Week in Training

Set out this week with every intention of running a medium distance week. That changed rapidly last Saturday when I slipped and fell on some ice. At the time I didn't think much of it, but on Sunday my knee had swollen and was somewhat painful. OK... Now time to rest and recover.

I didn't run on Sunday or Monday, but gave Tuesday a go with a light 5KM which went well. On Wednesday I put in a medium paced 10KM and everything was looking fine. Thursday got in a hilly 13KM with a touch of pain, but nothing serious. If it's not one thing it seems it's always another. Thursday evening I started feeling crappy and by Friday felt like I had the flu coming on. So... with a headache that started Thursday and that did not let up until Saturday evening I've taken the rest of the week off.

The weather has changed for the colder here the last day or two and I couldn't wait to get back out. I got in a slow 10KM this morning and hope to get another one in this afternoon with the wife. I'm starting to feel the pressure of the Brocken-Challenge which is just right around the corner on 11 FEB 12. Which reminds me of something else...

Read a great article over at The Logic of Long Distance Running (see sites I follow) entitled Running as Aesthetic Rebellion earlier this week. Super insights into running as play and the pressure of the current environment in which we live.

NO UTMB in 2012!

Call it what you will... The luck of the draw? (Actually, yes - it was the luck of the draw). I won't be running the UTMB in 2012.

As of the 10th of January there were 10,000 runners preregistered for the 10th running of the UTMB. With only 2,300 slots open to amateur and non-affiliated runners the organizers hosted a lottery to determine who would participate this year. The results of the lottery were posted on 20 January and I was not among those selected to participate. The UTMB organizers offered a couple of choices to those not selected including: Participation in the Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS) or withdrawal and a guaranteed slot in 2013.

After talking with a couple of people that have run the TDS and speaking with the wife I decided to go with the later choice and took a priority registration in 2013. Going into this decision I was concerned that we might not be in Europe in 2013, but have now set that aside as an obstacle and either way if all holds up and participation conditions do not prohibit it (The UTMB Organizers plan to post the new registration requirements including the requirement to have at least seven race points from a minimum of three races on 1 FEB 2012) I plan to run in 2013. This race is one of those that even with its extreme focus on professional runners and the commercial side of things, get's under your skin!

So... With the 2012 UTMB now behind me it's time to concentrate on getting qualified and enjoying several of the other races I've got planned for 2012. Let's go run!

Which Way Did He Go...?

Good training week this week topping out with 120KMs. Hope to keep this momentum going the next couple of weeks as we head into the Brocken-Challenge on 11 FEB 12.

Minimalism

Life can indeed be pretty simple...

There is NO APP for THIS!

New Years Run 2012

2012 has started with a bang!

Did a nice 10K this afternoon after returning from Switzerland where we celebrated the arrival of the New Year with friends. Temperatures were perfect for a nice short workout with no rain and a bit of sunshine every now and then. The snow we had a day or two ago is pretty much gone.

I'm still having a hard time convincing myself that I can become an afternoon runner again. I much prefer getting out first thing in the morning even though running in the afternoon has the advantage of running in daylight this time of year. The first two or three kilometers of today's run were just horrible as I felt like my gut was still full from lunch. Uggggghhh. It took getting out to about the halfway mark before I started getting into today's run. Once there things settled and all was good.

Nope, didn't see this nice fountain during today's run, but did see it two days ago while running from Tuebingen.

After a bit of research I've learned that this is the Schwabentreue Fountain located in the into the Naturpark Schönbuch near Weil i. Schönbuch. It was christened in 1940 by two sisters out of Stuttgart in memory of their brothers that were lost on the field of battle.

Schwaben Treue Brunnen - 1940
(For further information on this fountain see the link above; select Gebiet D)