Swiss alpine marathon race report coming up!

I didnt’t train, am totally unfit, but I won the race entry (and a stay at the great Radisson Blue not 500m from the start line) from ARQUE, so I figured I couldn’t cheat out of this one. [...]]]> Event Stats:
Name METRO Group Marathon Düsseldorf
Date 05/02/2010
Location Düsseldorf, Germany
Event Marathon
Finish Time 04:36:59

I didnt’t train, am totally unfit, but I won the race entry (and a stay at the great Radisson Blue not 500m from the start line) from ARQUE, so I figured I couldn’t cheat out of this one.
The run went surprisingly well and I am super happy with the result.

… starts with a good run. At exactly midnight we are sent off on a 10k loop course. Rainy, cold, somewhat bizarre, but at 5 AM on Jan. 1st I already have the first marathon in the can

Good race, great organization as always, but way to crowded after the race. So I run another 12k out of town, to find a somewhat empty McD

Event Stats: Name Immenstädter Gebirgsmarathon Date 08/01/2009 Location Immenstadt, Germany Event Mountain Marathon Finish Time 08:14:02

After having a ton of fun at last weeks marathon in the Algäu region, I figured I might just do it again. Found a cheap hotel and took the train down on Friday afternoon. The [...]]]>

Gebirgsmarathon Immenstadt

Event Stats:
Name Immenstädter Gebirgsmarathon
Date 08/01/2009
Location Immenstadt, Germany
Event Mountain Marathon
Finish Time 08:14:02

After having a ton of fun at last weeks marathon in the Algäu region, I figured I might just do it again. Found a cheap hotel and took the train down on Friday afternoon. The town – more a village actually – itself has not much to offer, so it was just dinner and off to bed early.

(As almost every time) I was ill prepared for the race, not only physically, but also as far as knowing what the race is about. I had assumed it is called Gebirgsmarathon (mountain marathon), because it is held in a mountainous region of Germany and probably has some hills in it’s course.

‘Some hills’ in numbers translated to 2700m (8100 ft.) of difference in altitude uphill and 2400m (7200 ft.) downhill. Subtracting about 7km of course that was more-or-less level, that means 35km with a total difference in altitude of 5100m, resulting in an !average! incline of 14.5 percent. A category one climb in the tour de france is a total joke in comparison.

Before the start

Pickup of the ‘race packet’ (an envelop containing the race bib) and payment is 30 mins. before the race, all is held in a very familiar setting and it is clear to see that everyone is a veteran here.

Start at 8:00 and after 2 minutes it is clear that I will bringing up the rear end of this event. Doesn’t matter, I’m here for a fun run anyhow. First aid station after 6km, took me about an hour and I felt like is was about to die. And it went all downhill from there. (Unfortunately just figuratively).

Steep downhill sections interchanged with inclines before each of which I was just staring at the mountain in front of me thinking ‘this ain’t true’.

5 mountaintops later, I reached the halfway-point after 4:00 hrs. Had some coke and bars, relaxed for some minutes and then started the way back. Unfortunately that wasn’t any easier.

Reached the finish a bit after 4 pm, totally dead but happy.

Picture gallery here

Race conditions: 4/5

Not too warm, dry, sunny, for the mountains that certainly is perfect conditions, absurdly difficult terrain and slippery cow dung might spoil your experience

Scenery: 5/5

Spectacular, what more can I say

Difficulty: 5/5

Perverse.

Information: 2/5

Low key event, website rather not working

Finisher medal: 0/5

NO finisher medal, how crappy is that

Goodies: 2/5

A (rather simple) finisher shirt. That’s it.

The Cheer: 2/5

Well, it’s a run in the mountains, so there is no spectators, but most passing trekkers cheered us on.

Overall: 4/5

If a run in the mountains is what you want, this is great fun. If you are looking for a marathon, or want to try a train run for the first time, better go someplace else.

Visited my aunt & uncle for a great weekend with a wonderful, scenic race through the Allgäu. Anyone from overseas coming to Germany, this is your race!

Actually I just wanted to try a 100k run, but there wasn’t anything suitable, so I signed up for this one, thinking I’ll just run my 100k and call it a day. The field is pretty small, since [...]]]> Event Stats:
Name24 Stundenlauf Stadtoldendorf
Date 06/20/2009
Location Stadtoldendorf, Germany
Event 24h run
Finishing Distance 150.4 km

Actually I just wanted to try a 100k run, but there wasn’t anything suitable, so I signed up for this one, thinking I’ll just run my 100k and call it a day. The field is pretty small, since the German 24h runnning Championship is on at the same time & location (but on a 3k loop course). For me it’s running on the track, counterclockwise, over and over. The best description of my race experience is probably from my twitter posts:

17:00 61x 400m in 3h so far…
18:55 100 in 4.53
20:00 25%, 6 hrs.: 118 laps = 47.2 km, light rain
00:00 Midnight: 11 hrs in the race, 187 laps, getting tough
00:10 aehm, 10 hrs. In the race
02:16 Halftime: 121 laps, 88km. Feel like shit. Wish for sunrise
04:12 Primary Mission accomplished: 100km in the bag. 3:50
06:05 Starting the last third. 280 laps complete. The sun is up but I have some severe blisters
07:27 Raining for the last 2 hrs. Doesn’t help with the blisters. 300 laps done
10:09 4 hrs. to go. 339 laps. Blisters real bad. Livemusic about to start, maybe this give a boost
14:00 It is over, 376 laps, 150.4 km, 1st place. Home & resting

All in all a great community race, a ton of fun, would reccomend this one anytime!!