„Alemán , Alemán!“

It is not the first time of the day someone yells my nationality. I turn around to have a check who it is this time. All I can see is a huge smile. This smile belongs to the other “alemán” in the race – Florian Reichert.

I have to grin myself as I turn around back to the picturesque and graceful cathedral of Zegama. The day has been lengthy. My day was significantly longer then Flo’s. As we meet the two of us are pretty much delighted. Very delighted and tired. All the sensations and impressions of the day need to be reviewed.

We sit down on the next available stairs in front of the church. The sun does it’s best to warm us up. That day was something unique. Florian is all hyped after his first skyrace. He asks me about my race. I give him a short answer. There was a lot more happening during his day I recon.

“It was so cool when he cheered me on!” Florian meets legend Marco DeGasperi at the registration who later had to drop out of the race.

Coming from a fast road background and having won the ECCO Indoor Trail race in Germany not only once, his expectations for the race were high. But being a down to earth guy he also knew that this trip was meant to be a lesson for him. A pretty harsh first lesson for the devoted 31-year old Spanish and Sport teacher from Göttingen, Germany. Would he begin the school year for his pupils with the final exam in the first week? I highly doubt it.

After running pretty fast on the road, Florian felt the need for new challenges and impulses. He knew that he needs to invest a lot more into training to run an even faster marathon then he already has. And then? Then he would still be to far away from the elite ranks in the marathon. New challenges came around faster then he expected.

Los alemanes en Zegama – Señor Reichert and the author.

Arc’teryx offered him a deal and laid out the season for him. Skyrunning is the big goal.

Still thrilled about the chances to stack up his Inov-8 deal with the Canadian mountain powerhouse Arc’teryx he stays humble, and even more importantly – realistic. Knowing his capability pretty well he also knows that running a race like Zegama is a tough start to a new project.

“Running up the hill with the front dudes was fun.” he conveys. “Kilian and Marco were gone. I just saw them flying away early on. I tried to stay calm in the first big group.” He did exactly what he told me the day before. Watching and observing how the experienced guys unfold a race like this.

“Trailflow” likes to party all the time! (Picture: SalernoPhoto.com)

“Oh dear,” Florian shakes his head in disbelieve “could you believe those crowds?” he asks me. “That was just crazy. I tried to cheer with them. Then they got louder and louder,” His smile gets even brighter “that was just unreal. Very special!”

Running up the front he loved the uphill sections. Going up the first climbs Florian is with the front of the race. On the first major downhill it seems that he has to go out of his comfort zone. “Man, this downhill from the Aixturi. The guys were moving down that ramp so fast. I could not believe it”. That is also Skyrunning. Flying down those steep mountains. He fights, as the experienced gang seems to easily surf down between the rocks and mud he slip and slides. Knowing that you need to take a good few risks to stay with the front of the race he shakes his head and laughs out loud.

“I could see AJ falling a good bit in front of me”. AJ Claitz from Capetown, South-Africa took a severe dive in the downhill that eventually took him out of the race. When Florian passed him and saw his knee he starts thinking. “When I saw that huge hole in the knee something in my heads started to click. That was not good”. Now he jokes as he tells me the story. AJ’s pain was Florian’s footbrake. Comitted to running the rest of the European Skyrunning races he did not want to take any major risks.

Later during the race he finds his rhythm pretty easy. On the uphill’s he enjoys to run, walk and sometimes climb the technical parts. “Now I know what they mean when they talk about `technical running` you essentially can not run!” Amusement all the way. The two of us share story’s about the crazy rocks sections were both of us had to glide down on our asses, trying to hold rocks not to slide and so on.

“Sometimes, when one of this local guys was flying by on the downhill’s I just wanted to be in a road race with him and chase him down.” He pranks at me. He knows that this style of running is special. Way different but way more exiting.

The crowds get mad for Flo shortly before the Aizkorri Refugio (Picture: SalernoPhoto.com)

As we joke on several people stop by. We have a chat with Luis Hernando who came second. Michel Lanne walks by and gives us a thumbs-up. It is all positive and open. Exactly that is what Florian enjoys and motivates. “Stuff like this would never happen on the road or on the track.” He tells me. “Everyone shares a smiles, asks you about the race and how you like it. It is great to meet so many honest and friendly people with this sport.” Florian fits wright into the scene as he has time for each and everyone.

