Training Log Archive: Swisscheese

French selection race in Herbouilly.
After 38minutes I was still 2nd, 1min behind Thierry. From there on it went downwards. I wasn't able to keep the concentration up... in this terrain this is suicide ;-). In the finish I lost 15min to Thierry.

Compared to yesterday's race, I felt like I was actually able to handle this terrain and I believe I can run well here. But for the next races I will need more rest beforehand... it is not a SPA experience to race in those terrains. You need to be willing to give everything and keep your focus up until the end.

C • SPA experience 1

French selection race in Pré Poulain.
Oh gosh, what a day.
In the morning I was coaching our juniors here in Neuchatel on some test we have to do with them for Swiss Olympic. Then I jumped in the car direction France. I arrived in Arith (competition center) 45 minutes before my start. I believe it is a bit tight, but think it is ok. I grab my thickest raincoat (it is pouring buckets) and walk to the registration, feeling a bit dizzy/tired from the long intens drive through the rain. I am getting informed it is a 50min walk up to the start, 475m climb and 3.5km. Uh, that's not the best info. OK, now I need to hurry. I change in a no-time and start the climb. At first it aches, calves are burning, my lungs don't want to function. But bit by bit, I feel better and I run up in almost racing tempo. 20 sec before my call in I get to the start. Uh, 3mins to rest and to focus on the upcoming task.
I start, the 2 first controls are ok, but gosh, it feels more like a treasure hunt. I run a bit. Stop to read the map, walk a bit to relocate, run, read, walk, run. I catch up Andreas Ruedlinger who started 2min before me.
By the 3rd control my ability to concentrate is gone, until the finish. I survive from on control to the other, whithout any flow, getting a bit lost several times on each leg... but I don't even bother, my prospects to be fast are gone, I am only trying to enjoy the adventure, the treasure hunt.

Quintessence: for this type of terrain I was definitely not well prepared enough. I had a tough week at home, didn't sleep well for several days and spending the morning 200km away doing something totally different and having only 5min to get ready on the spot are the worst things to do.
But anyhow, I don't really regret it. I had to fight strongly against myself. Next time I will be recovered I might feel like I will be flying :-).

basics

Recovery training on rollerskis. Actually it reminded me how bad our winter was... made me a bit sad.

Lunch break jog.

Track intervals. 6x1000m in 3:00. Rest 1.5min, after the 4th interval 6mins... got a bit lazy :-).

Morning jog.

Evening run. I was fighting against the wall for the first 50min... than I could finally find a flow. But before that I was feeling dizzy and "mind out of the body experience"... strange.

Morning jog.

Through the forest intervals. 6x4min. I got faster and faster throughout the intervals. Interesting. It shows that knowing well the terrain and feeling comfortable with it is really important. It is quite amazing, but I was 40 seconds faster on my last interval compared to the first!!!