Training Log Archive: acejase

Jog round park near start, loos etc. felt OK. Did my back stretches.

SwissAlpine S42 Marathon. 18th overall, 4th in old mans age class.

Start was on athletics track in Davos, about 1300m elevation. Got a good spot near the front and set off. I didn't have much of a race strategy other than knowing it was basically up for 25k and then down for 18k. First few k turned out to be on the road - my forte ;) - so settled in to 4min ks and tried to form a group. Soon off on to fire trail style track and seemed to be a group of 7 or so. Not very chatty but David from Bern told me that 2 months ago he was in a coma for 3 days after a bike accident. Impressive. Tried to chat to German Suunto girl (Suunto all over her shirt) but she dissed me.

Track was steady uphill but getting progressively narrower, rockier and more rutted. Group got a bit spread and did feel like the start of a marathon when people a bit excited and running faster than they should. But I felt my pace pretty good. David started complaining about the heat and he was right - forecast only top of 23 but full magnificent sun and no shade at all.

At about 14k things got distinctly steeper and rockier and we left the valley going up the hillside to Scallettapass, about 2500m. I'd already been noticing the elevation with a bit of shortness of breath and this got a bit worse with steepness. Felt a bit light headed and tried walking for a short while but if anything it made it worse so went back to slow running. Track zig zaggy and rocky and I'd left the group behind me except for German Suunto girl who was pulling away from me. I was passing people generally and telling myself that light headedness was getting better. Focussed on where putting my feet as not keen on a fall. Seemed to go up forever so very glad to get to the drinks station at pass at about 18k. Maybe some downhill now?

Had a drink and gel. Skipped the iced tea which seemed the regular alternative to water at the drinks. German Suunto girl had got away and we headed downhill (yeah!). Didn't last long though as we turned on to a rocky goat path along the side of the ridge. It was very technical running with narrow path, big rocks and patches of icy snow to slush through. A guy caught me along here but didn't want to pass so we motored along and started seeing / catching German Suunto Girl. We eventually came out at a mountain lake and turned to start the climb to the highest point in the race - Sertigpass at 2739m. Ran for a while but then settled in to steady walk. Light headedness was back so was glad was approaching top.

Very glad to reach top. Was feeling knackered and sick of uphill. Guzzled some water and gel and set off downhill. Stopped briefly to tighten shoe laces as was super steep down and very technical/ rocky. A couple of guys passed me while doing this but then rapidly was catching Getmsn Suunto Girl. She'd slowed to a plod even though we were going down. I think, in hindsight, she was dehydrated. Gave her some encouragement despite previous dissing. Got dissed again although this time she was probably in her own world of hurt.

Track eventually widened and became more like a little mountain road. Stride out a bit and doing 4min30ks but started feeling pretty ordinary. Still no shade, guts rumbling and feeling urge to walk despite going downhill finally. Told myself to keep running to next drinks stop (~33k) and made it. It was a larger stop and I had about 5 waters, a bit of coke, gel and loved the sponges they had. Left the drinks slowly but feeling a lot better. Decided I must be dehydrated and hoped the water would kick in soon. Very fortunately we went in to the most shady part of the run. Single track along the side of a hill in a forest. Was carrying the sponge so soaked it in a mountain stream and more water on me.

We came out if the forest at next drinks at about 37k and I was feeling lot better. More water, gel and a bit of coke and I was able to run more freely again. Focussed on form and passed people. By now it was a proper dirt road and some bitumen. A short uphill section into a suburb and there were all these spectators yelling Op Op op and ringing cow bells! The whole way their had been on and off spectators and walkers and thy all yelled Op Op Op!

Powered through this suburb and was trying to break 4hrs30. Beforehand had thought under 5hrs would be good and 4.30 would be really good. So given the heat was very pleased to be racing for 4.30. At about 41k there was a decent uphill which let a bit of air out of my tyres. Probably 150m and a real struggle. Back to the downhill and was now looking for the finish. Finally turned into town and more cow bells and op op opping and onto athletics track. Thought I wasn't going to see BA and girls as ahead of schedule but they made it just in town. Being Aussie was enough to get me a fair bit of focus on loud speaker too. As always, pleased to finish!!!!

