They call this race “Dakar” for a reason.

I heard tons of stories about this 30 Kilometer race in Lobos. But you just believe that everything is actually true when you are facing all the specialities that people brag about. Today i learned the hard and hot way that everything is true.

Lobos is the head city of the Lobos Partido in the Buenos Aires Province and is located roughly 100 kilometers south-west of Buenos Aires. On the journey to the race venue, on the outskirts of Lobos i got the first impression of the world famous Pampas. Bernardo, Nora and I drove for ages and i couldn’t believe that there was not a single elevation in the landscape. Massive fields left and right. Impressive.

We arrived at the venue in time and picked up all the essentials from the registration. The organizer, Miguel Angel Schiel, was pleased to meet me. He was extremely happy to have a german runner in the race as his father was born in Germany aswell. Everybody from the organizing Asociación de Atletismo Lobense was extremely friendly and supportive. They were pleased to have a foreigner in the race and made that know to everybody with several announcements.

It was still coolish when we started. The route took a short zick-zack way through the town and then one could already see what everybody was talking about – the clay roads. A “kenyan style” road full of dust and little rocks. The plan was to run that road 15k up, turn around, and the same procedure back to Lobos. Easier said than done.

I tried to settle in with a nice, defensive pace. It didn’t really worked out as i had to suffer pretty early on in the race. When the sun came up higher and higher in the sky, i got slower and slower. It was painful as the route had basically 3 corners, thats was it.

Every water station was like a oasis in the dessert. I could not get enough water in me and on my body. I cruised on and suffered a lot, walked a bit and finally was back on the tarmac road of Lobos.

I was happy to see the finish line and to cool down in the pool. This one was tough. What usually would be jogging pace feels like flat out. The sun is burning the energy out.

Nevertheless it was a great experience and the more than friendly and welcoming atmosphere was unreal. I had to give interviews for the local TV and newspapers and had to take lot of pictures with a lot of people.

Thanks very much Lobos. It was a real pleasure!

Lobosnews.com.ar

VERSIÓN ESPAÑOLA

I know it is a pretty random thought but today i asked myself what did i do last year on the same day?

When i came back home i checked this blog to get my memory back. And what did i find out?

I was watching a thrilling Cross Country race in beautiful Iten  about just 365 days ago from today. That brings back distinctive memories and just teaches me how fast life is moving.

And exactly today a year ago i took one of my my favorite shots. It is showing a little girl hiding in the high grass beside the course in Iten and watching the races from secure distance. It was also great to see the picture released in print in the RUNNING 02/2011 Magazine.

There is no better way to start a new year with a positive experience. After the disapointing last race of 2011 i was craving for revenge.

The XXI Cross Urbano Nocturno 5K was the first option in the new year. I did not know what to expect from the race. The Plaza San Martín, a park in downtown Buenos Aires, was the venue and the race was advertised as a “Cross Urbano” competition.

Argentinas capital is as flat as it gets. There are only minor bumps in the landscape. You can not really call them hills. The Plaza San Martín Park is one of the very few spots in the city where you can find some hills. That was the motivation of the organizers to set up a race on a challenging course. The idea, quite similar to the parkrun one, is great. The simple style organizations makes the race unique and fun. A decent crowd showed up to have a go on the 3 loops around the park.

As the course seemed to be a bit complicated and twisty i got a special guide around by Louis. Louis and i warmed up around the loop and he told me that he just ran a 70 minutes half marathon and competed for the Argentian mountain running team in several competitions around Europe. So i was happy as it seemed that there would be at least some good runners at the startline.

After the “Policía” had a final inspection around the course it was a simple “GO” and off we went around the park. As the race started at 21:30 it was very good to breath and the hot day was just about to cool down.

In the middle of the first long downhill stretch Louis showed me and the other “corredores” why he is in the national mountain running team. He can run downhill very, very fast. So we lost contact to him on the first couple of meters. After 3 loops of twisty turns and some nice stair passages i got rid of the other guys myself and pushed to finish in second place behind Louis.

Great fun for some mid-week racing and good to see that I am still able to run fast if the conditions are right.

