RUNssel

Kategorie: mountain

Februar 7, 2015 / Keine Kommentare

shoeporn: La Sportiva – Helios

The Helios just appeared right on time. As the season got worse and worse, my daily runs got a bit out of control. Snow and frost on the streets and challenging trail situations made up for some dodgy actions while training.

With a fine heel-toe drop of 4mm the Helios could be perceived as the bigger, bulky brother to La Sportiva’s Vertical K trail running shoe. I jogged the Vertical K and treasured the shoe for it’s minimal style and the forceful sole. With the Helios La Sportiva established an additional lightweight (8.1 oz, 231 g) shoe which can be seen as a day-to-day workhorse and light racing shoe for runners who can handle just about the perfect extent of cushioning and nothing more. We are talking about a light and steadfast trail shoe by any means. I found it hard to slow down while cruising the trails with this reliable partner. On muddy trails I found the grips to be utterly astonishing. The inner of the Helios is made up in a sock-like style. Besides a comfortable feeling it helps to pretend from slipping or sliding.

Being a admirer of an minimal approach to shoe design, I have to say that La Sportiva did a fantastic job with the Helios. I used the shoe in rain, snowfall and on dry days, on the road and on the trails. I never was dissatisfied by any means. The comfortable mood stayed with me all the time without loosing the aggressive style and touch for the soil. For me the Helios is a complete training partner and flawless racing shoe for longer trail competitions. Having a wide foot I found this shoe to be a perfect fit. Well done, La Sportiva!

Prego – 231g of italian trail running funk.

HyDrain Mesh on the outside. Feels good.

This sole goes by the name of FriXion. I dont know what it means but i know that it works. Pretty well.

Grip as you need.

Ciao Bella! Another red italian race car?

Straight outta Ziano di Fiemme.

Slick design.

Trail jogging made easy with the Helios.

Tune of the day: Skizzy Mars – Red Balloon (Instrumental)

November 1, 2014 / Keine Kommentare

Soul Ride

Tune of the day: Mine – Ziehst du Mit (feat. Fatoni)

Januar 27, 2014 / Keine Kommentare

Racereport 2014-02: Dirty Race

To cut it short – I just love this competition. Such a fine format for early season multisport bashing. Run 5k, mountain-bike 17k and close the Reece with a 4k scamper. Quite some suffering integrated.

Like last time the Dirty Race was a sellout. This time it was not as freezing as last year so everyone who signed up also raced. This year it was just muddy. And there was some proper sludge. Definitely the muddiest contest I ever took part in.

Basti and I arrived early enough to cycle one loop of the bike route. We just couldn’t hack it. Deep and damp Natural-Porridge all over the place. When we finished the Reece we already looked soaked and set for a clothes change.

Life is made up of marble and mud.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

The first run was just to warm up for the foremost fun of the day. So I took off in a pleasant pace on the tarmac road. No mud there but some overly motivated participants. Looks like the off season was too long for some. Sooner or later all the sprinters got caught and it was mountain bike time. I tried to move as smoothly as possible. I knew that once the main pack got through the first of two loops it will get even more tricky and additional power is required to surf these waves.

I tried to stay away from groups of riders as triathletes are not know for their bike handling skills. In the middle of the first loop I eventually crashed as a guy in front of me stopped abruptly in front of a pond. Well… After that I found the rhythm and the line. At the end of the loop I paired up with the eventual women’s champ Kathrin Müller. She struggled a bit with the circumstances but we kept on sailing nicely together through the mud ocean.

T2 came a bit later than last year. My bike form was not as good as last time (4 minutes slower…) but the track was hard to compare. I entered the transition area with the keenness to finish up strong and possibly run the last part with Kathrin. A couple of minutes later I met her at the finish. My shoe adjustment took a bit longer and she was flying through the transition zone in best triathlete approach. I’m not used to that anymore. So I ducked in and gave the PureDrift’s a solid spin on the finishing 4k (Strava).

The chase after the race was getting all that lawn and dirt of the racing bike and devices. Great service by the organizers as they set up a area to clean the bike. A fun end to a enjoyable day of racing. Until next year.

