June 4, 2010
One day after the 1/2h-run I did a second test run in my home town Zwickau. This time it was the 2nd corporate run, where I started for “Heymann Mineralöle”, my uncles company. I could defend last years title but unfortunately our team (including 4 members) was second this time.
The race itself went pretty ok even though I was on my own after 500m once again. At the end I had a lead of 1:10min (results here). The pace was around 3:25min/km on a muddy ground so I’m optimistic that I’m on the upswing again. With some good summer training I might save this season with some good results in the autumn. However, to do that it’s still a long way to go. The journey will start next week, when I’m going to St.Moritz/SUI.
June 3, 2010
My first test after some time of detraining and it was not too bad. Anything over 8.500 would have been ok, so I was satisfied with the 8.600m. I was running all on my own after 400m and conditions were great (just over 10°C and drizzle rain).
With some speed training the results should get better from time to time. Right now it’s not even marathon pace, but the summer lays ahead of me…
Results (1/2 hour) here.
April 21, 2010
To cut a long story short: My worst placement in German Championships ever plus my worst halfmarathon time in a Championships race.
I felt that the shape was getting better the last 3-4 weeks but still that was not enough to reach my reduced aim of running sub-70minutes. The one and only positive thing I can take from this race is, that I finished it … even if the last 3 kilometers were like jogging and just reaching this finish line.
The first 5K were right on pace (16:32min) and even the 10K split was still acceptable (33:32min) but after that the lights went totally off… there are no excuses or good reasons for this performance except bad training, wrong lifestyle and missing dedication.
I hope that I have reached the bottom now and things will get better step-by-step. I’m willing to get back and I will use this week to think about new ways and adjustments of the current situation.
early in the race
later in the race
post race – sometimes a picture tells more than thousand words
April 16, 2010
My last test before the German Halfmarathon Championships (April 18th) was the first 1/2-h run in my home town Zwickau on Wednesday. The result of 8.850m was just above my minimum aim of 8.800m and every distance starting with 9 would have given me some confidence for the upcoming weekend.
The km-splits were: 3:19/3:23/3:26/3:26/3:26/3:26/3:26/3:24 + 850m. The first 4 and the last 2 laps I was lucky that I had some company from my club mate Remo Barthel (in between I could lap him). Seems that Remo is going to develop to a good training partner. After the competition we even went for an ice-bath in the local river (”Mulde”) together.
Now I will have some easier days until the German Championships in Bad Liebenzell and hope to run sub-70min on this fast course.
March 14, 2010
Finished my first race in the spring. Really bad time, but after a minor cold starting on Wednesday and still hampering my breathing, as well as a bad general shape, I was not expecting a faster time. I guess I have to live with my performance. I know I can (and will) run faster. Now the conditions are getting better and better in Germany and after I recovered from the cold I’ll add some faster stuff.
The weather and the race organisation was pretty much perfect. Some small hills and some windy parts, but still fast times on this course would be possible.
In the race it was also obvious that several German runners had some trouble with the winter conditions and need to adjust to race-pace, just like me. I ran in the neighborhood of David Karl (3rd placer German Marathon Championships 2009) and Philipp Ratz (German Marathon Champ 2007).
For me it was a normal-good training run and a good hint towards the fact that there’s a lot of work in front of me…
January 9, 2010
In my first race 2010 I could secure the first victory.
The New Years Race in Falkenstein used to be my season opener for several years: In the almost 28 years I’ve been on this planet I competed 14 times in this race – that’s half of my life. Usually the run is a nice built-up for the spring and that might be the reason why today was “only” the third time I won the race.
Conditions were very winter-like with temperatures between -5 and -10°C and some fresh snow. Just like Finland … and I like this kind of weather. I don’t like the hills that you have to climb during the race but still I could decide the race after ~15km just before the top of the hill by increasing the pace. I was already surprised that I wasn’t alone at this point, but 2nd place Maksym Salii also has some good marathon results under his belt. Anyway, until the finish I could extend my lead to more than 2 minutes – and I even had to tie my shoe laces with 3km to go.
