Sierre-Zinal buying blow

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Sierre-Zinal buying blow

First run in , the race starts in Grindelwald and must be completed in teams of two or three and is limited to a total of runners. We arrived in Grindelwald four days before the start to get some acclimatisation in, as the race would top out at the 2,m high Schwarzhore, meeting up with Alan and Anne who had spent the previous month touring the Alps in their new van. Great to have a plan, but also be willing to change the plan to suit the race and conditions. The start from Grindelwald centre was fairly low key, and after we had been allocated our GPS tracker we quickly settled into our pace, letting a great bunch of lads who were jostling for position pass us. The day was overcast which kept the temperature cool, ideal conditions. The first aid station at Stechelberg appeared after 4 hours and 23km with an excellent selection of food cheese, cold meats, cakes, biscuits and chocolate — ideal energy for what lay ahead. The next 33km would involve two big climbs with a total of 3,m of ascent. We worked well as a team, taking it in turns to trail break and navigate as the race route is unmarked and teams must use a GPS device. Many opting to use their watches, although they seemed to typically miss junctions and turns until past them. The climb to the 2,m Sefinafurgga col was steep up a series of wooden ladders and cables, many at odd angles due to recent rock movements. Down in the valley we picked up a fourth team member as a goat followed us for several kilometres before I persuaded a German hiker to buy it off us for 5 Francs. As we regained height, we crossed bigger and bigger snowfields under the Bundstock, and at one point was thinking microspikes would have been a good idea as the snow firmed in the falling temperatures, and a slip would have sent us sliding into the rocks below us. By 9pm we were at the first life base of Kandersteg, and Alan had painful feet and thought he was developing blisters so sought out the help of the medical staff who patched his feet. More excellent food; pasta bolognese or raclette or both for John and we left after 40 mins with head torches on, and into the first night reaching the Lotschenpasshutte by 2. We encountered more firm snow on the descent, passing a runner who had new smooth soled shoes? Checking he made it onto easier ground we were soon greeted with the first light of the day, and the signs that the day would be a warm one. Myself and Alan rested, while John slept. Before leaving Alan got the medical staff to check his feet again, replacing the protective padding on the soles of his feet. Ice creams were ordered; three times, before we contoured our way to Finnen, where Anne had driven up to meet us. The aid station volunteers here were as ever so helpful bringing us food and liquids while we rested in the shade of the trees. Before leaving I had my first pee of the day, more solid than liquid, and the very wrong colour. Joking about it as we left, I should have realised the warning signs, and when we reached the village of Mund I had stabbing pains in my kidneys, I was not in a good place. John tried to convince me to drink more water, but I was in a totally confused state one of the signs of severe dehydration…. Feeling lethargic and not sure what to do, I reasoned the best thing to do was to get moving. John loaded up with an extra 2 litres of water and for the next hour pestered me and Alan to keep drinking. Eventually our pee returned to a normal colour and we spent the rest of the time up to Belalp comparing shades. This turned out to be a mixed blessing; the refuge at Belalp was serving the best pizzas in the world and we each devoured a large prosciutto laden one, however the sleeping quarters were high in the attic space and it was stifling warm. Myself and Alan failed to get any sleep, while John purred himself to dreamland. Leaving Belalp at midnight we descended back down to the valley, rerouted due to big landslides. The navigation in the dark forests became increasingly difficult as the GPS signal weakened in the trees and the path was hard to determine on the forest floor. By the second dawn, the temperatures began to ramp up rapidly. At Fiescheralp, Alan concluded he had had enough, and despite our best efforts to persuade him it was only four or five hours to Bellwald where he could get food and a good rest for his feet to recover, his mind was made up. He descended the valley by cable car to meet up with Anne. It felt as though the fellowship was broken, and John and I trotted onwards, stopping briefly at the Gletscherstubahutte for coffee and then across the metre Aspi—titter suspension bridge before arriving at the life base of Belwald. It was now 2pm and the hottest part of the day. We still had to descend to the valley floor more rerouting due to rockfall and we both voted for a sleep, just to avoid running in the 30C temperatures, and then to get going at 6pm and push all the way to the finish. At last, I got a decent sleep on crash mats in the sports hall, and awoke feeling rejuvenated. Next life base was Munster and it was great to see Alan and Anne again. With their support we made for a brief stop and then continued through the valley as the rain drops started. We were both moving well after our sleep and climbed strongly as darkness came, passing a few teams, crossing snowfields on the way to the Grimselpass. Alan and Anne were there again to meet us at a busy aid station, more superb pasta bolognese, and we were soon back out into the cool night. The section down from the pass to Aare valley is one to go back and visit. In the blackness of the night, we were only too aware of the massive cliffs and rock slabs that we were picking our way through. The GPS signal bouncing about, making staying on track a test of nerve. In the valley, my usual pre-dawn low spot got the better of me and we had two 10 minute naps; the first in a hay shed next to some tasty looking free range pigs, and the second in a village medical centre, that happened to have left the door unlocked. As dawn broke, it felt as though the finish was insight, just one more big climb, but first, the final aid station at Geissholz, probably the strangest of buildings; a hangar for the rescue helicopters. By this stage the other runners were looking in worse shape than us, some laying on the floor, others wrapped in survival blankets dozing in chairs trying to get some rest. Packs were loaded with the final of our supplies and we marched on. The morning views of the Wetterhorn were magnificent. As my pace slowed John seemed to be out on a Sunday morning stroll, and I struggled to keep up with him. At the Gross Scheidegg I was swearing not to do any of these big races again, but it was downhill from here, and as we approached the finish at Grindelwald we raced through the streets outsprinting some finishers of the km race and though the finish arch. Reunited with Alan and Anne, there was only one thing to do; head to the bar and down some beer. Our plans of all night partying somewhat dashed as John and I crashed out at 6pm, only to wake 12 hours later desperately looking for something to eat in our hotel room. Some porridge found in my bag was all we had along with crumbled oatcakes. 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Sierre-Zinal Mountain Race 2018 Report