Pictures 1 / Pictures 2 / Video

Tune of the day: DJ Zinc – Live at Deviation Carnival Session

Pic: Michael Raubold Photographie

Januar 21, 2014 / 1 Kommentar

Island to island – ÖTILLÖ

It was just too mesmerizing, too baffling and way to appealing.

What started a few years ago with viscous interchange of video clips and articles terminated in a simple and to the point merit application to Anders Malm and the Utö brothers. Since yesterday we know that we are a part of it in this years edition. Team number 35 “German Sparkle Party”!

“Take it easy, but take it.” Woody Guthrie

We extensively discussed this appreciation through training sessions and over certain beers. We both agreed that this is simply outlandish and absurd. But we eternally knew – This one is particular and highly motivating.

On the 1st of September 2014 we eventually will reach Utö MÅL. After 10 kilometers of swimming and 65 kilometers of running Fabian and I will know what it means to be part of “one of the toughest endurance races in the world” – the ÖTILLÖ

Picture: ÖTILLÖ

Januar 19, 2014 / 1 Kommentar

Racereport 2014-01: 48. Fleiner Cross – Serie

Straight at it. Initial competition of the season. Some true classic – the 48th version of the Cross Series at the Haigern. A ‘lil highland just outside my hometown.

Some formats are in place as the organizing TV Flein 1895 take the fields of kids, seniors and juniors through 525 m, 750 m and 1075 m loops across the forest alleyways and trails. No better way to get used to running hard and legitimately fast.

I selected the 6k possibility and was content with my 23:42 time (Strava). I knew that I miss some leg pace and a bit of strength but nonetheless it was some proper testing. You never kick as solid as you would in a racing situation.

Completed a 115km week with some cool-down shaking, sausage, Frankenmeister burden and proper home-grown Glühwein with the lads. You got to love this kind of winter contesting. Handsome atmosphere.

Tune of the day: Ladi6 – Diamonds

Januar 17, 2014 / Keine Kommentare

Racereports

2015
01 – 43rd Dreikönigslauf Dielheim
02 – 33rd Rheinzaberner Winterlaufserie -15k
03 – 48th Fleiner Cross Serie – 1st Race
04 – 29th Mitja Marató de Granollers
05 – Trail du Hohrodberg
06 – Summer Biathlon Hüffenhardt
07 – Trollinger Marathon Relay
08 – Utö SwimRun

2014
01 – 48th Fleiner Cross – Serie
02 – Dirty Race
03 – Baden Württembergische Crossmeisterschaften AKA County XC Champs
04 – Ecco Indoor Trail
05 – Rome Marathon
06 – Hammer Trail 50K Bornholm
07 – Trollinger Marathon Heilbronn
08 – Zegama Marathon
09 – Engadin SwimRun
10 – Stimme 5K
11 – Ö Till Ö
12 – Tuttlinger Silvesterlauf