The end of the year is always a special period and a good mark to take a look back.

A lot happened in the last 12 months and i would like to take the chance to thank some of the people that made my life something special.

Please forgive me if i forgot someone – i will update the list accordingly 😉

Aberle Gang – Thanks for your great friendship and positivity.
Andreas and Brooks – Thanks for giving me this massive oportunity to wear all this wicked gear. Appreciate it with every single run!
Andy – Thanks for a truly great friendship. I already miss the discussions and the great humor.
Anja – Thanks for such a long, special and honest friendship and for making it possible to get to BA in style. You’re a star!
Aoife – Thanks for being “one of da lads”. You’re a great girl – Miss ya!
Bernardo – Thanks for all that trust and being such an exceptional host.
Bernd – Thanks for being the legend you are. There when needed.
Caroline – Thanks for all the spins and laugh.
Christian – Thanks for being the special friend!
Dolcie – Thanks for the great times and all the fun.
Depeche Mode – Thanks for having a tune for every mood.
Emilie – Thanks for your honesty and being such a lovely and worring friend.
Eugene – Thanks for always beeing there when i needed help. You saved my life last christmas!
Fabse – Cheers for all the stupid comments and the good chats and times.
Feidhlim – Thanks for all the runs, fun and good chats. You are missed. Exactly, like eh!
Fernando – Thanks for all the training and the talks.
Flo – Thanks for making me smile every time i think about you – now even with white teeth.
Günther – Thanks for a great friendship and all the fun memories we share.
Ian – Thanks for making my times in Africa something unforgettable and truly special.
Jay – Thanks for all the advise and the pure honesty. I appreciate your style.
Jessica – Thanks for sticking in.
Jochen and Running Magazine – Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write all that running related nonsense.
Johannes – Thanks for being a special person and for your great support.
Jorge – Thanks for making my stay in South-America a special gift. Not many people get the opportunity i got.
Ken – Thanks for all the honesty, support and help. My computer wouldn’t be the same without you.
Mark and Shamrock Rovers – Thanks for the relentless support and help. You made my time in Ireland something really special. London will never be forgotten. KOH!
Markus – Thanks for beeing yourself. Whatever, whenever – MK stays MK!
Martin – Thanks for all your “positive attitude” and the great friendship.
Matt – Thanks for being a one-of-a-kind colleague and friend. Its getting really boring here between 12 and 14 o’clock.
Mia – Thanks for being such a great girl. You rock – I’m extremely proud of you!
Michael – Thanks for making the impossible possible. I will never forget that favour!
Moni – Thanks for such a long and special friendship. I am proud of what we share – it never gets old!
Percy – Thanks for all the positivity and the great moments we share. It is always special no matter where…
Philip – Thanks for a friendship that never looses the vibe. You’re the man!
Phillipp T. – Thanks for all the fun moments and the vibe we shared.
Rene – Thanks for guiding me through another tough marathon preperation.
Rob and Ais – Thanks for all the help and the great hospitality. I miss the rides and the runs!
Rudi A – Thanks for being yourself.
Rudi B – Thanks for always staying in touch and getting things organized.
Sandra – Thanks for minding Philip and being such a wicked friend!
Seb – Thanks for all those great years and the ones to come. Finally watching the “old firm” was another highlight amongst so many others.
Shane – Thanks for all the great moments and a friendship that has developed to something special.
Simone – Thanks for all the positive energy and the way you fought through you’re sickness. Positive thinking is one thing, but executing it is the other. To say I’m extremely proud of you doesn’t hit the note!
The Fitzgerald Gang – My irish family! Hope you don’t miss your 3rd son Siobhan! Thanks for all the trust and openness.
Timo – Thanks for walking your way. Im proud of you!
Tom – Thanks for the good talks and all you did for me. I will never forget.
Uli – Thanks for beeing a very special friend. Thanks for always having a solution and being there whenever i need help. Sicherlich forever!

Was this the most scary part of last weekend?

As i was crossing the finish line on Montevideo’s beautiful seafront i did not know if i had the toughest part of the weekend still behind or in front of me.

