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.

Scramble fun in Snowdonia

stats of the week: run 10km, cycled 131km, gym 6h
stats of the week before: run 16km, cycled 124km

Wales offered another week of glorious weather and we could do all the planned tours. Cycling around Llyn Peninsula included some 20% obstacles while the lap around the Snowdon massif turned out to be easy.

Scrambling was the most of fun. Tryfan North Ridge was a first pleasure and the photo shows me on the top of Lliwedd, final summit of the Snowdon horseshoe, after Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl and Snowdon itself which all can be seen in the background. It was my 6th ascent of Snowdon (1085m), highest mountain of Wales, and I still dream of taking part in the Snowdon hill race some day.

Unfortunately I strained a muscle on this mountain tour what effected the following week of training. The year's calendar shows 2000 cycled kilometers so far and I am curious about next weekend's start at the Maratona dles Dolomites. I'd love to complete the long lap of 138km and 4,000 altitude meters but I am not sure if it will be within my capabilities.

3 hours of fun

stats of the week: run 59km, cycled 146km
stats of the week before: run run 36km, cycled 130km, gym 2h

The Man versus Horse turned out to be much tougher than I remembered. I did it once 12 years ago. The distance had be extended from 22m to 24m. And the bog was in top condition this time. May be there were even more ups and downs included. Anyway, 2002 I finished after 3:27h, this time it took me 4:28! It was great pleasure for the first 3 hours but the final 3rd of the route was a torture.

However, after a first disappointment by my performance I learned that I finshed 4th of 17 men 60+ what did actually please me. Even more, I beat 10 horses!

Northern Beauty

stats of the week: run 56km, gym 2h

I spent the weekend watching one of my most favourite marathons - Stockholm. Luckily I was able to do three nice training runs along the town's waterside.

Stockholm is not an easy marathon with a high bridge to cross twice and a good number of ups and downs that sum up to 400m of altitude difference. There is a friendly and enthusiastic crowd, one of the world's most beautiful cities, perfect organisation and the atmospheric finish at the old Olympic stadion of 1912.

The Photo shows the female winner, Isabellah Andersson of Sweden, obviously of African origin. She refused to take the offered green crown before the finish line and saved some more seconds.