2013
01 – Dirty Race

02 – 41.Tiroler Koasalauf

03 – 31. Weinsberger Weibertreulauf

04 – German Wintertriathlon Championships

05 – 27. Augsburger Straßenlauf

06 – 16. Stammheimer Doma-Berglauf

07 – 37. Int. BGV-Hundseck-Berglauf

08 – Zegama Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia

09 – 11th Schneekopflauf Schmiedefeld

10 – Wednesday Criterium

11 – Dolomites Skyrace

12 – Rund um Pfohren 10k

13 – Sierre – Zinal

14 – Transalpine Run

15 – Trail Marathon Heidelberg

2012

01 – XXI Cross Urbano Nocturno

02 – 19th Desafio Uniendo Pueblos

03 – 11th El Cruce de los Andes

04 – 7th Travesía La Pedrera – La Paloma

05 – Maratón de Santiago

06 – Patagonia Run

07 – Yerba Buena a Tafí del Valle Tucuman

08 – Desafío Ultra Ruta del Cóndor

09 – Climbingtour Santiago

10 – TNF Challenge Ecuador

11 – Maraton de Quito

12 – Ultramaraton de Cuenca

13 – Campeonato Suramerica de Carrera de Montana

14 – TNF Challenge Colombia

15 – Desafio das Serras

16 – O Rei da Montanha

17 – 27th PATH 10k

18 – Whoo’s in El Moro 50k

19 – Frankfurt Marathon

20 – Silvesterlauf Forchheim

2011
01 – Eircom XC, Dublin

02 – Raheny 5

03 – Intermediate National XC

04 – Ballycotton 10

05 – 37th Stracivitanova

06 – Larne Half Marathon

07 – Rotterdam Marathon

08 – Lee Swim Cork

09 – Zurich 2 Mile

10 – AAI Half Marathon Nationals

11 – The Lakes 10k

12 – Parkrun Falkirk

13 – Berlin Marathon

14 – Amsterdam Half-Marathon

15 – Maratona Internazionale Firenze

16 – Lanpass 10k Buenos Aires

17 – Maratón Hispano Argentino

18 – La Carrera de Nahuel

19 – San Felipe y Santiago

20 – San Silvestre Buenos Aires

2010

24 – Clonakilty Waterfront 10k

23 – Dublin Intermediate Cross Country

22 – Camlough Lake 5k

21 – Sandycove Island Challenge

20 – Muckross Lake 5k

19 – Island Dhu

18 – Escape from Spike Island

17 – Lee Swim Cork

16 – Mullingar 2 Day

15 – Nutts Corner Road Race

14 – The Inshore Swim, Carrickfergus

13 – Martin Lifts Noel Teggart Trophy

12 – 100km del Passatore

11 – Groucho Grand Prix

10 – North Down GP

09 – Tommy Givan Road Race

08 – Grove Pub Road Race

07 – Templepatrick 10 Mile Time Trial

06 – Maze Road Race

05 – 8th Frankfurt Halfmarathon

04 – 36th Roma-Ostia Halfmarathon

03 – Cupid’s Dash 10K

02 – 26th Annual Raheny 5 Mile

01 – Naas Duathlon Race Series 1

2009

01 – Naas Wheelworx Dirty Duathlon, Naas
02 – 25th Annual Raheny Five, Dublin
03 – 32nd Annual Gate River Run, Jacksonville, USA
04 – Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands
05 – BHAA RTE 5 mile, Dublin
06 – Belfast City Marathon
07 – Hellfire and Brimstone
08 – Leixlip 5k
09 – Three-Rock Ticknock
10 – Trollinger Half-Marathon Heilbronn
11 – Lisburn 10K
12 – Irish Runner 5 Mile, Dublin
13 – St. James’s Hospital Run, Dublin
14 – Frank Duffy 10 Mile, Dublin
15 – Dam tot Damloop by night, Amsterdam, Netherlands
16 – Adidas Series Half Marathon, Dublin
17 – New York City Marathon, USA
18 – La Saintelyon, Lyon, France

Januar 14, 2014 / 2 Kommentare

Ethiopia

Seems like this part of the www was on holiday. It unquestionably was.

Shortly after Christmas eve I ventured down south to spend a few weeks around the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia together with two friends. I like to head to the Horn of Africa at that time of the year. Perfect temperatures make this place even more worthwhile and fascinating. Following a number of stints in Kenya and Uganda I headed even further north to travel to one of the oldest locations of human life.

We spend some days in Addis Abeba and then travelled further south. We went to the “Town of Runners” – Bekoji and spend some time in the running capital before we went back up north to the Simien Mountains National Park for some striking hiking.

“I wanted the world to know that my country Ethiopia has always won with determination and heroism.”
Abebe Bikila

I’m heading back home genuinely impressed by a very friendly and calm nation. Ethiopia is the only African country to defeat a European colonial power. The feeling of independence and pride is still evident. The energy and positivity of the people was inspiring and very motivating to get back down to explore even more parts.

Pictures say way more than words. Just head over to my tumblr to observe a number of shots from the trip.

Dezember 19, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

Skate Almighty

Possibly I never skated more as I just did during this 4 day Reece around Oberstdorf’s slopes. I just tried Nordic Skating for amusement when I was in Vancouver last winter. Since then I appreciate that activity a lot. With some holidays left I decided to devote those days to “full body sport”. Now I look back at well over 150 kilometers on snow outshined by unspoiled sunshine.

Tune of the day: Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Penguin (Instrumental)

Strava / Instagram / Feature on Oberstdorf.de

Dezember 16, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

Slipping. Stumbling. Skating!

In the hunt for some powder and plenty of leisure skating miles, I drove down south to the town of Oberstdorf. Remarkable weather matching the snow and a satisfactory amount of slopes are serving the starvation for some long anticipated cross exercise.