Florian’s optimistic and authentic approach to competing and more notably life in general fits into these scene so well. He knows precisely what he can do and what he can not. All of that makes him such a great adding to the skyrunning circus.

We are talking on. We talk about the basque country. We talk about the mountains. We talk about running and we talk about life. The sun gets stronger and stronger and helps our souls to recover.

A great day saw a great debut by a great guy.

—-

Florian’s 2013 Race Schedule

SKY
Maratòn Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri – 42k, Zegama – May 26
Mont-Blanc Marathon – 42k, Chamonix – June 30
Matterhorn Ultraks – 46k, Zermatt – August 24
Skyrunning Xtreme – 23k, Limone sul Garda – October 13

VERTICAL
KM Vertical, Chamonix – June 28
Xtreme Vertical Kilometer®, Limone sul Garda – October 11

2013 European Skyrunning Championships
Dolomites Vertical Kilometer, Canazei, Trento, July 19
Dolomites Sky race Canazei, Trento, July 21

I hope I never used this word before. Since I tire the Internet sphere with this blog I always tried to avoid using it. Nowadays this term is used way to often. It seems to never really hit the circumstances. At least for me. I wanted to safe that declaration to label something truly and honestly special. Something that is matchless. Something that stands out for me. After Sunday I know the time has come. It is the time to use this word while trying to define something that deserves the use of this special word.

Epic.

To describe the Zegama-Aizkorri Maratòn, I must use this word. What a race! What a day! What an epic experience.

Done and dusted – At least Luis had a shower already. (Flo, Luis and me)

I need to set myself the goal to keep this post short, sweet and interesting. As I’m still buzzing in the aftermath of the race and everything that happened the last couple of days I shouldn’t let myself go and spread boredom.

Some of you dear readers will know of the Zegama-Aizkorri Maratòn as the iconic mountain race. Matt Ward of MST pretty much hit the note when he wrote in his race preview:

“In cycling speak you could probably compare ‘Zegama’ to the Paris-Roubaix, in motor sport the Monaco Grand Prix – you get the picture. The Zegama-Aizkorri Maratòn is a monument in mountain sport, a skyrunning classic…”

Kilian Jornet’s quote sums the whole thing up.

“Zegama? Is Zegama!“

I was following the race since a couple of years. Last years edition was heavily media featured and another legendary race was summed up with legendary blog posts by Nick Clark, Max King, Joe Grant or Dakota Jones. Just to name a few. This race creates a very own mystic.

When my dear friend Mauri secured my entry not even two weeks before the race I was overwhelmed. Knowing that I wasn’t in the form for a race like this I just went there without any pressure and the chance to enjoy what everybody was talking about. The unique atmosphere.

Euskal Herria – Me going up the Aratz climb (Photo: Gorka)

When I crossed the finish line last Sunday it took me way to long to run the race. Nevertheless I had Goosebumps. I wont even try to describe all the little details of the race. As I was talking to fellow german Flo Reichert at the finish and the day after. Running Zegama is something you cannot really explain to someone who hasn’t done it.

Seeing all the pictures and watching all the youtube clips gives you a rough idea. It will never give you the agony of the unbelievable steep uphill’s. It never gives you the anxiety of the exceptionally rocky parts when you cross from one mountain top to the other. It never gives you the stings of the vertical descents. It never gives you that unmatchable feeling running through these ridiculous crazy crowds. All of this is inexpressible. At least for me.

Some steep “technical” running (Photo: 42195.es)

Going up the mountain at Sancti Spiritu was pure madness and matchless. Since visiting the basque country four years ago I appreciate the people and their culture. To be able to run their race was so special. Eneko, the selector of the basque national mountain running team, presented me with a Euskadi Buff at the registration. I was so honored to wear it during the race. Whilst going up the steep climbs I could not believe how many people made the effort to climb up here to support all the runners. I tried to join the party as well as I could. So many people printed out the registration lists. If there was one thing for sure then it was your name shouted directly in your ear. By hundreds of people. During the whole climb. At about 1.400 meters above sea level.