Full results here.
picture from last year when I won the 11,5km distance
January 1, 2010
On the last day of 2009 I ran Germanys second biggest New Years Eve race in Bietigheim. After 2007 it was the second time for me there, so I already knew the great atmosphere (4.000runners in one race+several ten-thousand spectators). This time I was traveling with a big group, that also included Carolin Tuch, Peter Rodewald, Marc Schulze and his girl friend as well as my parents. We were invited by the race organiser, which meant we could stay in Bietigheim form 30.12-1.1., avoiding the stress of traveling for several hours on race day. The organisation was once again perfect – great thanks for the organisers!!
For me it was a first serious test and the first fast workout since several weeks. I only had three weeks of continuous training in my legs and that’s why I cannot be dissapointed with my performance. Even if I was a couple of seconds slower than 2007 the race was a confidence builder for me. Averaging 3:11min/km without any speed training is reasonable and the gap to the big guns is not too big. I could run at around 13th place for most of the race but on the finnishing straight two guys caught me and I could not respond. After all tenth place was only 25seconds away. The most important thing for me was and is, that I’m still healthy and pain-free now and can continue my build-up for the 2010 season. In the future I will add some speed work to my training and then I hope to have a better kick and a faster leg turnover.
Results of the race have been published earlier already.
after around 4km I found myself in the first big chase pack (photo: © Tomas Ortiz-Fernandez)
on the home straight I was passed by two guys … guess I’m a marathoner 
(photo: © Tomas Ortiz-Fernandez)
December 17, 2009
I don’t know if I should be sad about this race, because I could not defend last years title and was beaten in my home town Zwickau for the first time in years. However, it was such a beautiful feeling to cross the finnish line without being in pain, just going for a cool-down without aiching bones, tendons and muscles.
The 8,5km main race got two winners. My mates Dan and Marc could not decide a winner and crossed the line hand in hand. If I would have been in normal-good shape the guys would have given me some work to win the race. The other runers I invited ended up in the first five places of the race.
Of course my athlete Carolin Tuch won the womens category. Even with stomach problems she followed all my orders I gave her during the race – brave effort!! For me it was the right thing to pace the fastest woman, even if the feet were itching after the first of five rounds.
After the race we had a good time, having a nice meal and some good talk.
before the start
start of the 8,5K race
after the first round
later in the race – already lapping people
after 1 round the Australian Christmas Elf (Dan Hornery) was in the lead but the chase pack caught him in the second round. Still only Marc Schulze provided some competition and the two crossed the finish line together.
December 7, 2009
The second (and already final) race of my Switzerland-Austria road trip. After a week with some running training and my first fall on ice that caused some problems on my toes and knee it was time for another evening race.
I finished the race in Gossau in 12th place in 26:37min, which was still enough to earn me some price money – amazing … seems there is too much money in Switzerland. For me the race was another marker, that it’s not a good idea to compete in big races unless I’m really fit. Already at the start I tore my left hamstrings. Together with several other issues, this caused the fact that I could only manage to average 3:15min/km-pace on this flat course. After the race I felt really, really bad. I felt like going to physiotherapy for 2 hours but unfortunately a warm shower was the only thing that relieved the pain a bit.
If I’m going there next time, I should be in better shape and should be able to compete at a higher level. Now it’s time to recover and get totally healthy. After that I will have a proper(!!) build-up.
December 3, 2009
My first race after 3 weeks and pretty much without running preparation. That’s exactly how it felt – it’s incredible how much you actually loose within three weeks. The fitness is not too bad but it’s so difficult to get used to the high pace and that was the main problem. The fact that I came closer to some of my competitors on the uphill parts of the course (there was quite a climb on the 2,2K-loop).
In general the race was great though: Starting time at 20.20, i.e. running through the darkness with all the Christmas lights and decoration. Only on the first round I had some problems and almost went down twice: The first time after 200m when I didn’t realise a bump in the road and the second time when I twisted my ankle on the darkest part of the course.
Full results here.
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