More injections, no improvement

stats of the week: walked 19 km, zwift cycled 33 km, gym 4 h

I had my fourth injection, this time at the L3 vertebra, but it had no noticeable effect. Unlike injections one and two, which caused widespread paralysis for several hours, numbers three and four produced no reaction at all. It felt as though I hadn’t been given an injection. I’m not sure whether this indicates that the injection was not administered as precisely as before. In any case, nothing has changed, and I’m due to receive injection number five next Wednesday.

Now that we’re back in Witten and at home, I can use my treadmill and the Zwift bike again, go to the gym and the sauna, and get support from the physio. With a proper daily routine, I’m hopeful the nerve will continue to improve. I’m now able to jog short, slow intervals of about 300 metres.

We’ve successfully sold our much-loved old Toyota Verso after 13 years and 250,000 km. The car had picked up a few bumps over the years, but unfortunately a particularly large one was added by an unknown neighbour in Mollans just last week. Only a handful of locals use the parking area on the central terrace, yet the person responsible never owned up. In the end, we were able to sell the damaged car, though of course for a considerably lower price.

Photo: The Mollans bump

Enjoyable bike rides on a rainy island

stats of the week: walked 14 km, cycled 93 km, gym 1.5 h

It has now been ten weeks since the disc incident, and I’m still a long way from being able to run again. At least today I managed to jog eight very slow sets of 100 metres.

We had to use our ferry tickets from Barcelona to Mallorca, as they couldn’t be cancelled  and only rebooked for another date. So we drove from Mollans to the port of Barcelona and took the ferry, which gave us a rather turbulent crossing, before enjoying three days on the island. It rained the whole of the first day, but on the following two days we were pleased to fit in two short bike rides. It was cold and windy, and we did get wet once, but being able to ride my bike outdoors lifted my spirits, as it feels like progress.

the week's photos:

The ferry crossings back and forth were both turbulent.

Mallorca turned out to be a rainy island.

On the way back we stopped for a coastal walk in South France.

Days of remembrance

stats of the week: walked 16 km, gym 4.5 h

No news from the health front. The knee area is still numb, even walking is limited due to the pain in the adductor area. No idea to improve the situation, waiting for my 4th injection after returning to Germany.

I was happy to meet my English conversation group. Unfortunately, I could only attend one session. Since it was a bank holiday, we met at the Bar du Pont and played a word game that is known in Germany as ‘Town, Country, River’. We had a great time.

While in Germany, November 11th marks the joyful beginning of the carnival season, in France it is a day of remembrance for the end of World War I on 11/11/1918. In Mollans, the ceremony follows the same pattern as on May 8th, the commemoration of the end of World War II. It is always moving to witness the local remembrance service, especially when a group of schoolchildren shares a few words. After the European anthem is played, the names of all local soldiers who died are read aloud, and finally the children sing the French national anthem.

After the ceremony, everyone gathers in the community hall to share a drink and some snacks. All of this takes place while current wars continue, involving Russia, Hamas/Israel, and others,  and the United States has appointed a ‘Secretary of War,’ who confirms his title by murdering in the caribic sea.

Photos: The ceremony at the local war memorial

Winter has come to Mollans

And Christmas approaches

Back to where the trouble started

stats of the week: walked 10 km, zwift cycled 21 km, gym 3 h

I’ve had my third injection, but unfortunately, there’s been no further improvement. The area near my knee is still numb, and most of the time I feel a strong tightness there. However, there isn’t any real pain, and I’m able to walk briskly for several miles. I even tried jogging very slowly for a few yards.

In the meantime, we’re back in Mollans for a week, the place where all the trouble began. I wasn’t sure if leaving home was a good idea, but once we arrived in our beautiful village, I felt happy again. We’ve installed a new wood stove in the kitchen, which heats our tiny house very efficiently. The weather is lovely and perfect for some sunny walks.

Photos: The new wood stove is working well.

The "fontaine de l'eglise" is already lightened for Christmas

The bridge is the center of the village, complemented by the Bar du Pont, where the residents gather.

More means better?

stats of the week: walked 12 km, zwift cycled 15 km, gym 4.5 h

A week without progress. The persistent adductor problem continues to hold me back, while my back would probably already tolerate a light running session. The third PRT injection is coming up, and I’m hoping for more improvement. The orthopaedist recommends a series of six injections, whereas the radiologist thinks three should be enough. I hope that in my case, more really does mean better.