Words like: Aupa aupa, Dale, Venga, Allez, Animo or Etorri lined the way. From the start to the finish. There were some parts with no people. It is hard to recall those parts of the course. The Basque people and their appreciation for sports and nature is something special. They shared it the very best way they could and maybe a bit more. Whilst writing this I’m even more secure that there is only one word that describes this race, the people, the course, the whole day and all the people I met with one word.

Epic.

Thanks to everyone I met along the way. Thanks to the lovely people from the Organization and special Thanks to Mauri!

Race Pictures: Salerno, Jordi, Ruben, 42195.es
Race Clip

Tune of the day: Daft Punk ft. Panda Bear – Doin’ It Right

EUSKERA
CASTELLANO

The rain just stopped. A lanky Frenchman from Briançon is standing outside the Zegama townhall waiting for the press conference that should be starting in a few minutes.

He looks calm, lean and confident. Last years race is still present. Michel completed the legendary course in 4th place, only loosing out to Kilian, Luis and Tom Owens. We talk about last years world-class field and how so many of the foreigners struggled in the mystic haze and dirt of the Basque elevations.

This year’s race misses the big names from the United States. But with Miguel Heras, Tòfol Castanyer, Tom Owens and Andy Symonds out Michel’s main contest seems to be down to two guys – Kilian and Luis.

“Will you win on sunday?” I ask him. He grins. “There is a little guy. He runs fast!” He clearly means his travel partner Senior Jornet. Kilian is strong, so is Luis. But after Transvulcania two weeks ago they might be tired. Michel is in shape and hasn’t raced much so far. Excitement fills his face and words when he talks about Zegama. We talk about gear and shoes.

“Poles?” “No.” he replies. “They are a huge advantage but you need to train with them.” He won’t use them despite the extremely steep parts.

“Shoes?” “I will wear the Sense with a special sole. It is key on this terrain to have grip. The conditions are worse then last year. It has rained for so long. Sunday will be dry but that doesn’t really matter, as the ground is soaked!“ Michels puts his hands on the flat stone floor of the plaza and laughs out loud. “This was the profile of Joe Grant’s sole last year!” He recalls the problems and says “Joe was the worst. He had to run with the hands!”

Michel goes on “When I was standing at the start line last year I was looking around and they all had no sleeves. When we came to the top. They looked at me as they were freezing. I had sleeves…” The temperature difference between the peak and the start is immense.

One can feel that Michel means business. Last year he executed the race in perfect manner. Running the first part of the course slow. Slower then the rest of the top dudes. “It takes me a bit of time,” he laughs. “I need two hours to warm up.” Maybe that is the huge advantage of Michel. Especially on a course like this.

“What about the quality field of local runners?” I ask him as the race features the biggest talent of the basque country. “I know the top local guys. They are very strong. The local runners are the ones you have to watch out. You never know. They know the course so well.”

The sun just found its way through the fog. You still cannot see the Aizkorri covered in clouds. Michel and I are have to go inside as the rain starts again. At the end it is Zegama. If there is one thing for sure. It is the rain.

Michel’s Website

Some pictures from todays press conference prior to the Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon this sunday. Click the picture for more!

“It’s a thin line between love and hate
She gonna fool you one day”
The Persuaders- It’s A Thin Line Between Love And Hate

It seems that my running is a love/hate thing these days. It actually is a love/hate thing when it comes to suitable pacing. It essentially is a love/hate thing when it comes to pacing while running up a mountain in a competition.

Again I couldn’t hold back and paid for it during the first kilometres of the Hundseck-Berglauf past Saturday. I totally banged and fell of pace which eventually lead to a senseless tactic (…and a 64th place in 56:30). With less fear and respect for the course and too much enthusiasm I came back to realism the hard way.

After suffering early on, the race went well-ish for me. I came back nicely and ran solid until the last 500 meters. What a neck breakers those final 500 meters were. It actually was fun suffering up the ski hill and the technical trail.

Overall a great and diverse course with a great old-skool organization. Totally loved it.

Race Website
Results
Laufreport.de
Laufticker.de
Blog Hendrik (Thanks for the pics!)
Strava

Quality – No price list in Baden is complete without a Rothaus selection.

Early kilometers.

Grand finale – The toughest part was the last one.

