Training Log Archive: Bash

You know you're in Europe when...

You're grateful to find the Tour de France on TV in French because it suddenly seems like a cakewalk compared to the German coverage.

Your hotel looks like this.



The town looks like this.



There's a restaurant at every mountain viewpoint.



The signs are more interesting.







'Bent and I took the funicular up to Harder Kulm to see the view over Interlaken and get a look at part of the Eiger Ultra Trail course.



In the photo below, we will start in Grindelwald in the middle valley beneath the snowy mountain (the Jungfrau). We'll then head up to the left ridge for awhile, then descend back to the valley. At that point, the 51K runners run back to Grindelwald to finish. The 101K runners climb up the ridge on the right and play on those trails until it's time to descend to Grindelwald. Obviously, those are long ridges and the trails that we'll follow along them are not flat!



This view may bring back some memories for Harps. The last stage of The Apex Race was a paddle down the length of the Brienzersee shown here, then a short run to the finish.



Our team missed the paddling cut-off so we hiked 22 km on paved roads to the finish. Along the way, I changed my headwear and accidentally threw my headlamp into that lake. As far as I know, it is still down there.

The logged time is a small portion of my luggage hauling time over the past 24 hours and 2 countries.

For any Hardrock fans: At 15 miles, Kilian Jornet and our Canadian star Adam Campbell had been running together in the lead for awhile, chatting comfortably according to reports. Anna Frost is leading the women at course record pace and is currently in 7th overall. This is very early in a 100 mile race so there is lots more to come.

Same run as yesterday but testing a couple of things:

1) The back-up shoes that will be in my drop bag at the halfway point of the race. They're a different style in case my usual shoes are giving me blisters or putting pressure on some part of my foot. I take back-up shoes to every ultra but I've never used them.

*** Geek Alert. It's better to leave now if you're not interested in GPS watches. ***

2) I also tested the new customized "20 hr Ultra" mode I've created for both my Ambits. One of the nice things about Ambits is that some of their features can be updated via software. When I first bought it, I only had two choices of maximum GPS recording interval (interval varies depending on speed): 1 second or 60 seconds. At 1 second, a new battery was rated for a 16-hr battery life. At 60 seconds, it was rated for up to 50 hrs. For UTMB, I used the 60 second GPS recording interval. In that mode, I found that the watch was very useful for altitude and time but not so trustworthy for distance. The battery life was close to 50 hrs, even with an older battery.

Since then, I've discovered a 5 second maximum GPS recording interval in Movescount. For a new battery, it's supposed to be good for 24 hrs. Cool! I tested it at the Kettle Moraine 100 and the distance seemed as accurate as the 1 second recording interval.

That's why I did the same run today. The distance was virtually identical, considering that I may have crossed the road at a different angle or travelled a slightly different distance on my hill repeat. Cadence was exactly the same (75, as it always is) and so was cumulative elevation gain. Speed was faster. Yay. If you want to see the difference in tracks between the two modes, just click on the globes for my runs today and yesterday.

I have an old Ambit and will need to switch Ambits at halftime in the Eiger Ultra since 101 km with 6700 m elevation gain will take me the full 26 hours allowed. (Let's not think about the other possibility too hard...)

If I could wave a magic wand and be able to do any North American trail ultra, it would be the spectacular Hardrock 100 Endurance Run in southern Colorado. However, even if I had the physical ability (which I don't), I couldn't get in. First year lottery entrants only have a 2.5% chance!

The race starts tomorrow at 6 a.m. and there is live coverage so I'll get to live my dream vicariously.

Kilian Jornet will try to defend his title and break his own course record, although the course is run in the opposite direction this year, which tends to be slower.

Canadian Adam Campbell, who placed 3rd last year after being struck by lightning mid-race, is returning too. Salomon runner Anna Frost is running this as her second 100-miler. She won her first one last fall, the Bear 100.
http://hardrock100.com/index.php

I like to do my part to keep Phatty gainfully employed so I treat myself to cushy new shoes for big races. I gave the latest pair a quick test today with a run around Palgrave West. Yup, they work - just like all my previous Speedcross!

The science is in. There's no harm in having a beer after your hot weather workout. Great news, especially for Harps and FB. ;)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26056515

Warming up after getting soaked in some of the heaviest rain I've ever seen in Canada.