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.