Training Log Archive: Torino

Easy bike ride as I still feel very tired, especially no energy in my leg muscles. So I biked to Peseux to buy tulip bulps, then over to Sandra and Marc's house to plant flowers which stay pretty throughout winter and, of course, a ton of bulps for spring. The weather was wonderful, blue sky and very sunny but an icy North wind made it all uncomfortable. Yet, I had to do it today, as tomorrow we have the grandkids til Wed lunch and in the eve travelling to ZH then to Teneriffe :-).

Easy run as had tired legs from yesterday. Did the slightly longer version of this loop. Rain and storm is headed our way? So far it did not though. The storm was in northern Germany and had reached the eastern part of Switzerland. Maybe we're lucky on the western part.

Warm-up to the start.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1250120685

Long sprint-O near Biel: start was near a little woods which we traversed for 1 control, then into the permanent camping area which was a lot of fun. It was also the first time for me ever I had to deal with artificial fences, was a little confused and lost few seconds here or there as I did not find the way through as I usually had passed it already. Still won my course and had best times on 11/15 legs. Quite pleased.
It all went so fast, was not at the top of my mental responses to quick actions with the map.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1250178257

On a beautiful, warm and sunny day I did my favorite loop: Did 2 km on the gravel road, then up through woods and over meadows to the top of the ridge and back down over beautiful fall meadows which were so soft back to the car.

Riding down from Près Devant with little detours to Sandra and Marc's house. Did 2 hrs of weeding, getting flower bulps out and did some landscaping, then quickly downhill home.
Tried my "new" mountain bike I had taken on the Bordeaux-Toulouse trip, this time though in the woods and on small trails. The bike is very light (7.8 kg), has "only" front shock and a full carbon frame and it's beautiful. I had hoped I could take it for Mbo-races, but maybe not. I had trouble changing from my usual 29' tires to these tiny 26' tires. It seemed I was slip and sliding a lot more. On my other mtbike I can ride the single trails much smoother and feel more stable. So maybe if I practice more with this bike? Maybe it IS "only" a super cross bike to get places whether on paved or gravel roads and it's so easy to take on the train, suspend it where needed, go up and downstairs with it as it is so light.
PS: I need to change the saddle, it still hurt to ride it.

Nice run on a beautiful day. Calm lake and gorgeous fall leaves in the woods, along the creeks and in the vineyards which I all ran in on this loop. Not up to speed (yet) due to my break and lots of cycling 10 days ago.

The first yoga class after 3 weeks again. It felt very good, she stretched a lot and included it in the vinyasa poses.

Starting up again with training.
After coming back late last Thursday from Bordeaux, the grand-kids (Matti and Lena) stayed with us for 4 days over the weekend while Sandra and Marc went to Southern France, Milhau in the Cevennes. On Sunday, Marc ran the 76 km-long ultra trail race, the famous "Grand Trail des Templars", his longest race so far and he came in 4th!

The grand-kids were so restless because of having to stay indoors as it was raining. It stopped after 4, so we went up to the Planeyse and stopped on the wood-track. Matti wanted to do 400 m. He did quite well, although he alternated between being serious, then wanting to short-cut and argueing why he couldn't (it's not an O-meet), then walking a little, skipping and running again and jumping over the gentle bumps on the track. Fun to be a kid.
It was a good warm-up for me as I hadn't run in over 10 days.
We did 2x400 m.

Warm-up jog from the track down towards the lake where Urs had taken the grand-kids to a hot chocolate and were waiting for me. By now, I was running in the rain again.My legs did not want to move very easily today.

Last day: still strong headwind going to Toulouse to catch the train after 2pm back to Bordeaux.
Very nice, easy ride along canals and seeing some sights. And it's always interesting to stay at various places from gites to chambre d'hôtes to simple hotels.
For me it was also an intense French course.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1234281335

C • Intense French course 2

https://www.strava.com/activities/1233285313

From Agen to Montbéliard: long, tough day into headwind all day. Plus big problems w my hard saddle and hurts so much. Biting through but at end I was really exhausted and prob also had a hypo.
Some stops along the way looking at impressive abbey and cloitre in Moïssac, an "elevator" for boats which does not run anymore and others. Passing also Montech and in evening sun to our beautiful place in monbequi where large rooms, showers and a home cooked meal awaited us. Super!

