8th Running Anniversary
Today, exactly 8 years ago, I started running. It took me by surprise when my calendar fired a reminder this morning, but I always cherish this day a lot, because running brought so much good into my life. So, every anniversary I thoroughly reflect on my last year of running. Looking back, there’s basically 2 major things that happened.
The best marathon training cycle of my life
In spring I lifted off yet another full 12-week marathon training cycle. It was my most challenging so far, switching from 6 workouts per week to 7 and noticeable ramping up both, milage and speed. Sounds like a bad thing, but it surely wasn’t. I truly enjoyed this bespoke training schedule and it was great to learn a lot of new things and witness the progress.
Also I simply love following a training plan. It structures my life and eases my mind. In fact I enjoy the many micro-challenges of such a training cycle almost more, than the actual A-race.
Well, end of story was, that my main race in April got cancelled due to Covid, like so many others. Not a big deal, because it was highly expectable, but it still left a taste of 'unfinished business'. In the following weeks I PB’d on the 15k, 10k, 800m, 400m and 200m distance. Basically every distance I hadn’t trained for haha. My marathon project got rescheduled for October and the plan for the summer was to do some base endurance training plus one short Ultra, the Eiger E51. But you won’t believe what happened then…. (worst cliff-hanger I ever came up with).
My first 100k race
Whilst doing my groundwork training and sort of preparing for the E51 (plus some occasional weird’ish stuff like a 4/4/48 challenge and my first Backyard Ultra) I got addressed by the people at UTMB, that a handful of starting places for their 100k race called 'CCC', would be available at short notice. The reason for this was, that a lot of international athletes would not be allowed to enter France without being quarantined, let alone crossing 3 European borders during the race. Since I already got turned down twice and the CCC has always been my dream 'first 100k', I tried my luck on registration day… and got accepted.
To those not familiar with the registration process of the UTMB races: As a non-elite runner it is very hard to get accepted. First you have to come up with a list of qualifying races to even enter the lottery and then your chance for being drawn is less than 1 in 5 for CCC. While you have to renew your qualifying races every 2 years, your chances for the lottery are automatically doubled every year you apply. That’s the short version. However, the UTMB group is currently nixing the whole registration process. Everything will be different from 2022 on, but that’s a different story.
From one moment to the next my whole plan for 2021 was turned upside down. From a solid road marathon preparation to running my first 100k ultra trail race around Mont Blanc.
With only 10 weeks of specific preparation and a modest inexperience in running ultra trails, I know that this was not the smartest decision. To be honest, I even doubt it was the right one, from time to time. But what I can say for certain is, that this is what my heart is beating for. It drives me, it scares me, it excites me, it leaves me questioning, it gives me goosebumps. And isn’t this exactly what running goals should be all about?
Bottom Line
There’s forever gonna be 2 hearts beating in my chest. I once called them the "petty bourgeois" and the "punk". A part of me loves to advisedly think it through, play it safe, to plan meticulously, have a long breath and enjoy the process. The other part loves entering the void, the overwhelming, the place where uncertainty and chaos reigns and where I am not the one in control. Both parts make up who I am, but they have never taken turns so quickly like in 2021.