So, it's 2008 already. I remember thinking about how I would be "old" at the age of 43 when 2000 started, and now I'm already in my 50's, and am planning for a major event in March/April 2010!!!!!
Had a brilliant 6 days down in our holiday house in the village of Carona near Lugano in the south of Switzerland. Carona lies above the Lago di Lugano, and it's a 155-km journey by car right through the Alps from Chur - Chur itself lies deep in the Alps of south-eastern Switzerland, in the valley of the Rhein (Rhine). Whilst enjoying the peace of Carona over New Year's Eve, I thought a lot about my hopeful participation on the 2010 MdS race, and also considered some training ideas over the next two years. Presuming that my leg injury heals soon, I'll do my planned two full marathons, three or four half-marathons, and a few other races in each of 2008 and 2009, but also want to get in at least two long solo, multi-day runs.
One of them would involve taking the train from Chur down to Zürich, and then running the 130 km back to Chur over two or (more likely) three days, carrying a rucksack with all provisions (including light tent) with me. Zürich lies at 408 metres above sea level, and Chur is at 600 metres a.s.l., so it's a 200-metre rise in elevation over the 130 km - I cycled it a few years ago, without any training, and it's a nice route, with one small, sharp incline about halfway to Chur. The mountain bike trip took me about seven hours; the running will be considerably longer. I shall plan it for in summer, of course, when, by the way, the temperature in the valleys here in Switzerland can reach up to 38°C at times, and even higher in Chur.
In 2009, I plan to do the same thing, but this time from Chur to Carona. This is far more strenuous. Chur lies at 600 metres, as mentioned above, and Carona is at 602 metres, but in between, on the route I'd take over the San Bernardino Pass, I'd reach an altitude of 2065 metres a.s.l. before the long descent down to Lugano at 280 metres, and then, the very last stretch would be a 320-metre climb over 6 km from Lugano up to Carona - the bastard at the very end - and this is not to mention the climb from Bellinzona (at 227 metres) over Monte Ceneri (at 534 metres) before the secondary descent to Lugano, and the final ascent. My partner and I want to do it by mountain bike as well (perhaps in 2008), but I can't wait to run it over about five days, camping next to streams on the way, and carrying all my food (water en route is not a problem in Switzerland!!!!).
My partner is also keen on the idea of a Nile Cruise this year, followed by a week in Sharm al Shaik (spelling?) - my first thoughts were that this would be a good idea, because then I could get in some desert running behind the sea resort. It's amazing how the mind of a running fanatic works - others would be thrilled at the prospect of the clear sea and reefs; I turn my thoughts to the mountainous area behind the resort and imagine running into the desert!!!!
At the moment, there's always the first consideration: what will be the diagnosis of my leg injury when I see the specialist on Monday next (7th January)??????
Anyway, Happy New Year to whoever reads this, and all the very best.
Had a brilliant 6 days down in our holiday house in the village of Carona near Lugano in the south of Switzerland. Carona lies above the Lago di Lugano, and it's a 155-km journey by car right through the Alps from Chur - Chur itself lies deep in the Alps of south-eastern Switzerland, in the valley of the Rhein (Rhine). Whilst enjoying the peace of Carona over New Year's Eve, I thought a lot about my hopeful participation on the 2010 MdS race, and also considered some training ideas over the next two years. Presuming that my leg injury heals soon, I'll do my planned two full marathons, three or four half-marathons, and a few other races in each of 2008 and 2009, but also want to get in at least two long solo, multi-day runs.
One of them would involve taking the train from Chur down to Zürich, and then running the 130 km back to Chur over two or (more likely) three days, carrying a rucksack with all provisions (including light tent) with me. Zürich lies at 408 metres above sea level, and Chur is at 600 metres a.s.l., so it's a 200-metre rise in elevation over the 130 km - I cycled it a few years ago, without any training, and it's a nice route, with one small, sharp incline about halfway to Chur. The mountain bike trip took me about seven hours; the running will be considerably longer. I shall plan it for in summer, of course, when, by the way, the temperature in the valleys here in Switzerland can reach up to 38°C at times, and even higher in Chur.
In 2009, I plan to do the same thing, but this time from Chur to Carona. This is far more strenuous. Chur lies at 600 metres, as mentioned above, and Carona is at 602 metres, but in between, on the route I'd take over the San Bernardino Pass, I'd reach an altitude of 2065 metres a.s.l. before the long descent down to Lugano at 280 metres, and then, the very last stretch would be a 320-metre climb over 6 km from Lugano up to Carona - the bastard at the very end - and this is not to mention the climb from Bellinzona (at 227 metres) over Monte Ceneri (at 534 metres) before the secondary descent to Lugano, and the final ascent. My partner and I want to do it by mountain bike as well (perhaps in 2008), but I can't wait to run it over about five days, camping next to streams on the way, and carrying all my food (water en route is not a problem in Switzerland!!!!).
My partner is also keen on the idea of a Nile Cruise this year, followed by a week in Sharm al Shaik (spelling?) - my first thoughts were that this would be a good idea, because then I could get in some desert running behind the sea resort. It's amazing how the mind of a running fanatic works - others would be thrilled at the prospect of the clear sea and reefs; I turn my thoughts to the mountainous area behind the resort and imagine running into the desert!!!!
At the moment, there's always the first consideration: what will be the diagnosis of my leg injury when I see the specialist on Monday next (7th January)??????
Anyway, Happy New Year to whoever reads this, and all the very best.
1 comment:
Hi Crag, I came across your blog while googling Chur.
I am trying to decide on a mountain marathon to do in June - was looking at the LGT apline one in Liechenstein or the Zermatt marathon and then I found this other tough mountain one the www.graubuenden-marathon.ch which begins in Chur and ends in Rothorn. Has lots of up hill to it. Was wondering do you know anything about it? Best of luck with your training for the MDS, personally the thoughts of the MDS makes me thirsty...all that heat and desert!!
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