Swiss Peaks 170, En Route
Rain arrived, plenty of it. Then some thunder. The inflatable portal set up outside of the life base in Lourtier is rocking back and forth in the wind. Clouds appeared. Mountains disappeared.
Running
Swiss Peaks 170, Gear Check 123
Long races in the mountains require gear. Such is the case with Swiss Peaks 170 as well. Worth thinking about how to arrange things so I can stay focused before and during the race, and take care of myself after the race.
Swiss Peaks 170, The Days Before
Less than two weeks to go to Swiss Peaks 170. Time to reinforce the idea that the training is done except for the taper. Time to reinforce the idea that I am prepared, no more, but also importantly, no less.
Swiss Peaks 170, Upcoming
One year break from racing Swiss Peaks taught me nothing except that I need to do it again. This year, to mix things up, it will be the Swiss Peaks 170 all the way from Grande Dixence to Le Bouveret. A big adventure in th e mountains à la valaisanne. What will I learn this time?
Structured Training, Scenic Trail
The fog was relatively thick. You were able to see where you were going, sure. But milestones, such as summits, settlements remained shrouded, panoramas denied to the crowd of runners who set out to tackle the Scenic Trail K54 in Ticino, Switzerland.
Back-of-the-envelope: energy expenditure in a multi-day footrace
How much energy do you spend on a multi-day foot race? I tried to estimate the expenditure first, using a back-of-the-envelope calculation before stumbling over a study researching exactly that. Fun with bananas.
Swiss Peaks 360, Race Reviewed
The Swiss Peaks 360 foot race is done. Finished after 5.5 days of madness, covering a distance of over 360 km, 25900 m elevation gain, 26900 m elevation loss. Deprived of sleep, but enriched with an intense experience; body fatigued, but mind inspired. Time to look back on this unique adventure in the spectacular scenery of Valais in Switzerland.
Swiss Peaks 360, Specific Period Reviewed
The specific period of training for this year’s edition of the Swiss Peaks 360 foot race is complete. Time to look back, taper, and fine-tune the preparation for the big adventure in the gorgeous mountains of Valais in Switzerland: over valleys and passes from Oberwald to Fiesch, Eisten, Grimentz, Grande Dixence, Finhaut, Morgins to Le Bouveret.
Using Strava segment efforts as benchmarks: heart rate versus running speed
How to find out whether my training is effective? A casual investigation into whether I can use frequent Strava segment efforts in order to see whether the ratio of heart rate versus speed shifted between two training seasons. The results look promising.
Swiss Peaks 360, Support Period Reviewed
What I called the support period in my preparation for this year’s edition of the Swiss Peaks 360 foot race is complete. Time to look back, assess progress, shape the last training period before the big adventure, which will bring me to the vast mountaineous landscape of Valais in Switzerland.
Progressor, Programming the Training Program
How to plan the training sessions for the weeks ahead? I hacked together a web app which allows me to do just that. The app helps me to plan the training progression according to established training principles, supporting modes such as running, hiking, cycling. Apps for the purpose exist commercially, but it was fun and instructional to roll out my own.
A computer scientist's attempt at tracking the effect of training without testing
How to find out whether the effort put into training actually increased performance? I asked myself whether there is a shortcut to testing benchmark protocols, whether in the lab or in the outdoors. As you may already have guessed, shortcuts are rare in training. But sometimes, it’s fun looking for one.
Swiss Peaks 360, Base Period Reviewed
Two weeks left in what I called the base period in my preparation for this year’s edition of the Swiss Peaks 360 foot race. Time to look back, subjectively and objectively, assess progress (or the lack thereof), and thus set the foundation for creating a more detailed plan for the upcoming training period.
Putting more C into running: trail-maniacs
In 2023, I intend to contribute more to the running community, again. The opportunity to do so presents itself through leading one of the crews in the trail running club I joined last year, the trail-maniacs, ever so aptly named.
Swiss Peaks 360, Prepping for the Next Edition
Poised to experience the Swiss Peaks 360 foot race again in 2023! An epic journey through Valais, covering 360 km and an excess of 26,000 m of vert in less than a week. One thing is certain: preparation is necessary. As a self-coached hobby-athlete, sketching the training remains up to me.
Swiss Peaks 360, Lessons Learned
After completing the Swiss Peaks 360 foot race, it’s time to contemplate what I learnt from moving through the mountains of Valais over a distance of 360 km and a vertical gain in excess of 26,000 m, in less than 6.5 days.
Swiss Peaks 360 is a Go
This year’s challenge is approaching: Swiss Peaks 360. After recovering well from “the plague” in early July, and coming to terms with the turmoil it caused to my training, I decided already a few weeks ago: It’s a Go.
The Pandemic Wants Me, Too
Hit a roadblock 194 days into the training cycle, and 160 days after my previous post. Turns out the COVID-19 pandemic wants me, too. I am grateful, that so far, the pandemic does not seem to make me give as much as it makes others do. Nevertheless, time to reflect on the training so far. Time to poke a bit into available research on how to safely return to what all athletes want: get back out, and continue.
Exercised at home: hacking a plyo box
How to bring some hills into your home? Such to train for hiking using box step-ups when stuck at home? After surprisingly long Internet research, I finally found a compact, wooden, pretty-enough “plyo box” . Even though plyometrics wasn’t what I had in mind.
Swiss Trail Tour, Day 3
Punishment. Today’s theme is voluntary punishment. The last stage of this footrace is framed by rain and snow. After two days of sunshine tralala, the adventure gets a new facet. Impressions from Day 3 of the Swiss Trail Tour.
Swiss Trail Tour, Day 2
The longest stage of the Swiss Trail Tour is awaiting me. Spirits are still running high, although my legs remember the effort from the previous day. How is it going to turn out today? Impressions from Day 2.
Swiss Trail Tour, Day 1
Nine months after signing up, after nine months of training, race day has finally come. Spirits are running high. I can’t wait for the start of this footrace. What does the first day have in store? Only time will tell. Impressions from Day 1 of the Swiss Trail Tour.
Swiss Trail Tour, Darth Vader on a Treadmill
What does Darth Vader do on a treadmill? Breathe, breathe, breathe. This week, I treated myself to the futuristic world of performance diagnosis: I wanted to learn more about where I am as a hobby runner, how to improve from there, and how applied science in sports works nowadays.
Swiss Trail Tour, Incorporating Objective Feedback
Without feedback, you can only achieve what you already know how to do. With feedback, you can achieve what that you do not yet know how to do. I believe that feedback loops are at the core of any development. In this post, I am sharing my thoughts on incorporating objective feedback into long distance running training by visualizing data from Strava in Google Data Studio.
Swiss Trail Tour, Training Differently
After more than a decade of running, I figured it’s time to understand how training actually works. Unsurprisingly, after digging through three books on the art and science of exercise, I have changed how I train for the Swiss Trail Tour this year. Maybe such research will change your training, too.