My first ultramarathon...

...was scheduled last Saturday. The 50 km Albmarathon featured a altidude difference of 1100 meters, which where spread over 3 major and 2 minor hills, quite an ambitious course for a lowlander like me. :)

Before the race I met others from the ForumTeam at the start. The race weather was perfect for late October, almost too warm and really sunny. So shorts and shirt was the rule. I started calmly the first five kilometers, talking with Sabinchen, before finding the right pace for today. I tried to run as the hills as long as my legs felt good, and walked when most started to walk, which where mostly the last 5 to 10 minutes to the top. Downhill I was very carefull at the beginning, as I had no experience how my knees respond to such a new strain. Until km 30 I really felt good, but then the hard time started. The change of speed and endeavour caused by the hills became apparent.

The good thing at this point was, that the three major mountains had been passed at this stage, and that 20 km are a manageable distance. Moreover I was really good in time, better than I had even dreamed of before. So I had at no point the thought of giving up. I knew that I would finish my first ultra and my first mountain run. But in return, it was still hard pushing me to keep up my speed. Especially after passing the marathon distance at 4 hours, motivating myself for every step became a hard mind work. See some pics here of the race photographer (type number "42" in the first form from the top).

I reached the finish line completely happy and with aching muscles at a time of 4:46:03 (result pdf). After the race we had some beers, watched the award ceremony (Frieda and our women team won each a trophy), and went to a restaurant, before I returned home in the evening.

Now, after two days I can say, it was a lovely and nicely organiced event (except some significant problems with beverages and the medals for the slower runners). The scenic course offers a lot for the eye, but is nontheless a lot of hard work!

Back from Spain

Friday I came back from Spain and was surprised to find Germany almost as warm and sunny as Spain. After all I had left Schwerin with 4°C ten days ago.

The small trip with my mom was superb, we visited a lot in Andalusia: several nice beaches (El Palmar, Bolonia...), a lot of the famous white mountain villages (Ronda, Vejer de la Frontera, Arcos de la Frontera, Medina-Sedonia, Grazalema, Ubrique...), old and majestic Sevilla, Surfer's Paradies Tarifa, old English-style Gibraltar, burstling Tanger in Africa, the National Parc Coto de Donana. In short, many things that have been to far away for me and my bike in Spring.

Additionally Jesus and his parents were nice and welcoming hosts. When I'm home later this week I'll upload some photos, too. (Also some Milan pics, as promised!)

Andalusia

Today I decided to fly with my mom to Andalusia for 10 days, cause my dad can't go. Tomorrow morning we'll take off to Malaga. Next Friday I'll fly back to Stuttgart for the Albmarathon before returning home. So don't be mad if some e-mails and letters have to wait a bit more. I'm a bit in a hurry now :)

Run, run, run...

It was almost dark, when I crossed the bridge on the Northern side of the Neumuehler Lake this evening (the photo is from a different day). A lot of concentration was needed on that part of my favorite cross track, as the bridge is in a wretched state and you have to be careful not to fall between the broken planks.



That's why it took until I passed the young black dog - the one that chased me and barked at me until it got used to my smell - that I realized I had not just crossed a shaky bridge but that I had completed 1000 km running this year.

Not that much compared to other Marathoners, but for my first full running year it's quite ok, I guess. And it's not even finished yet. :)

Godd Running, Jolle!

On my way South

Sorry that I left you alone for a while.

The Berlin weekend was splendid. First the Katie Melua concert. What a godgiven voice, wow. Friday Lothar and me went on a canoe trip through the city centre of Berlin. :) In the evening we went on a Skater parade before joining a Korean party with delicious food.

Saturday was my race day. It was wet at the beginning, and I started a bit too fast I guess. But in the end the time stopped at 2:09h, something in the middle of the pack. Not that good as I expected, but still ok. It was fun, anyway. After the race I met Jens Voigt, one of the top cycling pros in Germany.



The last week I startet training again for my mountain marathon in october. And in some hours I'll leave off to Kempten, making stops in Ingolstadt and/or Stuttgart on the way.