Private training camp

stats of the week: run 43 km
stats of the previous week: run 40 km, gym 3 h

Successfully finished the hilly 26 K race at slow speed. Only finishing matters and having a longish run in the box.

Now a private one-week running camp on Lanzarote has started. Well, I skipped the 30K jog but at least I did 2 runs in one day counting 24 K, what is not too bad. I try to complete an intensive week with a mileage of at least 80 K. Half is done so far.

Some impressions of Lanzarote and neighbour island La Graciosa. As we abandoned the bikes this time we get some new experiences of the island on foot.

Still waiting for better days

stats of the week: run 44 km

I skipped the local half marathon race because I am still not yet recovered from the long time cold. At least I was able to do some easy jogging, including a longish run of 17 km today after what I was so exhausted that I had a sleep on the sofa. It will take some more days until I can do some speed work again. Desperately I entered a 26K race for next Saturday.

Mad, rich, colourful, poor and disturbing: New Orleans

stats of the week: run 10 km
stats of the previous week: run 55 km

The New Orleans Rock'n'Roll Marathon is a rather small event with less than 2,000 runners while the half marathon counts around 8,000 participants. The race has few spectators but quite a lot of music and a perfect organisation. I worked as a supporter for a small group of German runners.

New Orleans is crazy and vibrant little town where you can enjoy top class jazz and any kind of great music after you strode over more homeless people living on the streets than I have ever seen in the US. NOLA is nothing short of Big Easy for many. It is a colourful South country place but also a magnet for those who struggle to survive. The main impressing is the experience of a disturbing society.

On the other hand it is a town of happiness and frequent road parades. This is Crewebacchus parade which is the kick-off of Mardi Gras weeks.

Weak week

stats of the week: run 43 km, gym 4 h

The week's mileage is on schedule, but the feeling is still weak. Tried to run treadmill intervals at 12 kmh but had to reduce to 11.5 kmh to finish six legs of 1 km.

Winter climate doesn't help to get rid of the cough. Now I hope to find warmer conditions in New Orleans and to do some long jogs in City Park wearing shorts. And Rock'n'Roll Marathon on Feb 10 will be fun to watch.
New Orleans Marathon

No improvement

stats of the week: run 42 K, gym 4 h

Finished the flat 10K race in Haltern after 50:59, slightly faster than recent races but this route profile was easier so I resume that there is no improvement until now. Performance grade of 68.0 is still the lowest since 1998 what is depressing. At least I was able to do a decent long jog of 22 K this week.

However, I know I should be happy that I am still running. In Haltern out of 600 runners there were just 33 older than 65.

M55 51 runners
M60 32
M65 18  W65 2
M70 8
M75 3
M80 2

Review of Tenerife

stats of the week: run 36 km, gym 3 h

This week I cancelled the 10K race due to bad weather, but did some proper treadmill intervals instead: 6K at 11-12kmh.

Some more impressions of Tenerife:

Start of the New Year's Eve race in La Laguna, an unexpectedly great event.

Pico del Teide, highst mountain of Spain. Walked up in 4 hours, ran down via Pico Viejo in 2 hours.

Main Street, Taganana.

Aerial view of Taganana.

View of Fortaleza while ascending Teide.

Good end, good start

stats of the week: run 38 km, some hill walking
stats of the previous week: run 31 km, gym 2 h

The year ended with a surprising success. At La Laguna on Tenerife a big New Year's Eve race takes place since 36 years. Nearly 3,000 runners met on the historic plaza, there was music and dancing before the perfectly organized race of 5.7 K started at 6pm. We ran two laps through the UNESCO listed old town which was illuminated beautifully. Thousands of spectators lined the route. The great evening was topped by my unexpected age group victory. Out of 11 M65s I actually was the first, clocking a modest 28:23 min.

The new year started promising as I was able to fulfill my schedule for 5 consecutive weeks now. That is a rare achievement for me. Alas, my performance is not yet satisfying.