With a touch of wistfulness, I look towards New York, where the interAir team is at the marathon without me for the first time after seventeen years. And yet, I’m not sad. Everything must come to an end, and last year I felt I’d reached my physical and mental limit. The New York weekend is extremely demanding, and it no longer offers anything new to me. In any case, who even wants to travel to the United States anymore? A country where people are arbitrarily detained from the streets and deported . A country that elected a narcissistic man-child as its president, one who orders the killing of foreign citizens without trial. Instead of giving him the Peace Nobel Prize it is time for the International Criminal Court in The Hague to issue an arrest warrant. Though given this president's power, that may be too much to ask.

Plans for next year - if possible

stats of the week: walked 17 km, zwift cycled 32 km, gym 2.5 h

I tried taking a few jogging steps during my walk, but it felt as if I were handicapped. My legs simply refused to move forward. Maybe it’s still a bit too early, just six weeks after the incident, to expect to be able to run again. What makes me remain skeptical is that the same kind of pain that started all the trouble is still there: a slight strain in the adductor area. As long as this persists, I’ll refrain from running. I’m too anxious that the severe pain might return.

It so happened that we managed to get bibs for four Superhalfs next year: Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. We got into Copenhagen and Cardiff through the ballot, I was just quick enough for Prague, and we are fortunate to secure Valencia since we already had bibs for this year.

Still, I can’t quite bring myself to fully enjoy our luck. There’s a lingering doubt about whether I’ll truly be back to proper running by then. For now, I focus on strength training and brisk walking. That in itself feels like progress. At least I’ve been able to stop taking any kind of pain medication, and that’s something to be grateful for.

Slowly worth living again

stats of the week: walked  39 km, gym 3.5 h

I have to be happy that I am able to walk every day and spend time at the gym. After two injections the worst pain is gone and nights are calmer again. Days are becoming worth living again.

My daily routine consists of visits to the physio and receiving acupuncture sessions. The body's reaction to the injections was rather frightening. For some 5 hours I wasn't able to lift my right leg. When leaving the car I fell down to the pavement. Also the lower leg felt almost completely numb. Luckily the symptons were gone until the evening and so far I can regard the therapy as a success. It is still a very long way to get back to running. The right leg doesn't yet feel reliable and I still have to be cautious on staircases.

Next Sunday I will sadly look at Valencia where we wanted to take part at the Half marathon and complete our 3rd Superhalf. Luckily the flight and the apartment could be cancelled without costs, so just the bibs are paid and lost. Now I hope that organizers keep to their regular mode and offer bibs for next year with priority to those who had a bib this year. And I hope I will be able to run next year being another year older.

Forcing myself to get up

stats of the week: walked 13 km, gym 2 h

Meanwhile, I’m humble enough to appreciate that at least this week’s stats aren’t a total void. I actually managed to drag myself into the gym and even walk slowly on the treadmill. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve officially entered the grand finale of life. The injection therapy does take the edge off the pain, but my right leg clearly didn’t get the memo about cooperating.

Stairs have now become an epic quest. I graciously accept the assistance of the handrail, rather than bounding down like I once did. Hard to make a running comeback when you can’t even trust your own muscles.

For now, I suppose I should be grateful that my days are mostly pain-free… nighttime, of course, likes to keep things interesting. But don’t worry. I’m not waving the white flag just yet. It’ll take a few months, but I will be back.

Whole Autumn Life cancelled

stats of the week: no sports for weeks

Happiness in France lasted only a week. Suddenly, I developed an injury that made even short walks impossible. I was tormented all day and night by severe pain in my right thigh and hip, unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Getting proper medical help in France turned out to be difficult. The hospital ambulance sent me home with pain medication but without any consultation. The orthopedist ordered X-rays and an ultrasound, again without consultation, and the earliest available appointments would have taken weeks.

Only the local general practitioner was truly committed: he arranged an appointment with a cardiologist (who found nothing) and advised me to undergo a CT scan. At that point, we decided to return home to Germany, where we were able to get immediate appointments for an MRI and with an orthopedist.

As so often happens, two doctors came to two different conclusions. The radiologist diagnosed a slipped disc, while the orthopedist believes the cause is a blocked sacroiliac joint. Either way, the pain has remained severe for three weeks now.

