Training Log Archive: Torino

Started out with Urs, then did the "Sandra" loop. The only thing to do reasonably w 35 degrees outside. Riding in the woods was acceptable. Took it easy, no records in mind ;-), and actually was a very pleasurable loop.
But Sandra, how do you ever ride up the last part in the Merdasson drainage?? Impossible for me.

Still too hot! Dragging actually.

Doing a relay sprint with the club; VERY hot, 35+ degrees. Luckily, the last control was someone floating in the water holding a control flag and we had to swim out to it! Fun ;-)

After visiting the source of the Sargue which is famous as it seems the biggest source in Europe feeding from an immense underground reservoir, I wanted to try an "easy" hike (thus it was written on a pamphlet) and went up the dirt road going along the canyon of the Vaucluse. I felt that I was up on those zig-zags pretty quickly and decided instead of going the same way down, I would close the loop and call Urs to pick me up a little further along the road.
However, after a farm (which I saw) and running along a wall looking for a left-handed turnoff of a trail, I kept on downhill on that road, checked with Strava that it did pretty much (still) go along with the sketch on the pamphlet I had.
However, I realised quickly getting further and further down the slope, now in a big field of vineyards that things didn't match up anymore. But my goal was down the slope. I called Urs to warn him and asked him to wait for me along the road, where I didn't quite know yet. At a trail veering off to the left, I followed it down until I reached a water canal and followed it until suddenly I found myself on a high and long equaduct traversing two roads and a valley. Wow! At least I was down now. Realising that Urs would be on this side, I clambered down steeply besides the equaduct onto the road. Little later Urs could pick me up, whew! What adventures on something that looked simple and easy but wasn't in places when following descriptions.
Though felt good and actually could push the downhills quite a bit (also bc I was a bit scared how to reach the road).

C • Adventure 1

We went further North to the Mont Ventoux but stopped on the northern side about 400 m below the top at a ski area and camping place. I ran a loop that was recommended at the Info which was also marked and it was beautiful, just right for today after an almost sleepless night. Beautiful woods and semi-open parts with Mt. Ventoux above looking down.
A ton of cyclists were on the road today, whole groups on vacation (lots of Dutch), some local cracks, some mtbikes, and also tourists on e-bikes cruising in their pitiful upright position, saddle too low and most of them overweight up the road. I think there is going to be a major local race on Saturday as we saw stands being set-up.

Went to an unnamed saddle between St-Rémy-de-Provence and Les Baux on the Les Alpilles and started a run up the road, then dirt road to the highest point of La Caume and a lookout over the northern part of the Lubéron to the right and as far as Avignon to the left. Felt quite good, very hot, 30+ degrees!

We drove to the top of the Petit Lubéron to the parking for the "forêts des cèdres". Did 2 loops one very rocky which was hard to run on and the second loop with soft ground of cedar needles.
Running felt better the longer I was on the way as I can't seem to find a regular running routine and form as WMOC is only 3 weeks away.

Easy hike down into the the Gorge de Verdon (Provence) and then up the other side to a look-out straight down into the gorge. It was scary-amazing to look so far down as if flying.
The weather had turned again (after a beautiful day travelling down to the Provence yesterday) but it was overcast in a strange way with heavy winds carrying Sahara dust. However, there was also the chance of thunderstorms and rain and even though it threathened, we had none. AND, it was finally nicely warm almost 30 degrees C (we had been freezing the last few weeks with somethimes very heavy rains and flooding.).

A pitiful "run", felt so slow and heavy, "bounce" in my steps.

On Monday, I had such sore muscles, I had to take some ibuprofein. My arms ached (from carrying all the camping gear up and back out of the woods? But also my back has been hurting since the weekend.
And, since Friday, I have trouble lifting my right arm, that is abduction of the upper arm out of the shoulder hurts a lot and still does. Must have injured one of the bicep muscles, not the one that flexes the arm but lifts the arm. I'm puzzled when and how I must have injured it, maybe biking on Friday on a brisk pull on the handlebar on a steep uphill or?

Need to run more again to get in shape for Riga.

Pentecoste Relay, 7-persons' team. A beautiful woods in the Valais, quite high. I was on the 5th leg with all the young people that are running SO fast! But sometimes they don't find things quite that easily. I thought it was quite a difficult course, very steep in spots with lots of cliffs, big rocks and blueberry bushes. I can't say that I made a mistake but in comparison to anybody being born around 2008 or younger, I felt like a hippo in the the woods. But I was happy non-the-less and the fastest from anybody born before 1963!
I drizzled for most of the way and started to rain more heavily when I finished. There were over 70 teams all camping in a beautiful meadow with no amenities but fires and little sleep.
The first two legs start at 09:20 pm into the dark and the 3rd leg starts in the morning at 07:30 plus the combined time of the first 2. There was a good mix of elite runners, lots of juniors and families but only few seniors as they don't seem to want to camp in the wild anymore.

C • Seniors 2

Riding along to the lake to meet Urs with Matti and Lena for playing on the shore with peblbles and collecting shell, then grilling our bratwurst!

Biking back with Matti on his new bike which is somewhat still too big for him. Poor guy, but he improved and became more confident. We pracitced a little the full stops by going "full" speed for a moment then stop, and look at our skid marks! But at least he's starting to use his hand breaks! So important. He even made it up the hill on the side of the castle into Colombier.

Riding up to Sandra's house when bringing back the grand-kids, then having a water and a chat with her before I set out to do a longer loop back home. Was looking for single tracks and little sharp uphills which I managed 90% of the time. A little intervall/strength training.