What to say about the race, it's 11 km of moderate to easy hill climbing (1400m) with the first KM and the last 3 km being the hardest and steepest. At least 75% of the course is on single tracks which makes passing a little challenging at times, especially since a little over 400 runners line up every year to start. I've run it once before (2016) where on the day I had a mare probably because I started to fast and was heading into a dreaded lurgy phase. On that day I finished way over the 200 mark and was almost beaten by Christine. So the challenge this year was 2 fold, 1) start slower and finish harder and 2)get in a good preparation for the Jungfrau.
All this is well said, but things were looking up. The weather was perfect for running, being as it was raining and cool, but rubbish for trail running as every thing was muddy and slippery. My warm up produced the 1st hiccup as I discovered that my expensive Garmin Fenix 3 had decided to give up the ghost exactly 8 minutes before the start. Luckily Christine was still waiting for a train at the station so I was able to grab her watch and dashed back, just in time to join the crowd about 30 seconds before the gun went off.
And so did all the runners, geez. I took it easy at the start, and looking back after about 1 km I was about 30th, from the back. My plan beforehand had been to stick to a steady 160 bpm (heart rate) and pick it up a little after the second gravel road section. Alas no heart rate. So it was back to judging it based on old school techniques - breathing and pain. I kept it steady and let runners by without issue. I saw Christine at the lower cable Station (while they were waiting for me) and my boy apparently was worried that I was last - LOL.
As is the way I always run I've enjoyed starting slowly and picking off the runners. In stark contrast to my best buddy Dion (Coachdion.blogspot.com) who believes going from the gun is his right and duty, I like to count the runners I pass, giving me an additional motivation. I'll be honest - I gave up at 50. It was too difficult counting AND trying pass runners on the single tracks, while keeping my footing on an extremely slippery and treacherous paths. My elbows became my best friends and a lot of other runners worst enemies as I was forced to push, bully, badger and sprint my way past runners who had obviously made the same mistake I had made last year.
Some even tried to go with me for a while, mostly just kept their heads down and continued to plod up the hill. The body was working well, and I was still feeling strong, but with 3 km's to go, when the steep climb comes in, I could feel the lack of energy in the legs (note to self - don't forget the powergel next time). This climb is also in dispersed with some long flat bits, so I was able to keep going really well. The new trail shoes were working fine (report another time maybe), however the rain was getting harder and the trails slipperier. And so Horrors of Horrors I had to put in some walking periods - duh.
This is a problem for me as my power to weight ratio is so low. Just about everybody can walk up a hill faster than me. I kept my head down though and was able to limit the loses to 3 overtaking me before the final 300 m to the finish. Here it's a bit flatter, so I was able to pass Beat (no idea who Beat is but I know his name, seems he is a legend on this race) and finish strongly in 93 minutes. More than 10 minutes improvement to 2016 and a position around 100.
Here is Beat and I coming into the finish:
https://www.facebook.com/Gummenmattli/photos/a.837369909753554.1073741855.490713794419169/837377556419456/?type=3&theater
And me in the finish:
Happy, it was a great run and I thouroughly enjoyed it. I'll be back next year.
Thanks for the support :)
