! No doubt who is best for Germany: www.interair.de  :-)

As the headline shows it was a proper training week for me. Next Sunday will be a decisive day concerning my Comrades participation. If I'm able run the Vivawest Marathon free of pain and injury I'll give it a go.