Because of this, all our autumn plans are cancelled. Obviously the run in France, the hike in the Pyrenees, the trip to Mallorca, and sadly the half marathon in Valencia as well. It seems it may take several weeks, if not months, before I can return to running.

Happily back to France

stats of the week: run 28 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: run 18 km, cycled 42 km

Recovering from the 4th leg of our Tour around Germany took some time and is not yet done. Thighs are still sore and adductors hurt. Getting back to running doesn't feel easy. 7 weeks to Valencia Half Marathon now, hopefully enough time to build up some distance. When running through my home forest for the first time after two years I tumbled heavily but luckily only the left wrist still hurts. I hoped to take part at 2 running events but both are already sold out: The Ventoux Trail Run and Grand Raid Camargue. Instead we will take part at the Course des Vendanges at Puyricard what we enjoyed two years ago. This is near Aix-en-Provence and we will combine it with a dinner there like last time.

It's good to be back to our pretty french village, Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, in the very North of the Provence. Tourist season has not yet finished. The Bar du Pont is still busy, foreign visitors abound, obviously many from Germany, like us. A sign at the bar now says that dogs are no longer allowed at the terraces - a surprising and not really friendly move by owners Patrick and Valerie. But nobody seems to pay attention and dogs are regularly seen on the front terrace. Monday evening with Pizza Roberto is the main weekly event now, very well visited, and meanwhile decorated with french banners and lamps above the place.

The Bistro - the other bar - is still closed after its sudden shutdown in summer. Rumours tell that it had to stop business due to hygiene deficits. Better not think about details.

Forced to rest

stats of the week: run 20 km

The short and bad news is: After 3 days of proper running I strained my thigh heavily when bowling with the family. Cured it with RICE as usual, rest, ice, compress, elevation, took lots of Ibu and still hope that the leg will be recovered till the continuation of our German Border Cycling Tour.

For the following two and a half weeks please look here:
deutsche-grenzerfahrung.blogspot.com

Back home in Germany

stats of the week: run 25 km, cycled 70 km

We are back home in Witten/Germany and immediately I felt like I had never been away. Light running feels better meanwhile but I still keep to short distances of 8 km being the longest so far. I aim to complete one or two half marathons in autumn. So I should stay able to run distances of 10 km and a bit more. Next week I hope to build up my mileage when we spend a week's family holiday in Belgium. Luckily the high temperatures are gone and the rainy weather makes a perfect setting for running around.

Slow recovering and more celebrations

stats of  the week: run 5 km, cycled 162 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: run 11 km, cycled 179 km, gym 3 h

Recovering from the Ventoux Half Marathon has taken some time, and I’m still not back to my previous training level. Even easy short runs and bike rides leave me feeling drained. Perhaps the heat is also playing a role in slowing me down. In any case, there are no upcoming events I need to be ready for.

The next goal is the final leg of our “Deutsche Grenzerfahrung” in August, when we aim to complete our journey along the German border. We still have around 1,500 km and 9,000 meters of elevation to go. I’d estimate our chances of covering that within two weeks at about 30%.

On Col le Debat: Something here is curious

Meanwhile the fêtes estivales are going on in Mollans. The fête nationale was bigger than ever. Tables were placed even on the bridge and there was a buffet provided by the local firemen and women.

To stand the heat it is best to stay in the river.

To praise the national day we placed some banners on the front of our house.

The scene at fête nationale

Another Thursday with Roberto's Moules frites

  

Ventoux by foot: Made it!

stats of the week: run 40 km, gym 3h, walked 9 km

Yes, I made it to the finish line at the top of Mont Ventoux! With my time of 3h14min, I placed 7th out of 8 runners in my age group. I was happy with my time, but not so much with how the run unfolded. I had hoped to be able to run a larger part of the distance, but according to my Garmin, I only ran for about 40 minutes and the rest was walking. From the famous bend at St. Estève (km 6) onwards, I was mostly walking. I still managed to keep my pace under 10 min/km, but you can hardly call that running. It was more like a brisk walk for me, while the winner finished in just 1h30min!

Still, I’m proud to have completed it. It was an amazing experience and a day I will never forget.

Photo: Approaching the summit

Photo: Happy runner presenting his medal

On the Mollans side, the high season is now in full swing. Pizza Roberto, who is there with his truck every Monday all year round, now also offers moules frites on Thursdays, all you can eat for just 15 euros. Places are selling out fast and next Thursday is already fully booked.