Was both a great run and a brutal run. So much climb and so much technical running. Once above 1600m (?) a lot of the terrain and track was like running the main range at Thredbo but more technical (rocks, icy snow drifts, rutted etc). Glad wore salomolns instead of normal running flats.

No warm down just 2k walk back to youth hostel. Walking ok though so good signs. Felt nauseas afterwards but better after Belinda bought me the greatest pack of chips I've ever eaten. Lol!

C • Great run Jase! Sounds like... 12

Travelling etc meant didn't get my pre race jog in. Wasn't too fussed except for not having sussed out start area.

Sussed out a few details of marathon. Actually 43k. Weather looks good 23 and sunny at start, 13 and sunny at peak. Start/Finish in Davos is at 1300m and peak, Sertig Pass peak is 2700m. Pretty much all up till 25k then all down. Track varies including small amount of road, dirt track and alpine trail. Alpine trail will include some snow patches probably and plenty of technical downhill running. Seems like if I go ok will take me about 5 hours. Looking forward to it.

Easing off for Swiss Alpine Marathon on Saturday so this run just a cruise along the lake shore to next town. Again hot so plenty of people out on the bike path early. Felt OK in that weird tapering overanalysing way!

Now in Riva del Garda in Northern Italy. Magnificent place on a huge lake with sheer cliffs on many sides. Not that cliffs stopped the Italians from putting roads along them. Ran to nearby hill Mont de Brione and did a 6min hill effort up the stepped dirt track. Amazing views of the towns and lake and stopped for quite a few photos. Pretty hot day and was pretty warm even though running at 7.30am. Great run. Magic.

Ran down into town in the arvo after watching start of Le Tour in the AM. Had a sneaky look in sports shop and found exactly what i was looking for - Salomoln Sense Pros. Bought them and ran out of the store in them. Dropped Nikes home and headed up same track as yesterday at a tempo style pace. Felt really good and happy with panic shoe buying. Turned round after 25mins or so. Raining again but enjoyed self.

Got out at 7 and decided to follow signs on walking trail opposite accom. Hopefully up some hills given not run up any for 2+ weeks. Worked out perfectly as track was steep and went uphill for ages. Signs eventually started saying something called Mont d Arbois which I followed to the top of a hill / chairlift. Magnificent. Was on and off rain and I was v slippery in the Nikes so but worried about shoe choice for marathon next week.

Realised marathon only a week away so panic stretching.

Arrived in Megeve in French Alps for Le Tour. Went for an exploratory run round town and was amazed at the tour infrastructure being built. Lots of stops for photos. Town looks lovely - alpine village, Thredbo style but bigger. At 10pm looked out window to see trucks coming through putting out barriers.

Left Paris and in the town of Beaune in the East of France. Stinking hot 37degrees and low 20s overnight. Ran into town in the AM and did 10*1min on off on the cycle path around town. A few moments having to slow crossing lights but mostly good. Felt a bit ordinary at start but better as session went on. Nice old town and feeling hot even at 9am.

Last jog down the Seine. Monday morning so the people back and predicted top of 35 today so already pretty warm. Yesterday Found a section of the river where the runners seemed to go so headed back there again.

Out along the Seine again this time for the Bois du Bologne, a forest on the edge of town where AC runs a lot. Not many people about Sunday morning which was nice and getting warm. Plenty of stops and starts for traffic lights and a couple of map checks but made it to the Bois. Lovely to see some greenery and it seemed to be a huge forest with network of tracks. Heaps of Sunday morning runners out. Did a bit of a loop and headed back through town to the Seine. Didn't feel great but a little better after finding a few taps in the Bois.

Easy run along the Seine, Place la Concord and Louvre before back again. Fairly sombre mood following news from Nice overnight.

Intervals on the banks of the Seinne. Did a loop involving two bridges and only 1 road crossing which was a road semi closed for Bastille Day. Best I've felt running all trip and had to push self hard in 5th and 6th efforts. Good session.

Longish exploratory run along the seine in Paris seeing if could run there. Answer was yes but in the morning when less tourists / pedestrian traffic. Made it to Eiffel Tower which of course is impressive. Was gonna run to the Bois where AC runs but time and the number of road crossings required got the better of me.

Warm up looking for park BA had found to run in. 1 wrong turn. We were staying at a pub in Windsor (outskirts of London) following epic day at Legoland yesterday.