Sierre-Zinal buying blow

After knee surgery just twelve months earlier a 30K, metres high mountain race in Switzerland would be well outside my comfort zone. A trot up Win Hill might be more my sort of challenge at this stage. I continued to run for pleasure, building up my strength for the occasional fell race and testing my knee at Parkrun. Then in July , about three weeks before the proposed race, the word was that a friend Chris Deery had had to reluctantly withdraw, injured and would I like to take his place? How do you train for the biggest, toughest run challenge of your life in three weeks? Common sense says leave it for twelve months and prepare appropriately. But at 66 and the oldest female entrant, another year would quite possibly be too long a wait and my friends would be on to their next challenge. I continued my normal programme and added in some extra hill ascents in the Peak District plus a bit more effort with strength and conditioning. The atmosphere was convivial. An air of excited anticipation ran through the crowd as we waited. Ros Massey and friend David, Totley runners, Janet Grantham and partner Simon, Pennine runners and a group of Rossendale runners exchanged amiable greetings among the hordes of European athletes. And we were off. The first hour and a half of the race is a steep ascent to Ponchette, elevation m. It was much too steep to run so I adopted a purposeful marching style and hung on in. Kate had taken off. Ruth was just behind, soldiering womanfully up the ascent. A short level section and welcome run took us to the next climb at Chandolin and metres. The views were as promised, breathtaking, with the snowy peaks above and wonderful wooded areas leading down into the valley. In total we climbed metres over 20K and five peaks before a long trail led to the final descent to Zinal. If you like a lot of walking and mind-blowing views this is the race for you unless you share the genes of Kilian Jornet or are a mountain goat. I followed some 45 minutes later, , my longest race in 3 years and steepest at more than twice the elevation of Snowdon, weaving slightly as the race video shows and then Ruth at , smiley and cool, having stopped to give first aid to a runner with cramp and done a spot of litter picking en route. I discovered that I was 2nd FV60, just 48 seconds behind the winner of my age group, except there is no FV60 category so I have to be content with 15th FV Here are grounds for debate. Why is MV60 acknowledged but FV60 not? People far more experienced than me say that it is decided on a percentage basis and there are generally fewer older women in races like this than men. There were 7 FV60s in this race. I feel a polite little email to the organisers coming on. Despite a total lack of specific training I had a great race. Thank you Stuart Hale and Accelerate. Acknowlegements: My thanks for all the support, wise words and belief in me as a runner from: Chris Deery injured athlete ; Guy Willatt and Colin Jacobs for getting us safely to and from the race and offering good natured support: Kate Morris, Ruth Jacobs, fellow participants; Hazel Fyffe and Helen Willatt for their encouragement; Malcolm Kesterton for doing all the childcare so I could go on a jolly for a week; Anita Scarlett for your your hug when it got hard; Stuart Hale, Accelerate for long term support and advice; John Rothwell for mental preparation and much more; Colin Papworth, Accelerate, for those windswept training sessions on Lose Hill; Mick Wall, Steel City Striders for words of encouragement and appreciation and to my wonderful Smiley Paces friends, all of you, who offer company, craic and cake. Where would I be without you? First of the finishers across the line was Kilian Jornet in First female was Lucy Murigi in Menu Menu. A chance to run in the same race but not the same league as Kilian Jornet. Billed as the most scenic mountain race in the world. So I entered. Post Views: 1, Link Text. Open link in a new tab. No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.

Sierre-Zinal buying blow