Day 3 starting out wo fog but nice temps and sunshine. Easy riding along the canal, today w lots of locks and watched several times how water was let down or was filled up to let boats pass.
At end passed 3 locks which ended up on a very long bridge which spanned over the Caronne underneath. Such a marvel to see ships pass on a bridge over a river below!
Pretty and surprisingly interesting city of Agen.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1231486708

C • Les pruneaux d'Agen 4

https://www.strava.com/activities/1230060656

2nd day along the canal de caronne. Started in fog on our beautiful b&b in the Bordeaux vineyards down to la réole and crossing the magnificent river caronne over to the canal w locks. Riding in the mist under thousands of sycamore trees lining the canal was a mystical experience. After a Picknick lunch on a touristy side trip to see a church (UNESCO historic site), the sun was out. Beautiful riding until damazan where we rode around quite a bit to find our gite at 6:30. Tires by then.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1228381835
Biiketouring from Bordeaux to south off Sauveterre;
On an old railroad track.

A quick run close to home up on Planeyse and 2x1 k on the woodchip track. Gorgeous day with a great view of all of the Swiss Alps again.
Still not up to par with my health, sore throat now.
But packing my bike to head off to Bordeaux tomorrow and on Friday start riding the Canal des 2 mers along the Garonne to Toulouse.

Run from home a little faster but still nothing to write home about.
Did the 140 steps at the end.

Going into the 3rd week of this cold/flu crud. Felt better today, still the lungs would not give the output yet as they usually do so effortlessly. Was 1-2 min/km slower than normal. Patience. It will come back.
(Sandra and her family were sick on and off for 4 weeks, and Sandra spent last week pretty much in bed, so now they are on vaca in the beautiful Engadine, and we're also on grandparents' vacation for this week ;-)).

Decided to go up to Engstligenalp because it was an absolute stunning day. Going up there by gondola into the calm and car-less Alp is always such a treat. And not often an orienteering meet is offered as there are no trees and very limited area to actually orienteer in.

O race all along the slope, in spots even in snow. Very hard going with uneven footing. Looking from across the basin, one thinks, that's easy, no trees, the controls are visible from afar. But not so. Orienteering was tough with all the dry and wet ditches, creek beds, ravines, tons of rocks, cliffs and so on. One constantly went up and down into creek beds and keeping orientation was very hard.
I did well at the beginning, everything matched up as I wanted it too. Then, from *4 - 5, the ominous Nr. 57, disaster struck. From the slope we headed out onto a slightly sloping rocky run-off debris area which one always finds under steeper areas when gravel and rocks wash down throughout the ages. I tried to keep the direction correct, watched the elevation I thought and tried to navigate by the wet and dry creek run-offs. I ended up in an area where about 10-15 others were looking for Nr. 57. We left no rock unturned or looked into long ditches, but no luck. Eventually, a young kid who stuck to me and I told hime that we had about the right distance, spotted the flag further down. He skipped down and waved towards me, I was quite relieved as I had run out of solutions to search for this flag. Lost around 14 minutes in all.
I continued to Nr. 6 but only 20 minutes later realised that I had turned my map 180 degrees wrong!! No idea how this happened except that I felt so stupid and back being 15 and a beginner orienteer! I speeded down to Nr. 57 again (!!!) and from there continued in the same direction to 6 and on with no problem to the finish.
Marcel Schiess laughed at my mistake and just said, that these things happen up there on Engstligenalp, altitude and a special spirit ;-). Oh well, it was fun anyway, but I could have done much better, but this was more a training as there were no age classes just different courses for everybody.

Physically, it was tough because running over these slopes with constant uneven footing and no trails with lots of little ups and down still challenged my (calf) muscles and knees. But it will make them stronger, right?

I had to hurry back and I felt my lungs not wanting to work that hard. I'm still quite limited with that cold.
The gondola drops off spectacularly 500 m down over cliffs to the lower parking area.

Fullmoon hike with Urs's fitness group. First we had dinner and after 9 pm we set out on a hike through the night, but the moon had started to hide itself behind clouds. It was still nice though, walking through the woods and fields and along a turf moor. Somebody explained some of the mushrooms along the way, the scent of mushrooms followed us for most of the hike.

Slow mountain biking, still very little energy output in my lungs and coughing. Uphills were pretty hard, so I toured a bit in our vineyards as they were beautiful in golden colors. Went on different corners to get the best unobstructed views (as we have three rail-lines crossing the hillside. The Alps were absolutely clear to the touch and even Mont Blanc showed its face for a change! Gorgeous late afternoon/evening. Lots of photo stops.

Went to drop off the grandkids after they had stayed with us since Monday, visited Sandra who was/is still sick with the flu (and didn't go to O-camp that she had organised, sucks for her). Then parked the car in the woods and went for a slow jog as had still no energy to push things. Did me good anyway to be out in the woods.

Another warm-up run down 200 elevation meters to the start.