Kategoriarkiv: Ultra

Hallands Ultra 50K

#24 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition

Today I woke up at 3.30 am and WHY did I do that? Because it was time for Hallands ultra 50K in Halmstad and I would be picked up at 5.20 am

So breakfast and pack the last things and then it was time to get down to the ride

Mats Bergenhorn drove us to Ekeby where we switched car to Jim’s and then Thom Leiding was also in the car.

We got to the parking lot around 7 so we had time to stretch, get into the woods and pee and talk to some other ultra Runners and runners that would run their first ultra race today.

We started 10 min later so everybody could get to the toilet.

Today we had to wear a chip around our fingers. They had changed the route a bit so we ran in a loop and then got back to where we started and then continued on the regular route.

Perfect weather and what was different was that I was not one of the last persons, ahd company most of the way to Halmstad

The route was changed a couple of time more during the day.

My goal this year was to finish in 7h but to be honest I wanted to finish under 7h.

Someone had a peptalk with me yesterday and was sure that I would finish with 7h but felt that I am a much faster runner today and just ran faster this time. I guess I listened.

At around 25K I started to get tired in my right calf but ran til I coulnd’t run anymore and started Walking and wet my hair. Something I learned last year was to never stretch if you have tired legs, just start to walk for a short time and start running again and it works.

I got tricked, because before we got to the fuel station when it was 13K left we were rerouted due to the change this year, all of a sudden I felt familiar and realized that I was running the last 1K Before the finish line and started to wonder if I had run wrong (I knew that I had followed the route).

When it was 13K left the time was 5.22 and it felt that I could even finish under 7h even if I knew that it would be some walking but it couldn’t take 2h.

We have to ”run” up stairs and I walked backwards and then you have a nice view before you continue.

At the last fuel station the running coach that I ran with (she was suppose to be last) so I talked to her and she said that it goes much better this year 🙂

I had problems at the end running down with my tired calf walked and walked uphills and ran the rest and finally I knew that it wasn’t much left and told myself that I would run and not stop til I ran through the finish line.

This year I finished with 6.40.50, 40 min faster than last year. I am so proud of myself.

Changed and then had a hamburger, a non alcoholic beer and then got a ride down to the parking lot

This is how my feet was afterwards under my socks

Distance: 50K, time: 6.40.50h, average heart rate: 143, average pace: 7.21 min/k, max pace: 5.24 min/k, cadence: 164, VO2 Max: 28ml/kg/min

39.67K Trail Run

#14 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition
#15 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition

Woke up this morning at 5 am, ate breakfast and then took the train to Tjörnarp to run my last long distance run before Hallandsultran, 50K trail ultra June 11th.

Perfect temperature: 14oC (57.2F) so capri tights, compression socks, t-shirt and over a long sleeve and gloves to keep warm before the train ride and in the beginning of the trail run. It is usually a bit chilly in the morning but get warmer during the day. The gloves went off after a while.

It was a bit grey and it was suppose to rain a bit around 10 am.

Said hi to the mommy cows and their children when I had run around 5K and saw the little piglets.

Did some walking at the loop and when I came to Frostavallen the rain came and I was hoping that it would stop soon so I could run my planned 40K instead of being forced to turn back to Frostavallen earlier than planned, my weak me hoped of course that it would continue to rain but lucky me it stopped 🙂

It took me 2.35 to run my first 20K and with tired legs I was satisfied with that time, I hoped that I would get a better finish time this time 🙂

Got a bit confused after Nyrups Osteria where I after that run on a dirt road and turn left into the forest and cross a Creek, it has started to be very green and overgrown so I did not see the small path and ended up in the grove instead. But the positive thing is that I am familiar with this route and can find my way out.

The coarse tractor tracks were still there so I had to walk over them, my feet get really tired running over them.

Even if it was a bit wet (it showed it had been raining), the expanded water had decreased on the black mark and I was glad my head was with me because they had changed the first part of the black mark and I thought that wait a minute I am not going to turn left here, I am going to run around the lake. When I am on the black mark I follow the black marking but could not do it here 🙂

There are two dirt roads that has become very boring, last time I walked the whole way on them but had decided that today I would run most part of them and did it 🙂

Djuralidsbacken (Djuralids hill) was too tough for me today so I had to walk up and it felt VERY LONG.

When I came back to Frostavallen I pepped myself to run all the way to the bench at the parking lot, had a little part where I had to walk but otherwise than that I ran.

It was great running in the woods today, me and the singing birds, did not pass any other runners except one at the very end. The rest of the runners are running Göteborgsvarvet, the Gothenburg half marathon. I have been surrounded with unnecessary negative energy this week and it was so soothing running in the woods and get back on track. Soon I will be free.