Stay tuned for more pics and Nordic Skating awesomeness.

Tune of the day: I’m totally into David Hasert’s stuff theses days. Go and check his soundcloud!

Strava / Instagram

November 25, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

#shoeporn: Dynafit – MS Feline Superlight  

Dynafit is not a brand you unmistakably associate with running. Dynafit’s home-base are the alps. Since the 1950 the Austrian firm devoted all their drive into proper ski equipment. Today they are still going strong with constant development and a quality range of ski touring and mountaineering equipment. In 2012 they also learned that there is a summer season. Their mountain knowledge got bundled into a small but fine trail running range. The highlight of this range is clearly the Feline. I’m not sure if the shoe is named after the 1983 The Stranglers studio album but it certainly has the funk…

Lets get started with the optical appearance. Style is everything they say. I’m not the biggest fan of the look. The Feline glances a bit gawky and not really dynamic. The massive sole and the huge upper make the shoe look weighty and slowish. Maybe I’m too used to “normal” looking models and I need more time with this one but the look definitely calls for underestimation in my eyes.

There are numerous nice features, which makes this shoe distinct and attention-grabbing. Just when you lace her up funky “Pull before flight” backstrap demands a reckless off-piste jog. Seeing the snow leopard at the front is like the figurehead of a combat ship.

Once you pick up the shoe the compact look changes into incredible lightness. The mere of 270 gramm of this piece positively surprised me. Also the very stiff and solid image changed all of a sudden and puts a smile in my face. I get changed and head out for a run. I want to feel the lightness first hand. Or lets say, first feet I guess. Whatsoever.

I love running in new shoes. And I dislike being saddened by one. In this case the Feline made me pretty content. As the rain got lighter I hit the local vineyards in the pursue for a precipitous and slippery uphill section. Running on the road the shoe feels good. Not remarkable but that is clearly not the setting this piece of equipment needs to be run in. For a shoe of this grace the sole technology seems to me pretty extraordinary. A proper cushion, which I usually experienced in way heavier shoes, combined with a pretty stable structure seems to be the real deal here. Clearly the massive Vibram sole is the attention grabber from a visual point of view. Where I lack the understatement from the visual side, I truly enjoy the performance from the running side of things.

As I travel past some drainy and soaky paths I hit the first rocky part of my little test loop. Occasionally when I take a new shoe for a rendezvous I’m anxious what this first part will be like. Especially a light shoe like this could potentially cause some difficulties. Nonetheless I look forward as I’m wondering that now water is entering this shoe. I just underestimated a puddle. My socks are still dry. This upper mesh protection thingy works, happy with that so.

The first gaits on the rocky part are amazing. What can I say? The traction on wet and spikey rocks is insane. Insane in a way that you feel the ground but in a positive way. The traction is there and the feeling for the underground stays real all the time. I jog on and the shoe makes me care less and less about the underground. I have to jump over a tree and head on to a less rocky trail that’s winding beside the small river. The sandy and muddy terrain is like running on the road compared to the rocks I was facing earlier on. The shoe and I get the chill and I’m already looking forward to a leafy downhill I haven’t run for a long time.

The forest footpath continues and the shoe keeps me on track. Sometimes I feel that the sole is a bit too high for me. Clearly this piece is not a minimal runner but the high sole makes me feel to far away from the ground. This should change after running more often.

Just a couple of meters ahead the downhill starts. Recently I tackled it with the mountain bike and I know that this is undoubtedly the most challenging time of the year to go down there. Perfect for a test so. I try to increase the speed and give it everything on the decent. The Feline seems to be pretty happy with what he faces. All sorts of twits and underground he faces during this downhill seem to be a task he can accomplish. The profile combined with the good and solid rubber does have an answer. Boxed ticked.

It starts back drizzling when I leave the forest. The puddles along the road fill up with more water and I try to wash off the dirt from the shoe as I drag him through every pond that’s available. Usually this ends pretty early as the socks get to wet. Today I’m amazed that even the last puddle gets a proper check from the Feline. When I stop in front of the house the shoe is clean. So are my socks. The rest of the equipment isn’t. Great run. Great shoe.

Tune of the day: Misanthrop – Deadlock

Kategorie: mountain

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