Cycling season close to its end

stats of the week: run 12 km, cycled 49 km

It was a lazy and boring week of recovery. The wound from last week's downthrow is still not closed but healed so far that I was able to restart cautious running. However, the next challenge is a cycling event again, the beloved Maratona dles Dolomites, that I will take part in for the 10th time in a row. Maybe last time, we'll see.

Well, after that cycling season will be finished and I will concentrate on running for the rest of the year. Three very special marathons are on schedule: Bozen Sky, Medoc and New York.

Risk stops fun

stats of the week: run 31 km, cycled 64 km

I felt it's time to get back to running. So I chose a trail run in the nearby hills, a challenge of half marathon distance and 540 altitude meters. Still a bit of a risk after I didn't run a longer distance than 10 km since London.

The risk turned out to be a different one. I felt happy on the course, I have always enjoyed trails. So I increased the speed on the very last steep descent, flew into the very last bend before reaching the road to the finish. Alas, I reached the road, but in full length from knee to face. Shocked and full of pain I raced the final 400 meters to the finish line, still winning my small age group of 5 runners from 65 on.



Cycling the giant of the Provence

stats of the week: run 10 km, cycled 209 km

The Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux was a perfectly organised event for just 700 participants along a more than picturesque route. Every road crossing was blocked for us and food stations were great. We took in the legendary Mt Ventoux first and went down to Malaucene. Then there was a hilly loop around a green valley and a finally climb to Suzette to reach Beaumes de Venise and the finish line.

This great race should have deserved more cyclists. As it was Saturday and perfect weather there were more private cyclists on Mt Ventoux than those with a bib.

However it was a great day to remember. I was also happy with my performance although I was at the back of the pack. There were only 48 participants in my age group 60-66 and I finished 41st. There were also 27 cyclists of 67 years and more. Most of them were faster than me, too.