Also tired legs on this run so it was some Walking from time to time.

Then it was a transport run back to Höör train station

Distance: 39.67K, time: 5.19.42.4h, average heart rate: 142, average pace: 8.03 min/k, max pace: 3.44 min/k, cadence: 162, VO2 Max: 28
ml/kg/min

Transport run – Distance: 4.23K, time: 31.24.2 min, average pace: 7.25 min/k

30.8K Trail Run

#8 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition
#9 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition

Alarm went off at 5 am this morning, breakfast and then train down to Lund.

I realized that this was not a good day for running, the train had been replaced by bus which meant longer ride to Tjörnarp. I even fell asleep on the bus and started to be hungry, not a good sign.

Temperature when I left was 12oC (53.6F)

Had put on a long sleeve over my t-shirt since I had heard that it would be nice weather, capri tights and my new compression socks, altra lonepeak 2.5, no gloves or hat. While I was waiting for the bus I was starting to get cold hands but the positive thing with the bus ride was that I got warm again. At the train station I saw a familiar face: Malin Olsson who was going up to Osby and run on Skåneleden with Henrik Kockum.

So I started to run a bit late, comfortable pace, at around 3.5K I had to do a combo: pee break and remove my long sleeve and roll up my capri and then I could breath again 🙂

It was a very nice day for a run, it is getting greener and greener, soon it will be clogged.

At 20K the heat took the life out of me. I had to make a decision if I would torment me for Another 20K or cut the distance and that was what I had to do.

Both in Tjörnarp and Frostavallen was thick tractor tracks that gets my feet tired so I had to walk on them. Hope the rain will take care of them later so it becomes more smooth at those parts.

I even saw a flat mouse on a dirt road

Distance: 30.8K, time: 4.17.12.4h, average heart rate: 141, average pace: 8.21 min/k, max pace: 5.47 min/k, cadence: 176, VO2 Max: 26 ml/kg/min

This time when I got back to Frostavallen I did not stretch before I headed back to Höör, I walked 500m and then ran 1K and continued that way, lucky me a cool breeze came which was wonderful. Transport run – Distance: 4.26K, time: 32.42.6 min

The bus ride home was interesting, first the driver could not close the door in the middle and then he started to drive and I was thinking, what is he doing but he stopped and finally could close the door. Now when you have a bus that replace a train you will stop at the stations where the train would have stopped but this driver probably got very stressed so he skipped Stehag and was not familiar with Eslöv where there was road construction work so he had to turn back. I am not sure if he got to the train station from the right direction, then we had sight seeing in Eslöv, he was on his way in the right direction but decided to turn back and drive somewhere else so he ended up skipping also Örtofta and Stångby where I had planned to go off at and run back. I was wondering if he would find Lund but that town was very familiar to him.

39.7K Trail Run

#2 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition
#3 – 50 runs in 100 days – Just run edition

No sleeping in this morning.

Got up at 5 am, ate breakfast and took the train to Tjörnarp train station and shortly after that started my long train run.

I got the feeling it would get warmer even if the temperature showd 4oC (39F) when I left so I put on long sleeve and windstopper, thinner gloves and hat. Did not take long til I took off Windstopper, gloves and hat.

When I have been running around 5K I pass a farm with pigs and I was wondering if there would be any piglets and too my surprise they showed up

Today I tested Tailwind Green Tea Buzz (caffeinated). I have not decided if it goes up to No 1 or if Raspberry still is no 1. Liked it.

I did not know that saying good morning when I passed two trekkers would make one of them scream and jump 2 m 🙂

All of a sudden a squirrel passed me.

I was interested if it has dried up a bit, last Fall it rained a lot so in December there were a lot of new puddles so I took alternative ways to not have to wade but today at 9K I didn’t have to take an alternative route in the forest.

When I got to Frostavallen and passed the car road I heard something in the grove and then it jumped out a deer. First time I have seen a deer so close out in the woods.

At 25K I started to get tired legs and after that I did some walking from time to time.

A guy who was out trying to find a good place to fish even asked me for advice where he could stand. It was too many trees where he was. I told him to walk a bit further and hoped he would have a good day.

Had planned to run up Djuralidsbacken (Djuralids hill) but my legs were very tired and so it was walking today.

But even if the run did not go as planned it was magical with all the wood anemones

Distance; 39.7K, time: 5.26.39 h, average heart rate: 141, average pace: 8.13 min/k, max pace: 4.05 min/k, cadence: 172, VO2 Max: 28 ml/kg/min

Then I had a transport run back to Höör train station. After tired legs in the Wood it is no fun running on asphalt for around 4K so it was no fun. Distance: 4.21K, time: 33.01.4.