On Saturday evenings, there’s now a marché provençal along the main road, which means the main village crossing is regularly closed to traffic. More reasons coming up: The Fête Nationale is just around the corner, soon to be followed by the Fête du Village and Les Peintres dans les Rues. Also the Theatre Verdure offers concerts, dramas, comedy and more. Every Sunday morning at 10am there is a guided tour through the old village.

Photo: the scene at the main crossing when Moules frites are served

Getting peak performance for the peak of Mt Ventoux

stats of the week: run 29 km, cycled 104 km, gym 3 h

With temperatures climbing up into the high 30s, getting into peak shape for next Sunday’s half marathon is definitely a challenge. On late Sunday afternoon, we drove up to Chalet Reynard by car, and I jogged and hiked the 6 km to the summit to get a feeling for the great day. Even up there, it was still pretty hot (mid-20s) while down in Malaucène it hit 37°C. I managed an average pace of 8:27 min/km, with about 17 minutes of running and 35 minutes of power walking. My goal for the race is to keep an average pace under 10 min/km so I can finish within the time limit. I’m still not sure if I can pull it off, though.

Meanwhile, festival season is in full swing. On Friday we headed back to Orange to check out the Jazz Festival, which ran from Thursday to Sunday with two stages going twice every evening. We saw a singer with a really talented piano player, but honestly, we weren’t blown away by the vocals. So we skipped Saturday’s visit and opted to watch the final of the European U21 Football Championship instead. With a bit of bad luck, Germany lost to England, but they played really well. It was great entertainment.

There was also another event in Mollans this weekend: an art exhibition featuring 17 artists, each showcased at a different local venue. It was a great opportunity to visit the old olive oil mill, and we even got to step inside some private homes what was really interesting to see. The whole event was beautifully organized and brought the village to life for three days.

Photo: Close to the finish at top of Mont Ventoux

Hills and Music

stats of the week: run 24 km, cycled 134 km, gym 3 h

As my Mont Ventoux Half Marathon approaches, I’ve started incorporating hill runs into my training. The local climb up to La Garrigue offers about 80 meters of elevation gain and has the advantage of being almost entirely shaded. Since I’m a late riser, I now have to start my runs earlier to beat the heat. Even at 9 a.m., temperatures are already around 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. In the meantime, I’ve increased my workout to four ascents, totaling approximately 360 meters of elevation gain within 9 km of distance.

On the social side, it was a week full of festivals. On Thursday, we enjoyed an evening in Orange at the Fête de la Danse, and on Saturday - like everywhere in France on June 21st - it was time for the Fête de la Musique. We listened to a choir in the old church in Mollans, which was truly glorious. Afterwards, we drove to Buis, where we saw the same band we had enjoyed two years ago. They were just as good as ever, playing their energetic Celtic music. The accordion player was absolutely outstanding - at the end, he even pulled out a bagpipe!

The guitarist turned out to be our former neighbour, who had moved away and left Nikita the cat behind. I told him that the cat is doing well and sometimes even lives in our house now. He seemed a bit embarrassed—which, to be honest, was exactly what I was going for.

The scene in Orange before the town hall:

The choir in Mollans church

Celtic music in Buis les Baronnies

In Mollans, the bridge bollards appear to be toppled at least once a month—it’s almost a routine by now

News from Mollans

stats of the week: run 12 km, cycled 144 km, gym 3 h

My legs - and in fact, my whole body - were still feeling the effects of last weekend’s hill race. C also hasn't fully recovered from the injuries she sustained in her bike fall. So it ended up being a rather leisurely week. Still, I managed to enjoy a lovely ride with fellow cyclist Captain Ahab, who is spending his holidays in Mollans with his wife.

Meanwhile, our village is gradually becoming livelier as tourist season approaches. Some changes haven't gone unnoticed. The bar on the other side of the river closed abruptly and without warning. Rumor has it that the owner decided to give up. The outdoor furniture has already vanished, and word is that The Bistro has been listed with a real estate agency.

On the bright side, the local Hotel Le Saint Marc is now opening its bar to the public in the afternoons, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. - conveniently during the hours when Bar du Pont is closed. The hotel has also started offering Italian ice cream, and its restaurant is now open to the public for dinner. Unfortunately, the only vegetarian option remains the usual Ravioli Dauphiné - my sole choice at nearly every local restaurant. For a more refined vegetarian meal, we’d have to travel all the way to Avignon, which is about an hour’s drive for us.

