Vesuvio Ultramarathon Training Log 2022 - 23

Tomorrow we're flying to Spain to begin two weeks on the Camino, hopefully completing the 200+ km between Ponferrada and Santiago de Compostella. Ergo I don't have much running planned, but it will be a lot of good exercise all the same.

Went running today without the Strava on for a change; down to the dock to pick up my car that I left there the night before.

Went to Lauftreff tonight without Paula. It was the longest run I've done in weeks and my back was hurting the second half. Still, I made it through so I think Saturday is possible. We'll see how it goes. Downhill was the hardest on my back tonight and hopefully I won't be doing too much of that along the Rhône.

Went for a jog in the forest today. I could feel my back twinge on many a footfall. And so quickly my body becomes soft and weak. I'm really not sure if I'll be able to manage the race this weekend.

Having pushed myself too far into injury I've had to pull back since Monaco and I haven't run, but instead recuperated. The Bogn Engiadina this past weekend was especially relaxing. I've also decided to cancel my trip and run in the Canaries this week to focus on healing. As Eknath Easwaran was wont to say, renounce and enjoy. I have a habit of packing too much into life and wearing myself out. It's good, sometimes, to let go of some things. In another couple weeks I have a trail run down the Rhône that will check off another of this year's goals.

I ran through Milano this morning; from the Centrale Stazione to Il Duomo and back. It's nice to see that the citizens of Milano also don't believe in leash laws. Every park had dogs running amok in their own wonderful ways. Seeing them I would guess that Milano is one of the coldest cities in the world as most of the dogs had manmade coats. Probably it's a fashion thing though. My wool long underwear with free music marathon jacket was certainly gauche compared to the other runners I saw. And, well, everyone.

This morning I did a nice long run down into the Rhine Canyon with Dominik. It was his first time running over 20 km but somehow I managed to convince him.

Today's run in Ilanz was along the banks of the Rhine at sunrise. Just beautiful, but my phone died so I don't have any pictures sadly. The km are also an estimate.

Today was a race with perfect conditions for a PR: cool morning on a flat course at sea level. My body, however, was not in a perfect place for a PR. This week's battle with stomach issues continued into the race. I was glad that there was a port-o-potty every three miles. I still finished, and with the prevelant port-o-potties I was comfortable (mostly) with how the morning went. An unsupported race would not have gone well. Dillon, of course, finished first in his age division in the 10K and Kristen won a prize in the raffle. That's now 18/50 States I've raced in.

This evening's run in the Tobel with Paula and Eddie was a good one, but my ankle and knee hurt by the end.

It was a week full of exercise, but not so much running. During the long hike with Maxwell we ran a couple kilometers and yesterday I ran a kilometer or so after Iwona got an early bus. So my week 52 total is and estimate - even the long run I did Monday Strava flaked out, so I don't know exactly. I know this morning I am fairly sore though.

It was a rainy day, but the dogs and I still felt like running. Because Maxwell is coming tomorrow for the week I will not have as much time for running, so today I wanted to get in a long run. My initial plan was to take Paula & Eddie down the Tobel to the Pfäffikersee and back. Once we got down there I decided we could do the comlete loop around the see, which greatly excited Paula and would further test Eddie's limits as it's about twice the distance of the longest run I've done with him so far. He runs right by me while Paula was off chasing the deer. She found a whole herd by the Romerkastell. We stopped for a Gluhwein break in Pfäffikon and then ran along toward the Juckerhof. Along the way we lost Paula, so Eddie and I had to double back a kilometer or so. Around this time my phone also flaked out, so I have only an estimate of how far we ran based on prior experience. Reunited with Paula we finished the loop and then went back up the Tobel. We were very wet and Paula and I were very tired, having run a similarly long lake loop on Saturday. Eddie, on the other hand, seemingly can run forever.

Tried to do a night run down into the Tobel, but Eddie got scared of the dark forest and abandoned us ot go back up to the light.

Ran along the Big Creek Greenway with Brenton today.

I have really not kept up with the training here. It will be good to get back home and run with Paula.