stats of the week: run 30km, cycled 170km
Not a week of training I can be content with. Alas, I am 63 and it was a very hot week. On the other hand these are the kind of times when sports is not the most important matter. IS, amok, Erdogan, Trump ... it takes a high level of motivation these days to go out and run.
However, as a settled pensioner I can work my time around the risks. I never intended to travel to Turkey ... but I have to admit as long as Mr Trump is President of the US I will never run another NYC marathon nor will I travel to US. I reckon he will not be bothered as he said he will have an eye on Germans trying to get into his country.
Cycling Challenges
stats of the week: run 35km, cycled 161km, gym 3h
stats of the week before: cycled 330km
stats of the previous week: run 17km, cycled 282km
It is now mid of my cycling season. After last year's bad experience I limited my Maratona dles Dolomites to the middle distance of 106km and 3,100 altitude meters. Good decision! It guaranteed to stay healthy and happy and let me finish in the middle of the pack what I feel is quite okay for a casually cycling runner.
Next Sunday was a different story. The Radmarathon Tannheimer Tal was a challenge of 230km and 3,300 altitude meters. Until around 170km I felt fine but following a guy who was too fast for me I got highly exhausted on the next 40km and nearly had to quit the tour. I made it to the finish but tested my very limits once again.
Now my problem is to get along with a combination of increasing running and cycling. There are two challenging highlights in August. First is the Sauerland extreme, a cycling tour of hilly 250km, and second is the Karwendelmarsch, an Alpine hill run of 50km. Will I be able to combine this within 2 weeks?
stats of the week before: cycled 330km
stats of the previous week: run 17km, cycled 282km
It is now mid of my cycling season. After last year's bad experience I limited my Maratona dles Dolomites to the middle distance of 106km and 3,100 altitude meters. Good decision! It guaranteed to stay healthy and happy and let me finish in the middle of the pack what I feel is quite okay for a casually cycling runner.
Next Sunday was a different story. The Radmarathon Tannheimer Tal was a challenge of 230km and 3,300 altitude meters. Until around 170km I felt fine but following a guy who was too fast for me I got highly exhausted on the next 40km and nearly had to quit the tour. I made it to the finish but tested my very limits once again.
Now my problem is to get along with a combination of increasing running and cycling. There are two challenging highlights in August. First is the Sauerland extreme, a cycling tour of hilly 250km, and second is the Karwendelmarsch, an Alpine hill run of 50km. Will I be able to combine this within 2 weeks?
Good Bye old home
stats of the week: run 18km, cycled 186km, gym 2h
stats of the week before: run 17km, cycled 138km, gym 6h
It was the Brexit week. So it was a disappointing and a sad week. I have spent 30 years' holidays in all parts of Britain and I learnt to love it. Actually I did not have to learn loving it as I loved it right from the first visit.
Now I have to learn that My Britain no longer exists. Today it is a country of yesterday's Nationalism and full of fear instead of former frankness, politeness, modesty and consideration. Warm Welcome is no longer a British trade mark.
My next visit to UK is in less than 5 weeks to cycle the London Ride for my 4th time. I always felt like coming home when I crossed the Channel to Dover. There will be very different feelings this time.
stats of the week before: run 17km, cycled 138km, gym 6h
It was the Brexit week. So it was a disappointing and a sad week. I have spent 30 years' holidays in all parts of Britain and I learnt to love it. Actually I did not have to learn loving it as I loved it right from the first visit.
Now I have to learn that My Britain no longer exists. Today it is a country of yesterday's Nationalism and full of fear instead of former frankness, politeness, modesty and consideration. Warm Welcome is no longer a British trade mark.
My next visit to UK is in less than 5 weeks to cycle the London Ride for my 4th time. I always felt like coming home when I crossed the Channel to Dover. There will be very different feelings this time.
Big but not great
stats of the week: run 22km, cycled 284km, gym 2h
As the stats show it was a good week, actually the third toughest of the year so far.
It was more quantity than quality but I have to be happy that it was possible without any hurt.
The local 10K race documented that I am still far away of recent years' level. 48:07 is not presentable. No time for improvement, it's the time to concentrate on cycling now. Maratona is just 3 weeks away.
As the stats show it was a good week, actually the third toughest of the year so far.
It was more quantity than quality but I have to be happy that it was possible without any hurt.
The local 10K race documented that I am still far away of recent years' level. 48:07 is not presentable. No time for improvement, it's the time to concentrate on cycling now. Maratona is just 3 weeks away.
Happy Summer Day
stats of the week: run 24km, cycled 82km, gym 2h
Midweek my knee complained a lot after the strenuous hillrun in Bhutan and I didn't dare running another hilly race within the near future. But the knee is a mystery and a constant back and forth. On Saturday I felt ready for a new run.
I was happy to finish a local 15K including 300 meters of altitude difference without any pain - apart from heavy breathing in the heat of the day. I even was the quicker one of two in my age group. What a happy day!
