Increased mileage

stats of the week: run 43 km, hiked 16 km
stats of the previous week: run 19 km, cycled 38 km, hiked 10 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the week before: run 18 km, cycled 116 km, hiked 5 km, gym 3 h
stats of the week before: run 12 km, cycled 220 km, hiked 8 km, gym 1.5 h

Back home in Germany I still feel not yet having reached my spring performance. May be my Covid infection from early May has still some impact. However, I was able to ride up to Mt Ventoux for the 15th time, and this time it was the tough ascent from Bedoin.

A family week at the Dutch coastline offered perfect flat routes to increase my mileage so I hope to find back to a proper pace.

Fight to finish

stats of the week: run 12 km, cycled 220 km, hiked 8 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: run 47 km, cycled 38 km, hiked 13 km, gym 1.5 h

My double start at the Traversée des Dentelles race at Gigondas was successful on Saturday and - as expected - painful on Sunday. Saturday eve I was happy to guide C. to an age group victory on the very hilly 5K race. Our average pace was 8:40 min/km due to 200 meters of ascent to climb within the first 3 kilometers. However it was fun and it was a success. There were just 2 ladies older than 65 and the other finished 2.5 minutes later. 

Next morning my legs felt slightly tired just after the first few steps. I was not sure to finish the 21 km with 600 tough meters of ascent but I walked a lot like most others and I still had to fight. Happily I finished after 2:29 h placed 4 th in my age group. Imagine the fastest 70-year-old was half an hour in front of me!

One more french challenge

stats of the week: run 23 km, cycled 140 km, hiked 12 km, gym 1.5 h

Focus is shifted to running now to prepare for the hilly half marathon next Sunday at Gigondas. A race that I ran last year, too, so I know what to come. This time I will wear a rucsac to carry fluid like most participants did last year. It will be hot again and last year I had serious problems after the finish to keep my circular flow working. Better to be cautious this time ...

The famous event at Gigondas lasts for two days. On Saturday I will accompany C for a 5 K, Sunday follows my race. There is also a very tough marathon with more than 2,000 meters  of ascent where you can get qualifying points for the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc.

Smiling on Mont Ventoux

stats of the week: run 15 km, cycled 234 km, hiked 12 km 

My Gran Fondo Mt Ventoux was a happy day. Conditions were better than last two years with moderate temperatures and no wind. As expected I was again slower than before but by just 5 minutes and I was able to finish smiling without any circular flow problems at the top.

Of  the total 1734 finishers on the "shorter" route of 100 km more than 400 ended up behind me - and nearly all of them older than me. There were just 27 riders in my age group and even another 11 men older than 75. The winner of my age group was almost 2 hours faster than me! With 6h19min I was placed 14th of the 27 oldies.

Facing the giant of the Provence

stats of the week: run 18 km, cycled 232 km, gym 3 h

Tomorrow is Gran Fondo day. Last week we tested the route up the giant and I was happy to get to the top in style. But tomorrow will be different as there are 75 km and 1600 meters of ascent to be done before the ascent to Mt Ventoux starts. 

Last year I tried to beat my time of the year before and I failed. I am quite sure I would fail this year again. So my plan is to take it easy and be safe. May even be I will have to push my bike for the final 500 meters which are the steepest. We'll see how things develop. It will be my 5th Gran Fondo up the Giant and probably my last one. So the main intention is to enjoy it.

Majorca touring week

stats of the week: run 5 km, cycled 246 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: cycled 330 km
stats of the week before: run 21 km, cycled 153 km, gym 1 h

Luckily I came back from Covid without any consisting problems and we were happy to complete our bike tour around Majorca as scheduled. Around a 3-day-celebration of a family birthday anniversary we cycled 480 km most of them with the baggage of 14 kg for me.

Back in France my target is now to get prepared for the Gran Fondo Mt Ventoux that takes place on June 11. My training still lacks sufficient altitude meters and I reckon I will have to be content with just finishing the challenge and reach the top of the Giant of the Provence. 

Finished and infected

stats of the week: cycled 96 km, hiked 15 km
stats of the previous week: hiked 10 km, gym 1 h
stats of the week before: run 58 km, cycled 28 km, gym 1 h

My plan was to reduce the walking parts as much as possible at the London Marathon and to finish around 4:30 hours. Well, it worked, I crossed the line after 4:30:50. As you might imagine I would have been happier with 4:29. But I don't really worry. Number 24 is in the box, that the only thing counting 

Less happy was the following week as I came home with my very first Covid infection. And it was not a light one although I got 4 vaccinations, last one in December. I felt very ill for one week and until now I am not fully recovered and didn't take up running again.