How has Col le Debat got today's altitude? Captain Ahab is a well versed photoshopper. 

Cafe du Centre at Villedieu: Another place to have Ravioli.

No veggie option at Vinsobres.

Back in the game

stats of the week:  run 23 km, cycled 177 km

It was my fifth time participating in the Traversée des Dentelles in Gigondas, and for the first time, I opted for the 11K distance. It turned out to be the most beautiful route yet - even more scenic than the half marathon - thanks to its idyllic trails winding up and down the hills, evoking an almost alpine atmosphere.

The only unpleasant surprise came just before the finish: after returning to the village, we had to climb countless steps up to the castle and then descend back into the village. At that point, my thighs completely gave out. To make matters worse, I was overtaken by a fellow age group runner just a few meters before the finish line.

Fortunately, the results revealed that he was younger than me - and I ended up winning my age group by just over a minute. Even more satisfying: I finished 166th out of 547 runners. It really feels like I’m back in the game.

Cycling career not yet over

stats of the week: run 16 km, cycled 177 km, gym 3 h

The big event of the week was riding the Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux on Sunday. To be honest, I thought I was done with this race after having done it four times by 2023. But then I saw the new route the organizers had planned for this year - and suddenly, I wasn’t so done after all.

The new course goes right through our home village of Mollans and over the much-loved Col de Fontaube. Then it winds its way through Aurel and Sault. The “piccolo” route is just 78 km with 2,100 meters of climbing - not exactly easy, but definitely gentler than the old one. So of course, I signed up again. Resistance was futile.

The weather was perfect, the ride was a joy, and I was actually pretty happy with how I did. I finished smack-bang in the middle - 295th out of 536 - and came 27th out of 57 in my 65+ age group. Okay, full disclosure: the field wasn’t exactly top of the league. Mont Ventoux tends to attract more casual cyclists on the shorter route, while the hardcore athletes go for the long, punishing ones. But hey, my finish wasn't too bad for a 72-year-old.

And now? Well, after Sunday’s fun, I’m starting to think my Ventoux career might not be over just yet...

Training and reading

stats of the week: run 23 km, cycled 203 km, gym 3 h

Looks like a proper training week — and indeed, it was. I’m starting to see a modest uptick in my running performance. In fact, I managed to clock the third-fastest time on the reverse Strava segment of our usual route - out of 115 runs over the past five years. Not bad for someone who still struggles to stretch properly.

Cycling, on the other hand, is stubbornly stuck in lower gear. Just one week before the main event of the bike season - the Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux - and I'm still not exactly Tour de France material. I’ve opted once again for the piccolo version, but with 80 kilometers and 2,100 meters of climbing, it promises to be a tough day... in the “why-did-I-sign-up-for-this-again?” kind of way.

Meanwhile, life in Mollans rolls on quietly, as the tourist season hasn’t fully kicked in yet. My weekly English conversation group took a field trip to an English library in nearby Beaumont. It’s run by Pat, a lovely English lady who’s been keeping this private book heaven going for 40 years. Now in her nineties, she’s decided to close the chapter - quite literally - and is giving away books to anyone who wants them. I left with half a dozen English titles. Will I read them all? Probably not. But they do make me look smarter when guests see my bookshelf.

Photo: Filling the water bottle at Sainte Jalle.

Second pass of the day: Col de Peyruergue, 820 m

Visiting the private library at Beaumont

Entrance to the book lovers' heaven

Into more cycling

stats of the week: run 8 km, cycled 283 km, gym 1.5 h

Due to our preparations for the next cycling event, running has once again taken a back seat. On Sunday, we participated in Les Boucles du Verdon. We were so impressed by the stunning scenery last year that we decided to return - and once again, I had to admit that this is a race for truly ambitious cyclists.

The long course covers 150 km with over 2,000 meters of elevation gain, and the winner averages an incredible speed of 38 km/h. I opted for the medium route: 105 km and 1,400 meters of climbing, which turned out to be a serious challenge for me. I managed an average speed of just 21.7 km/h and placed 15th out of 16 in my age group. Out of 437 total participants, 398 crossed the finish line ahead of me.

Still, even for those of us at the back of the pack, the volunteers kept the roads clear and the aid stations fully stocked. It made for another thoroughly enjoyable day.