The journey from Buenos Aires’ Puerto Madeiro to Colonia Harbour in Uruguay was one of the most scary experiences i have wittnessed since using several traveling methods. A jam-packed “Colonia Express” boat was on its way to cross the huge Río de la Plata as the weather suddenly decided to get nasty. The rough conditions made the boat trip scary as the little ferry bounced from wave to wave. First it was fun for most of the passengers but the higher the waves got the more frightened it got. Laughs turned into silence and at least every 4th passenger used those nice little plastic bags in front of the seats.

I never looked more forward to get fresh air in and step on solid ground. What a commute to one of Uruguay’s classic Road Races – The San Felipe y Santiago 10k along the Río de la Plata beaches of Montevideo.

My friend “Daktari” Jorge in Montevideo convinced me to come over from Buenos Aires to run the 10k race. It was the last big race in Uruguay’s road running calendar and a good amount of runners (2.500) showed up right beside the Rio de la Plata at a little suburb just outside Montevideo. Jorge and i were joking about the weather all day long. I was hoping for cooler conditions and i got them. A bit to cool and a bit too “irish” anyway. No sign of the south-american summer during Saturday. Beside some solid rain and chilly temperatures i never experienced such a wind. The storm from friday carried on during saturday. Wind along a coast is nothing out of the extraordinary but that was something else. I wouldn’t have minded a nice “2011 Boston Style” tailwind. What we got was a very tough punch wright in the face – Headwind! As the course was a beautiful point-to-point route along the “river” (…can one really call that huge thing a river?) there was no escape.

I settled in with a nice relaxed pace. I knew i was not 100% race sharp for a 10k so i tried to hang in a solid group and draft my way towards Montevideo. I was more impressed with the great course profile along the Rio de la Plata than with my form. Average legs with tough Headwind made this 10 kilometer sightseeing tour something special, rather nice. Nevertheless i loved the race. One of the best courses i have ever ran paired with very nice people and a great community spirit in the local running scene. As the finish line came closer and closer i couldn’t take my thoughts of the nice “Asado” Jorge had planned for the evening.

At the moment i really don’t know what scared me more. The crazy ferry trip to Montevideo, seeing the amount of meat on the Jorge’s grill or my finishing time.

MORE INFO

You just can not resist the good weather over here. After some light jogs and drills around my new neighbourhood i decided to test the machine at a 3k race in Palermo Park. The „Maratón Hispano Argentino“ was on the cards. They also overed a 10k but i decided go for the 3 kilometers as i wanted to see how it feels to run hard in the heat before going up to a bigger distance. My short term goal ist o run fast at the “San Silvestre Buenos Aires” (8k) on the 31.12. so i need to get some speedwork in.

As last weekend the crowds were fairly decent. I misscalculated the journey and just had time to get changed and sprint to the start line. Lucky enough i already was registered and had the race number. Until the 1k mark it was hard to see where in the field i was as the 10k and 3k races started together. I tried to stay with the leaders as long as possible. When the turnaround point for the 3k came up i saw that i was in 2nd place. I tried to catch the leader but it was impossible to increase the speed. Breathing fully in in those conditions is very hard and i suffered the last couple of meteres in the heat. I could hold the 2nd place but the heat took a good amount of energy out of my body.

Today was time for another race around the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. I travelled to Castelan on the outskirts of the city to run the “La Carrera de Nahuel” 5k. Again i underestimated the size of the city and the time it takes to get from one place to the other. Just on time i arrived at the registration and, as happened on Thursday, i was right on time for the race start.

Same procedure again. I stayed at the back of the leading pack which was travelling with some nice speed. Lucky enough it was overcasted so it was only hot. As one guy surged after 3k i could not hold the group and came home in 6th place. Great experience again to run on streets that are even worse than the ones in New York.

Overall it is a very special vibe at road races here. Good crowds paired with music and a extremly friendly atmosphere makes it very special to run in Argentina. I still wonder how all those people manage to have enough energy left to dance after a race. The Ska Band that was playing at the after-race party today definitely made a lot of people move!

Ir de Guatemala a Guatepeor.