Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Eiger Ultra- had a very enjoyable and scenic race.

The plan was to take it easy and controlled on the climbs, and try and feel good the whole race.

Got to the start by 5:25am, with plenty of time.


Weather was good, and I deliberately got further back in the pack and followed folks climbing slower than I would choose. The first big climb out of Grindelwald felt easy


Jingling cows and beautiful Swiss chalet for aid station at Grosse Scheidegg


Sun came up


Very nice lake we passed:


Steep technical ascent in places




Next stop Faulhorn, high point of the race at 2650m. Note the building on top.


Feeling good and ahead of schedule, even with an easy pace.


Next step- technical descent then long rolling section to Schynge Platte aid stn.


Man, the Swiss sure can put a restaurant in amazing places!


I thought my stomach might be starting to act up, but just had to use the wc at Schynge Platte aid station farm(No clean porta-potty- possibly the stinkiest farm outhouse since Nepal due to the cow muck all around) I was able to eat a couple of orange slices- so good.

I felt better and could run a fair bit on the descent to Berglauen deep in the valley. There was a nasty big steep ascent in the middle I wasn't expecting, and I found that hard. Luckily lots of streams and pipes with clean water to dunk in to stay cool.
I was actually hungry at Berglauen and had a slice of orange, a tiny cup of coke and a bit of watermelon.
Last 7 k were easier uphill back to the start. My stomach was maybe 6/10, and I could run and pass folks. 1/2k from the finish it went to 0/10, and many concerned folks passed me as I dry heaved. Luckily for once I recovered a bit and hiked the steep hill up to town. I was able to run in to the finish, and even drink a beer after a break.



164th overall, 11th in my category out of 92. I lost 2 places due to stomach issues but I'd have to rate this as a success- I enjoyed 50.5 km of it, and the scenery was beyond compare. I lilked racing as a tourist, stopping to take pictures and not hammering too hard. Maybe I need to keep the hard racing to under 3 hours, and take it easy on longer ones.

C • Awesome!! 27

Nice run around Grindelwald to shake the legs out. Felt good on the downhill, found a cool shady trail by an icy creek, then back up to town in the sweltering heat.

Earlier we went up to First by cable car to check out the aid stations and the race high point. In this pic you can see the start down to the left and the peak of the Faulhorn up to the right at 2650m.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=9856096214...

C • Gorgeous 1

Temps in the mid 30s had us heading for the hills, this time via steam train up the Brienzer Rothorn. We did a little hiking up there on the ridge trail, then chugged back down and returned to town by steamboat.
Excellent dinner in the Old Town, and we caught the last bit of the Tour on TV.
Pics on Bash's log.

Hike around Jungfrauhoch at 3500m in the snow.
Not sure if it will help when running up to 2600m on the race course, but it was very scenic. Pics on Bash's log.

C • Pretty nice altitude training :-) 1

Toured around the Interlaken area and up to check out the race course vista- Train, boat,train,train, cog railway, cog railway, train, train. No connection longer than 6 min. Transit runs like a Swiss watch.

See Bash's log for pics.

C • Good luck 11