Found the park and did a session of 5*(2min on, 1min rest, 1min on, 1min rest). Legs still feeling weird but pace quite ok for solo session. Not many in the park just a few dog walkers with one yappy dog who chased me each lap.

Jog back to pub and into traditional English breakfast. I thought of my waistline and chose the vegetarian option which included fried eggs, baked beans, mushrooms and tomatoes. Yum. Tried ordering a coffee but chose not to taste it based on presentation.

Up at the great man Fish's (and family) place for the weekend so dragged him out for a run. There were numerous comments from Fish re his lack of fitness but his form was reasonable if not quite at the levels of his halcyon days. We went out on a loop of his along some classic English 'paths' which were often overgrown with farmers crops or stinging nettles but in other places cut beautifully through a field. The loop concluded through the lower part of the local manor (only a Sir owned it according to Fish, not a Lord) where they were mowing a cricket field. I went out on the loop a 2nd time after Fish felt he'd done enough but got fairky lost missing a few vital turns. Managed to make it home with assistance of google maps. Great to run with Fish.

C • British land ownership 1

Lap of St James Park. Much easier in the AM along the roads with a lot less people. Barely stopped in fact - a contrast to last few days running!

Same route as yesterday however this time with confidence vent further into Green Park and after a not easy detour to find a toilet did Mona Fartlek in the park. Speed ok and legs not too bad given all the tourist walking been doing. Memorable run.

Accidentally stopped and hit save on watch while taking a photo so this is bit of the run after that!

After a long few days travelling and then our first day in London I dragged myself out for a run. We are staying not far south of centre of London with not many appealing spots to run. After running to 2 parks which wouldn't want to run in I ended up heading over Westminster bridge through a million tourists and a hundred traffic lights to get to St James Park. Still heaps of tourists and walkers but did a lap and headed back to apartment.

Longish slow recovery style run up and down the ridges of Bruce, O'Connor and North Lyneham with Frogga. Weary but not too sore. Grant continued on to do 2 hours but didn't seem much point me trying that - just get too tired.

Riding to play date for girls and back. Nice arvo. Short ride.

Woken up 5am by bloody political parties banging their star posts in over the road. Consequently to Stromlo nice and early and did decent warm up in -3 degrees. Crunchy ice and frozen puddles everywhere. But very pretty.

Pennington 16k, traditional XC Club annual race with some prestige. Unfortunately XC Club is somewhat in decline at the moment so not many people turned up. Set off at a decent clip round the XC course with only a few in front of me. Pulled up alongside a bloke who looked like he might be good to run with but then we got to the 2k mark for the turnaround for the 4k race and well he turned around!
From there on my own. Found it easier than last time led a race as just found a decent pace for me. Up Stromlo and hadn't looked back but marshall at first junction said I was a long way in front so just settled in. Felt pretty good on first 8k loop keeping good rhythm and probably a bit chuffed I was leading. Paced self up the hill and pushed on down the hill. Back to XC course and could see Martin Fryer not too far behind followed by Pete James from the group at Reid. Maybe had a minute on them?
Back through the start -finsih line, turn round and set out on 8k loop again. Saw plenty of Johnny Bazorak who was jogging round taking photos. Steady back up the hill but tried to conserve a little in case Martin came at me. Looked back on way down and he wasn't coming so pushed on. Toughed it out over last 3k on XC track to take the win. Reckon I've run over 150 XC Club races and never won one, yet alone the prestigious Pennington, so will take it. Looked up last time I ran it, which was in 2014, and I was over 5mins faster today. A good improvement. Having said that Marty won the Pennington that year in 51 and there were 4 blokes under 60. Still you can only beat those who turn up and it was -3 degrees! A race I'll remember.

C • XC turnouts 4

Cool down with Bazorak before shooting off to get Abby to ballet on time. Did take a quick quiz at perpetual trophy which will have my name on it! ;)

Last ride in for a little while. Appropriately cold.

Last ride home and forgot front light. Chased the setting sun all the way home but by the Cork Oaks it has got away from me. Very dark through Cork Oaks but kicked in to top gear up Aranda Hill when some bloke with ripping light came past me. Tailed him to the top and then cautiously through Aranda made it home.