27.22K – Lund Runt

#29 – 50 runs in 100 days – No excuses edition

Yesterday afternoon I felt sore in my throat which was odd so I decided not to run my 5K run that was planned for Friday evening, instead stay home, keep myself warm and get to bed early and hope for the best. 9 out of 10 times it has worked.

The plan today was to get up in the morning and run Lund Runt, a city run around 28K.

When I woke up at 7.30 my throat was just fine so I decided to run what was planned.

Last time I ran this route I realized there were still some parts to correct and this time I had decided I would run the original run except where there is construction work.

The temperature was 8oC (46F) and grey but no rain 🙂

So clothes were long sleeve and windstopper, compression tights and regular running shoes, 2×250 ml bottles with water.

I am not really a morning runner but sometimes it has its advantages. Not many runners are out at this time in the morning but a lot of walkers and dog walkers.

The first correction was at Nova (the shopping mall) where I have realized I have to stay on the left side of the car road.

Last time I realized that the route was continuing in the sheep pasture, had to run back and into the pasture last time but this time I knew that 🙂

Then at Tetra Pak we have to cross the car road over to a bike/walk path where I had crossed the car road at the wrong place Before but this time I made it 🙂

Now I started to get bored and part of me wanted to quit but the stronger me decided to continue and try to get the spirit back.

At Råby I passed Brödlabbet and waved at Caroline but she didn’t see me.

I started to feel a bit pain in my right knee and I decided to walk when I had run around 20K for 1K to try to get the pain away and then run the rest of the run and it worked.

It was a bit tough today but I had to run these 27K because my first ultra race is getting closer and if I cannot handle the distance now the question is if I am going to run the race or not and that is a question I have to think about anyway. This commuting and my 2 week cold has not worked in my direction.

When I got to Ladugårdsmarken I saw another CKR runner, she had a CKR buff on and we said hi, now home was getting closer 🙂

It is interesting how your mind works. I am slower before breakfast and I am accepting it but then I passed two other runners who was a bit slower than me and for a short moment I felt that I was really fast 🙂 even if I was slow.

Finally I was home and it was nice to eat some breakfast after that.

Distance: 27.22K, time: 3.02.42, average heart beat: 146, average pace: 6.42 min/k, max pace: 5.24 min/k, cadence: 174, VO2 Max: 37 ml/kg/min

16.07K Trail Run

#28 – 50 runs in 100 days – No excuses edition

This morning it was time again for some trail running around Genarp with the Swiss Alpine group.

We were a smaller group today. From the weather reports it looked like it is going to be colder, grey day and it was a bit colder this morning so of course me who is afraid of freezing and getting a cold put on full gear.

During the first couple of k’s it felt like I was wearing a too heavy back pack. Felt tough to breath. So I asked for a mini pause and took off both my fleece and windstopper 🙂 Everything changed, could breath normally.

Got a ride with Madeleine and then we met Gert-Inge on the parking lot. This week I got my new Altra Lone Peak 2.5 and couldn’t hellp myself. I wore those during the run and was really satisfied.

Almost the same route as last week but not completely. I had decided that I would run all the way at two hills and did it, Felt great!

Found out that we would run down and up the serpentine, that was really fun last time. This time I just flew and felt like Emelie Forsberg.

The sun came out and it was a perfect day til I came uphill on a dirt road and saw Madeleine laying on the road and was wondering what had happened. Sprained ankle. For the first time my elastic bandage came in handy. She tried to run after a while but it did not work so we walked but then she fell down in pain again. I felt that it would be better if she could be picked up by a car. Gert-Inge got my phone number and ran to his car.

He called and told us we had to move 1500 m. Madeleine could not walk so I carried her with some pauses. Then she could walk with baby steps with my support. At the end Gert-Inge came on a bike and Madeleine ”jumped on” (a lady from the house where the car was borrowed her child’s bike to Gert-Inge.

Lucky us Madeleine had automatic transmission.

Today I enjoyed the run a lot because I did not run around angry.

Distance: 16.07K, time: 2.21 04h, average pulse: 146, average pace: 8.46 min/k, max pace: 5.01 min/k, cadence: 172, VO2 Max: 30 ml/kg/min.

Really fun tough route today.

17.35K Trail Run

#25 – 50 runs in 100 days – No excuses edition

This year is about getting more higher meters of altitude since I plan to run a ultra race called Kullamannen Ultra i Nov and I have found a new group of Runners who are getting ready for Swiss Alpine in August and they have a pace that suits me perfectly.