The only downside was that Claudia lost the route on the shorter course. She ended up just cruising around to reach her personal goal of 80 km and 900 meters of elevation. To make up for this we think about coming again and repeating the route on our own.

Photo: Lac d'Esparron enchants the route

The view goes far to the Alps.

The field at the start in Greoux-les-Bains

Life in Mollans-sur-Ouvèze

stats of the week: run 18 km, cycled 65 km, gym 4.5 h

With the main challenge in London behind me, I can now fully enjoy our stay in Provence. That said, there are still more cycling events ahead. Next Sunday brings the easier Boucles du Verdon, followed by the Piccolo Fondo Mont Ventoux, which features over 2,100 meters of elevation gain - enough to qualify as a Gran Fondo in my book.

In the meantime, we've settled into the rhythm of village life. The Bar du Pont has again become our daily stop - sometimes for breakfast, other times for an aperitif before dinner. The local Saturday morning market consists of just one very long booth and offers a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The elderly farmer is always cheerful and eager to serve his customers. Opposite at the boulangerie, Laetitia is enjoying her first season as a shop assistant. Serge, the retired electrician, is still a regular at the Bar du Pont, always accompanied by his little dog which likes to jump on his lap. Every Monday evening, a pizza food truck sets up in front of the bar, though we still prefer our beloved pizzeria in Vaison. In less than four weeks, we’ve already been there four times always savouring the same kind of pizza. The server already knows our order in advance.

Photo: Ready for dinner in the Grande Rue.

Every evening a little bird arrives to spend the night sheltered under the sun roof of our balcony.

The London streak is alive!

stats of the week: run 6 km, cycled 140 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: run 60 km, cycled 31 km, gym 1.5 h

The London streak continues! But that’s about the only positive thing. The quietly hoped-for miracle didn’t happen - things unfolded just as they had to. Alternating between running 3 km and walking 300 m worked until kilometer 28, and then nothing worked anymore. Or rather, only walking was possible. And that continued consistently all the way to the finish. The nutrition strategy didn’t work out either. My mouth was, as always, dried out, and eating became nearly impossible. Three sips of beer from spectators on the sidelines helped me get through. That made for a total time of 5 hours and 20 minutes. The streak is alive - this was number 26. But for next year, the question mark has grown even bigger.

Photo: Interair runners before they made their way to the start

Richmond is my favourite place to go on Saturday afternoon, esp. with fine weather.

There was one positive outcome after all. Following this quasi-training run, there was no sign of sore muscles, and nothing stood in the way of the first cycling event of the year the following Sunday. Only the weather was against us - but it couldn’t stop us. The Piccolo Fondo Provence Occitane greeted us right at the start with 30 minutes of heavy rain, but we still made it to the finish line happily - as the last of only 55 participants on the short 53 km route.

Ready for the rain at Cornillon, Provence Occitane:

Improving too late for London

stats of the week: run 20 km, cycled 37 km, gym 2 h

Performance is slowly creeping in the right direction, though I’m still a far cry from last year’s form. Back in 2024, I clocked 4h36 in London. This year, the mission is simple: stay under 5 hours - still ambitious, but hopefully doable!

This week, I managed a consistent 15K run, which bodes well for the season ahead… unfortunately, a bit too late to make much difference for London.

We’re thrilled to be back in our beloved Provençal village, Mollans-sur-Ouvèze. The tourist hordes haven’t arrived yet, the local bar is closed for holidays, but - thankfully - the bakery remains a steadfast source of joy (and carbs).

My first bike ride in France ended with some unexpected excitement: the saddle mount gave up mid-ride. Fortunately, I managed to stop without kissing the pavement. Close call - would've been a very un-fun way to DNS the marathon!

This little break let me ride back for 18K without a saddle mounted.

One longest run completed

stats of the week: run 45 km, cycled 78 km, gym 3 h

It was my best training week since London last year, including my longest run yet. I successfully completed the scheduled 25K, alternating 3K of running with 300 meters of walking. My performance is gradually improving, as shown by several 5K runs under 30 minutes.

Watching the 2024 London Marathon video by interair.de made me excited about returning to London. I still expect it to be one of the toughest days of my life, but I hope I’ll be able to enjoy at least the first half of the race.

Someone asked me whether I’ve stopped running marathons - except for London - and the question really made me pause. On reflection, I have to admit that it’s probably true.

Photo: I will return to blue start this year, first time since 2018.

A happy last mile at Birdcage Walk 2017