High Level Marathon Rain

stats of the week: run 52km, cycled 192km
Swiss Alpine K42 result: 5:51:40 h

The Alpine Marathon at Davos/Switzerland turned out to become a very special experience. After 3 weeks of warm and sunny weather race day was the first cold day with continuous rain sometimes heavy. Waiting at the startline looking up to the cloudy mountains I was seriously reminded of the tragic Zugspitz Run in 2008. However, weatherforecast promised the lowest temperature at 7°c, so no real danger should develop.

It was raining all day and my fingers got so cold that I could hardly close my rain jacket after reaching Kesch Hut at 2,625m altitude. The high level muddy crossing to Sertig Pass at 2,739m took me some time. But finally my Transalpine mate Herwig pulled me along the final 10K to a respectable 6th place within 34 runners of my age group. The beer was well earned but the cup of hot tea was even better.

Remote Alpine Walking

stats of the week: run 32km, cycled 35km, hill walking 20h

The week's main experience was a 3-day-hill walk in the Italian Adamello Group, one of the remotest parts of the Alps and a big National Park. It's the only part of the Alps where sightings of the brown bear are still reported. However, we spotted frogs, a snake, marmots, chamois and a few humans.

1st day: Temu (1141m) - Rifugio Garibaldi (2550m)
2nd day: Rif Garibaldi - Passo Premassone (2834m) - Rif Baitone (2280m)
3rd day: Rif Baitone - Rhino (700m) , Bus back to Ponte di Legno

Rifugio Garibaldi at Lago Venerocolo, 

 Passo Premassone, 2834m

Lago Pantano, 2378m

Lago Baitone, 2281m

Cross training further South

stats of the week: run 25km, cycled 208km

We escaped from the bad weather in the Dolomites and made our way to warmer areas North of Lake Garda. Altitude is here at 70m above sea level compared to 1500m at Corvara. That guarantees some more degrees and allows cycling while wearing shorts.

Even more Lake Garda offers some entertainment on perfectly designed Via Ferrata.

I believe it's a key point to do different kinds of sport to stay fit and free of injuries.
In between I did a bit of hill running to prove my performance before running the Swiss Alpine Marathon. I decided to stick to 42K instead for 78K due to my lack of long distances. Another advantage is that the K42 start is at 11.30am while you have to get up at night for the K78. Easy decision for a late bird like me.

Marathon on wheels

stats of the week: run 16km, cycled 290 km

My 6th appearance at the Maratona dles Dolomites was my slowest of the 4 long distance options I finished. But I finished - after 8:24 h in a fairly good shape. The photo shows me near the top of Gardena Pass which is the final one at Sella Ronda and 4th of 7 passes on the 138km race. Altitude meters count up to 4,300 after organisers introduced another obstacle: the wall of the cat with an ascent of 19% that I pushed up my bike in protest. To add this wall is no good idea I think. It's just a show point to entertain spectators who have fun to watch exhausted cyclists after a whole day going up and down the mountains. However, I enjoyed the day and was happy to be part of the event.