Finally I could join them today in Genarp. I got a ride with Terje who has a big red jeep and of course we discussed running on our way to Genarp where we met the rest of the group.

We were 6 people and 2 of them were former AZ colleagues and one guy had two common friends, Nishaban who also is a former colleague from AZ and then Jeanice who belongs to CKR.

I wanted higher meters of altitude and I GOT it. We ran on a mountain bike trail and I liked the serpentine the best, first down the serpentine, we paused shortly and then ran back up,

There were some hills where I had to walk part of it, I am not used to these hills but will run with this group to improve.

During the run my gloves, hat and fleece got off. The temperature was 9oC (48F) when we started.

Here is when we have started running down the serpentine

Even if I was last I was not stressed because I always saw someone from the group in front of me

Here is when we were running up a longer dirt road, first I was able to run but at the end I had to start walking so my inflection Point (=brytpunkt) came a bit earlier.

Even if I have just got back from a longer cold I was proud of myself. Am satisfied with my run. I am going to be tired in my calves tomorrow 🙂

I have realized that when I am running in the city and I am saying hello to other runners I can get the evil eye from some runners but when I am running on trails every runner is so happy and say hi with a smile 🙂

Distance: 17.35K, time: 2.18.11 h, average heart rate: 154, average pace: 7.58 min/k, max pace: 5.45 min/k, cadence: 174, VO2 Max: 30 ml/kg/min

39.86K Trail Run and 4.16K Flat Run

Lämna ett svar

#16 – 50 runs in 100 days – No excuses edition
#17 – 50 runs in 100 days – No excuses edition

I was tired of all the city running and needed to get out in the woods again so instead of running Lund Runt with CKR I got up early this morning to take the train to Tjörnarp.

Last night I was determined I would run up Djuralidsbacken (Djuralids hill) but when I woke up this morning it had snowed 🙂 Felt that this would be an interesting run.

What was magical about this trail run was that the snow was untouched, I was the first one who ran on the trail. My brain got confused because of the snow, the natural paths had ”disappeared” soo even if I am familiar with the route the yellow streamers made my day today.

It was nice running alone in the woods, such tranquility.

What I didn’t know what was under snow, I got surprised a few times during the run, cracking ice. I do not like to get wet feet and try to avoid it as long as I can because sooner or later it will happen.

Let say that it was a flashback from Tjörnarparen in Dec when I had to throw in the towel. The same wet but with snow and a bit more wet to be honest. So after the loop was a watering hole so of course I ran the same detour as on Tjörnarparen and thought that I was on the safe side and then it was water under the snow short after so my right foot got wet and it feels so much colder in the Winter.

When I got to Frostavallen I passed some dog wakers, trekkers but no runners but I saw foot prints on my way to Nyrups Naturhotell.

At 22K I got pain in my right knee and decided to walk for 500 m to see if I would be fine, hoped not to run into too many issues. Here my brain got confused again becuase they had cleared trees so it looked so different. The pain disappeared but I had to walk a couple of more times because they had cleared more trees in the woods and there were frozen tractor tracks that was tough to run on.

It was tough running in the in the snow and very tired legs and feet but felt great to back on the trails.

Trail run

Distance: 39.86K, time: 5.14.43.5 h, average heart rate: 141, average pace: 7.53 min/k,
max pace: 5.07 min/k, cadence: 168, VO2 Max: 26 ml/kg/min

It turned out that there was no bus at 13.27 so I didn’t want to stand and freeze for another hour so it was just to run to Höör to the train station. That wasn’t very pleasant after 40K trail

Transport to Höör train station

Distance: 4.16K, time: 28.38.7 min, average heart rate: 137, average pace: 6.52 min/k,
max pace: 5.57 min/k, cadence: 174, VO2 Max: 24 ml/kg/min

Tjörnarparen 50K Trail Ultra

Lämna ett svar

#24 – 50 runs in 100 days – Hardcore edition
#131 – 100 Days Of Miles Challenge

Woke up this morning at 4 am to eat breakfast and get ready for my last race and ultra race this year.

Decided to take the train and it turned out we were 4 who took the train together to Tjörnarp.

When we got off the train station Lars the guy who is behind this ultra race was at the start line and I brought to him running clothes to the refugees.

Then it was time to bring the rest to the school to change and get ready for the race. Turned out we couldn’t get in due to an alarm that would get off at 8 am but we could change at the parish house instead.

I streched and more and more runners showed up. It was time to get down to the start where a bunch of other enthusiastic runners came. This year it would be both a 50K and a 100K distance. 5 runners had decided to run 100K.