Midweek my knee complained a lot after the strenuous hillrun in Bhutan and I didn't dare running another hilly race within the near future. But the knee is a mystery and a constant back and forth. On Saturday I felt ready for a new run.
I was happy to finish a local 15K including 300 meters of altitude difference without any pain - apart from heavy breathing in the heat of the day. I even was the quicker one of two in my age group. What a happy day!
Asian experiences
stats of the week: run 34km
stats of the week before: run 10km
The recent fortnight was full of unforgettable impressions.
After I raced a local 10K within satisfying 47:24 minutes I made my long way to China to visit the famous Great Wall Marathon.
It is a memorable event for every runner. Participants were highly excited, not just to experience running parts of the Wall, but by a route going through local villages and their life.
After 5 days in China I have to admit the Great Wall Marathon would make my only reason to go to China again. It turned out to be the most misantropic country I have visited. The polluted air is well known, but adding to this many people are ruthless, traffic is a deathrap, food can't be worse. At first glance people seem to live freely. They dance on public places and ignore every traffic rule. China obviously has one of highest differences between rich and poor. Though there is no crime. Obviously this is only thanks to draconic penalties, China has the world's highest death penalty rate, not counted inofficial executions. At the airport we had to show the books we took with us. US software like Facebook, Google and Twitter is blocked and cannot be used. News websites are slowed down. Our local guide did not mention any critical matters. However the marathon was really very nice. While running you just have to refrain from thinking about it.
The following week was another story. I made my way to Bhutan and the Himalayan Mountain Marathon. Bhutan is a very small very mountainous counry counting 700,000 inhabitants overall and estimated 350,000 dogs. The Buddhism and a very wise King make the people happy and relaxed. Everybody seems to be smiling. They don't mind food can get short, electricity can drop out any time, the very few roads are only arduously to be used. Happyness is the law. The law says you might smoke at home but selling tobacco is prohibited anywhere in the country. Road workers from Bangladesh have to live in miserable tents beside their working place. But things are moving forward. The progressive King has installed an elected parliament. Tourist still are not allowed to move freely. They have to be guided by a local agency.
The marathon was a gorgeous little event with a mountainous route and very kind marshals.
I was happy to take part in the half distance. Even this was a very strong test for my knees.
stats of the week before: run 10km
The recent fortnight was full of unforgettable impressions.
After I raced a local 10K within satisfying 47:24 minutes I made my long way to China to visit the famous Great Wall Marathon.
It is a memorable event for every runner. Participants were highly excited, not just to experience running parts of the Wall, but by a route going through local villages and their life.
After 5 days in China I have to admit the Great Wall Marathon would make my only reason to go to China again. It turned out to be the most misantropic country I have visited. The polluted air is well known, but adding to this many people are ruthless, traffic is a deathrap, food can't be worse. At first glance people seem to live freely. They dance on public places and ignore every traffic rule. China obviously has one of highest differences between rich and poor. Though there is no crime. Obviously this is only thanks to draconic penalties, China has the world's highest death penalty rate, not counted inofficial executions. At the airport we had to show the books we took with us. US software like Facebook, Google and Twitter is blocked and cannot be used. News websites are slowed down. Our local guide did not mention any critical matters. However the marathon was really very nice. While running you just have to refrain from thinking about it.
The following week was another story. I made my way to Bhutan and the Himalayan Mountain Marathon. Bhutan is a very small very mountainous counry counting 700,000 inhabitants overall and estimated 350,000 dogs. The Buddhism and a very wise King make the people happy and relaxed. Everybody seems to be smiling. They don't mind food can get short, electricity can drop out any time, the very few roads are only arduously to be used. Happyness is the law. The law says you might smoke at home but selling tobacco is prohibited anywhere in the country. Road workers from Bangladesh have to live in miserable tents beside their working place. But things are moving forward. The progressive King has installed an elected parliament. Tourist still are not allowed to move freely. They have to be guided by a local agency.
The marathon was a gorgeous little event with a mountainous route and very kind marshals.
I was happy to take part in the half distance. Even this was a very strong test for my knees.
Mourning the knee
stats of the week: run 41km, cycled 38km, gym 3h
More than 5 months gone since my knee was cut by the doc - and if you ask me now I would say it was the wrong decision. I should have tried without surgery. Of course I cannot turn it back now.
I am still taping the joint for every run. I take collagen tablets, aminoglucose, and eat chili, kurkuma and ginger daily. I do weight training regularly.
The knee still tends to swell after strain. However, at least it is free of pain as long as I am running. A pity is that one has stop sometime.
More than 5 months gone since my knee was cut by the doc - and if you ask me now I would say it was the wrong decision. I should have tried without surgery. Of course I cannot turn it back now.
I am still taping the joint for every run. I take collagen tablets, aminoglucose, and eat chili, kurkuma and ginger daily. I do weight training regularly.
The knee still tends to swell after strain. However, at least it is free of pain as long as I am running. A pity is that one has stop sometime.
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