Run happy? Cooked and gone.

Posse shot – Seb, Hendrik & Myself

Downhill – Jogging back.

Stunning – Black Forest visits always pay off.

Tune of the day: Nosaj Thing – Night Crawler

So nothing new at the “Doma” (swabian for “Daumen” mountain) run tonight. Lovely low-key organization. A perfectly marked course and some proper climbing on just 4,5 k creates great mid-week battling action.

I anticipated to be in better form but got reminded pretty fast that this uphill running thing tolerates no hiding. I fought my way through in 22:13. That is OK. Not more, not less.

What place did i finish? Well, i have to quote my dear friend Pat on that:

“If you didn’t podium, what the fuck it matter what place you got, chump? Train harder and you’ll know EXACTLY where you finished. The harder you train, the easier it’ll be to figure out!”

Saturday will be a another chance to go real and hard. This time with a bit more climbing which ultimately will result in longer pain. Sweet.

Check out the Video (classic!) of the award ceremony as well as the pictures, race video and the race report. Great work by Günter Krehl and his team. More people need to put up events like this!

Traces of the races. Finish Line atmosphere.

Green Room – Black Forrest trails.

Muddy and steep – We ran up this one.

Saw mill waste beautifully formed to 100 meter markers.

Me suffering early on (Picture: Carmen Keppler)

Tune of the day: Neosignal – Planet Online

It is kind of senseless what you can make out of the most rudimentary and humble things. Even writing a post about it seems to be over-obscuring but I need to get that right. At least for myself.

I understand that people need images. I know that people love to relate. I know that people love to be seen as something they think they are. I am the same. Everyone to a certain extend is, I guess.

Especially in running it is a waste of time and energy. While one should put the focus on training or racing people are more fanatical becoming a marathoner, ultra-runner, mountain-runner, fell-runner, road-runner, trail-runner, stair-runner, backwards-runner, track-runner or whatever definition there is. Waste of time.

No matter the underground, surface or event. Running is simple and that is the utter magnificence of it. Put away all these images and styles and just enjoy the actual movement and the peace it delivers.

Track or Trail, Road or Stairs – it is just about being outside with yourself and putting one foot in front of the other.

Striding away around Laguna Del Laja, Chile.

Tune of the day: MC Rene – Mein Leben ist ein Freestyle

How could he explain to them his prayer
That nature, not art, might unsurp the canvas?
John Ashbery

Best thinkable Father’s Day spree. 34ish kilometre jog (Strava) on the one-and-only Neckarsteig with Hendrik. Bang on!

Tune of the day: DJ Premier – Watch Your Back

We call it Neckartal!

Me running up that hill.

Mister Auf’mkolk enroute to the Teufelskanzel.

I try my best to look fast in pictures.

King of the castle?

Oldskool vs. Newskool Brooks Kicks

This Strava Thingy certainly is fun.

Not sure about all those KOM’s, PB’s or CR’s but it is a great and motivating gimmick.

Get involved and follow me HERE.

Watching the competition.

Approaching just another small settlement in the la vallée du Rhin.

Over the bridge – First signs of French territory.

Charming riding along the Rhine channel.

Calm waters – Clouds are covering a windy rhine river.

Coffe and cake – café et gâteaux

I drove along that avenue.

As the drizzly rainfall gets drizzlier I enter the first long climb in the Vosges mountains.

Simply beautiful. Beautifully simple – Département Vosges

Must do – the distinctive cockpit shot.

Tarmac wave riding.

Leaving for the mountain top.

As I rode my bike into the Vosges I was already drenched. Starting in the long and windy flats of the German and French part of the Rhine plain I was dreadfully looking forward to some quality vertical.

I opened my wet soaked jacket and felt the crispy rain. The battery of my iPod just died a couple of minutes ago and I now can listen to the sweet loneliness of the French mountain roads.

The rain does not stop but I don’t care. The roads are rough and bumpy but I still roll. Joyfully.

Someone said the fun stops after 100k on your own. I opt for the opposite.

My breaks do not really break anymore. Finally I stop in front of my friend’s house.

Gazing at the watch I spend the entire day riding. Listen to the heart it feels like I just finished a two weeks holiday. Merrily.

Tune of the day: Ben Howard BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Special