It had rained a lot so it was very gooey and wet. This time I was not alone and not last and it felt that I wouldn’t be last. Flew over the loop.

Turned out I had problems with the GPS, it worked when I started my pulse watch but somewhere it just gave up so I didn’t have any distance and time, only the route and pace so i had to guess the distance to know when I had to drink and eat.

It felt that I am going to have a good day. Skipped the second fuel station but somewhere between fuel station 2 and fuel station I first got very tired legs which I can handle but then I started to feel pain in my left knee when I ran, started to walk but the pain did not go away so I had to make a decision if I would continue or not.

When I got to fuel station I was asked how I was doing and I said that I right now have to make a decision if I am going to threw in the towel. Another runner Ola lended me his knee pad and I decided I would try to make it to the fourth fuel station. Got Tobbes mobile number if I had to quit before the fourth fuel station, turned out that Lars who wouldn’t race this year couldn’t help himself and had headed out on the route. When I was running on the dirt road which is a couple of k’s before you turn to the left up to the Djuralidsbacken (Djuralids hill) I was fine first but then the pain came back and decided not to continue.

Of course I was upset at that moment but I did not feel I made the wrong decision. Walk/run with pain in a knee for another 14K is not worth it. It can destroy a whole season.

I called Tobbe and told him I had thrown in the towel. Some runners passed me and asked me if I was fine and I told them I had thrown in the towel because of pain in my knee.

Got transport back to the Parish home and this was my very first DNF.

Ran 35K but do not have any time.

23.49K Trail Run

Lämna ett svar

#18 – 50 runs in 100 days – Hardcore edition
#125 – 100 Days Of Miles Challenge

Yesterday I had a cold feeling (that I might catch a cold) and hoped that I wouldn’t have a cold this morning. So no training yesterday, drank a lot of fluid and stayed warm and hoped for the best. Didn’t get any worse yesterday so I was hopeful.

It was suppose to be cold this weekend. When I woke up 6 am the temperature was 0oC (32F) so it was time to test the same 2XU windstopper tights I had last weekend since it is very likely that the temperature might be the same in Dec. And I plan to wear these.

Took the train to Höör and then the ”Ring bus” to Frostavallen which was a short ride. Alternative when I do not have anyone to run with.

Last preparation before my last race and ultra race this year Dec 12th. Decided to run the middle part of Tjörnarparen which I have not run yet this year. The worst hill is on this part and I had a goal. The first part is very familiar since it is part of my 45K run. I realized I had mixed up the different parts because all of a sudden I had to turn left and I thought that I was on my way to the ”Spong” part. A flash back came back. So it was time to be on the black marker that get very camouflaged. It was very gooey and wet and was trying to avoid getting too wet feet. First I am running in the forest and then get out on a dirt road and then the famous spong comes and here it would be interestering to see how my Altra Lonepeak would handle it and once again I was positively surprised how good it works to run on those sponges and not doing any ice skating 🙂

Last year on Tjörnarparen I was in a shitty mood during the black marker. After half the distance I had to start walk/run, walk/run and also I got to a part with a big puddle and realized that I had to run through it and got really wet feet and then when I was on my way to the third fuel station a official showed up on a hill and cheered me on. That made my day so much better 🙂

After the third fuel station I remember that I ran on a dirt road and it felt SO long til I got to the green marker and was wondering how I would feel today. The dirt road is long but finally Djuralidsbacken was there (Djuralids hill), the worst hill on this ultra race, it is short but steep. My goal today was to run up this hill, walked up this hill last December and I DID IT, ran the whole hill. Felt so good, short after that there is another steep short hill, ran up that one as well, it felt so much shorter today 🙂

Once again during this run I passed some other runners and we said hallo to each other, two bikers that I said hallo to too.

When I had around 5K left I was hoping I would not miss the bus that just goes once every hour. So I had natural Fartlek at the end, came back 3 min before the bus was suppose to come. Had to wait some extra minutes and had to warm my legs. When I was running I was warm but when I was not moving it was COLD

Results

Altitude

Distance: 14.59 miles (23.49K), time: 2.55.06h, average pace: 7.27 min/k, max pace: 5.17 min/k, cadence: 170, VO2 Max: 30 ml/kg/min

Gabby's Challenges

Challenges that I am participating in

Kategoriarkiv: Ultra

Hallands Ultra 50K

39.67K Trail Run

30.8K Trail Run

39.7K Trail Run

27.22K – Lund Runt

16.07K Trail Run

17.35K Trail Run

39.86K Trail Run and 4.16K Flat Run

Tjörnarparen 50K Trail Ultra

23.49K Trail Run