The world is outside Blog

A good week for Team Dutch Highland Terriers

Last week was a good week for team Dutch Highland Terriers! Norman had a monster training last saturday up and down Conic Hill. Interesting reading....: http://wouldbeultrarunner.blogspot.com/. I talked to my running friend for the first time on the phone last saturday. Making plans to meet up for training runs, race preparation and so on. It's great to have an overseas Running Soulmate!

My weekly total added up to 70km. This weekend I'll be training in Winterberg, Hoch Sauerland. It's gonna be interesting; snow up to 1,5 meters, -10 and so on. Let's say it's a good mental preparation?

Keep on running!

No footprints

This weekend I was up early. Training. One of the reasons I was out so early, was B.E.N.. The other reason was the beautiful winter weather. We haven't had so much snow in the Netherlands since men used spears to get dinner. 

The good thing about being out early is you're first. Everywhere.

This morning I ran my first 30km of the year together with J.U.R.N.. He's training for the Jan Knippenberg Memorial Run (JKM). The race is 80km long. On the beach. Mad. Conditions were perfect for J.U.R.N. this morning. The snow sucked our feet down and made us work extra hard. In the end we had a perfect training morning; beautiful surroundings, fresh crisp snow, strong legs and enough air to chat.

Go J.U.R.N. go (race day is beginning of April)!

 
My footprints, just after sunrise this morning.

J.U.R.N. 'Mister Jan Knippenberg Memorial run (to be). 

 

Closing distance: the West Highland Way Race

Via the weblog of Head of Support Crew, Norman, I found an interesting and terifying video called "Closing distance: the West Highland Way Race". 

 

The subtitle says it all: "documentary exploring one of the worlds toughest endurance races". Total video is 70 minutes, but worth viewing (browsing). They follow several runners during the race, at different points in the race: interesting stuff...... 

 

Click To Play

Introducing: Team Dutch Highland Terriers

We've got ourselves a real team, with real people and real plans! For more information, please read Norman's Blog: http://wouldbeultrarunner.blogspot.com/.

Two iron ladies

It's been months since I last trained with them. They used to push me to my limits (and over). There are times that I hate hem. Although I know they only want the best for me. They have got very tight bodies (due to their extensive training). They make my heart start beating faster. I need them now. They are my two iron ladies. They weigh 2,5 kilogram each.

From now on they will be an essential part of my training. Please meet my two iron ladies......

From Mont Blanc to Jungfrau marathon

Today we gathered together with the team that climed Mont Blanc last summer. Everybody needed another challenge (I already have one though). It was already decided last time we met in November: it is going to be the Jungfrau marathon in Switzerland.

Today Berend and I organized a kick off. First we ran 16km and after that we went through the route, training schedules and team activities. Everyone will organize 'something' the next months until September. As a team we will prepare ourselves; looking forward to it!

PS: this week added up to training 60km.

Comeback 2.1

Thanks Roberto for the tip. I re-read Comeback 2.0 of Lance Armstrong. Got outside and ran. Ended up training four times last week. Which in its self was the goal for now; get outside and train on a regular basis.

This week added up to 53km. The next 5 weeks I wil keep on training four times per week. Slowely increasing training (5 times per week) and weekly total up to 100km by the end of februari/beginning of march. Thats the main target for now. After that, in March hill- and speed work will be included (next to adding km's).

Today I ran together with L.E.O., my Transalpine teammate. He is also registered for the WHWR, so the Dutchies are coming! The weather was perfect as a preparation for the WHWR; assuming that it will rain at least a couple of hours during the race (if not the complete race....). Wet snow, clouds, wind, 2degrees and loads of rain made it an intense training!

These faces do need to get slimmer the next weeks. At least the guy next to me.... :-)

PS: Please visit the weblog of Norman, Head of the Support Department. Striking story of wednesday 13th January 2010! http://wouldbeultrarunner.blogspot.com/

Just another training day. NOT!

Why have they planned the West Highland Way Race in June? Why does my preparation therefore begins right after Christmas and New Year?

Apparently my body is still in the "I-NEED-ALCOHOL-AND-LOADS-OF-UNHEALTHY-FOOD-mode". During my early morning training run my heartrate was higher than the stock exchanges have been since years, and the 5cm of snow felt like 5m of snow.

I am confused (and hurt).   

This is it!

Picture this: you are a Dutchman planning to run the West Highland Way Race. In Scotland that is. Apart from the physical and mental challenges, there's another 'thing' about this ultrarace.

The organisation want's you to come up with a support crew. Not just 'a' support crew. The organisation facilitates 6 check points during the 150km run. What they don't do, is crew the runners along the route. That's what your support crew should do. Clothing, food, drinks, mental support; it's all to be organized by your support crew. Your support crew drives from south to the north of Scotland; just to keep their runners happy.

And there's one other minor detail: one member of the support crew should be able to run along with you. Not the complete 150km, but at least 50km. Due to the weather or the status of their runner, a support crew member can be instructed by the organisation to run along with their runner. Just to make sure no runner will 'disapear'.

Comeback 2.0

Ik moet de eerste Nederlander zijn geweest die hem besteld heeft. Direct na de Tour de France. Lance had nauwelijks in Amerika zijn vingers van het toetsenbord van zijn PC (of Apple) gehaald. Het bericht op Twitter las ik gretig: een boek. Over zijn comeback in de wielersport.

Met foto's. Heel veel foto's. Als sportman heb ik Lance erg hoog zitten. De zaak waar hij voor strijd heb ik nog hoger zitten. Ik heb teveel lieve mensen verloren aan kanker.

Daar stond het. Op pagina twee:

"For me, living life to the fullest is a lot about testing myself: accepting challenges, training hard and then going for it."

Wat is dat raak. Herkenbaar. Mijn oom Bert is jaren geleden overleden aan kanker. Dit was zijn levensmotto 'live life to the fullest'. Op zijn grafsteen liet hij graveren: "Ik heb geleeft."

Vol gas. Alles eruit gehaald. En altijd zijn omgeving uitdagen. Zelfs na zijn dood: hoe is je Nederlands? Alleen een Comeback zit er niet in. Maar in gedachten heb je al heel wat comebacks gemaakt.

LIVESTRONG.