Festival Trail Semois recap

Closest thing to mountains near Holland is the Ardennes region (Belgium). And - lucky me - the Ardennes hold lots and lots of fun races. Last weekend's race (June 30th) is one of those.

53K / 33 miles - 1,600 meters / 5,300 ft elevation gain. Steep up- and downhills. All sorts of fun. :) Goal of this race was to get running buddy Laetitia - an ultra trail virgin - through the race. Sub goal was to let her have a great time.

(Photo courtesy: Leonie van den Haak)

The Ardennes' way of a start - how freaking cool is this? Way cooler than the boring gun thing. ;)

We headed out at 11:10 AM - the RD informed us that they had altered the route because of the river crossing (too much water to cross). Headed out at whatever pace felt comfortable to Laetitia. Considering the unexpected heat - wise call.

Leonie, Laetitia and moi were pretty impressed by the whole start thingie. And yes, I tricked Laetitia into the color bomb look. ;) In the back is blog reader Allan: congrats on finishing as speedy as you did! :)

Despite of two face plants (yes - within 2 miles of each other - I must learn to lift my feet), I had an amazing time. Nice relaxed run - beautiful scenery. Loved the course.

Uphills. :)

That castle all the way in the back: they made us climb it. How cool is that? :)

Did I lie about the scenery? ;)

Things sort of went slightly wrong after this point. We might have missed a turn with a group of runners... Add another 3K / 2 miles and 200 meters / 656 ft elevation gain to the course. ;)

More uphills. Yeah, baby. :)

7 hours and 14 minutes  and 56K / 35 miles (1,800 meters / 5,900 ft elevation gain) later Laetitia was no longer an ultra trail virgin. I had a blast out on the course. Legs felt fresh at the finish and ready to go for some extra hill work the next day. Great training weekend! :) And yes, I'd clearly collected every sip of water on course in my belly... Charming, huh? ;)

That little voice inside

Lately, I've been dealing with this little guy - he keeps telling me that there's no chance in hell (pun intended) that I'll be race ready for that race this summer. The one I really really really want to do. The one I've been dreaming of. The one I've had nightmares of. The one I don't even dare sharing, because I'm afraid that will jinx it. Three and a half months left to regain my sanity and confidence. All while this little guy keeps telling me that my training schedule sucks. Big time. Even though I'm following a known plan (well, at least I try - if my body lets me).

The little b*st*rd (sorry...) just won't listen when I tell him I'm training my butt off here. I do need some time to take care of my body, though. All he wants me to do is train train train. And run a zillion miles a week. Just when I decided to push the 'train hard, but do take some time to smell the flowers and hear the birds' button. That red caped mini makes me feel bad about myself. And let's face it. Even though I can't run a zillion miles a week, running zillion miles a week still wouldn't shut him up. It would never be enough. And yes, there are other runners out there - training for that race - that are logging many more miles a week. I know that, little monster. There's always someone out there that is way better prepared than you are / has logged more miles in training. I've learned to accept that (well, okay, I'm still working on that).

There we go again: how many 30 miles / 50K long runs should I do in training? How many 50-mile / 80K races should I do preparing for that race? Or would doing several 50-mile / 80K races be too much? How many miles should a back-to-back weekend hold? 50? Or more? Or less?

Okay, Zen...

I guess what I really need right now is another little monster telling me to relax, to chill out, to exhale. Or a Mojito. A Mojito might work too.

Goofy or triple that?

So, here we go. I got a little confession to make.

That 50 miler 10 days ago? It got me hooked all over again. If I'd have it my way, I would do it all over again. Today. I want more. I'm screwed. My poor bod.

To make matters worse. I want it all. And preferably now. Not a great combo.

And I really want to give a 100 miler a try. The pain, the exhaustion, the suffering, the challenge. The vomiting, the hallucinating. I want. I want it all. And I want it bad.

See where I'm getting to?

I have some planned races for this year. One of them in particular scares the sh*t out of me. I'm registered. And training for it. But not ready to share that dream. Yet. :) Hint: it involves a heck of a lot of mountains, steep uphills, steep downhills and a 31 hour time-limit (due to highly technical trails and a 24,000 ft elevation gain). But it's not a 100 miler.

Next year (2013) I'd hope to be ready to give a 100 miler a shot. And I'd love it to be one in the good old US of A. I've been toying with the idea of Vermont 100.

But then there's the Goofy Challenge. And I love Disney. But I'm not making that trip from the Netherlands to the States twice in one year. Air fares are insane. Not to mention the fact that I don't have an unlimited supply of vacation time.

Registration for Goofy opens April 10th and I was told it's likely to sell out fast. So, I should make up my mind on this one as soon as possible.

And I suck big time at making up my mind. Lucky for me, that's where you guys come in. Please? So, help me out here and leave me your pick in the comment's section (or shoot me an email), will you? :)

Update: Air fares are insane in July (possible Vermont 100 idea). Just spotted the Virgil Crest 100 in NY in September - reasonable air fares. Still can't make up my mind, though...

And even more Eco-Trail de Paris 50 miler photos!

The official race photos are online, so I have a few more pics of the Eco-Trail de Paris 50 miler to share (then again...I have a ton of pics on my camera that I didn't even post...overload!). Whether you like it or not. ;)

Somewhere in the first 45K / 27 miles of the course. On a downhill.

Somewhere in the first 45K / 27 miles. On an uphill.

Somewhere in the first 45K / 27 miles. On trails. :)

A short climb along the Seine River. Can you spot the Eiffel Tower in the back? :) Almost there!

Uhm, yep...looks like 'marching' along. ;)

Climbing the stairs to the first platform of the Eiffel Tower. Finish line within reach! :)

Clearly I'd spotted the finish line at this point. :)

Woo-the-bleeping-hoo!!! :)

Why, I'd ask you? Why? Making a complete fool out of myself. Yet again. ;)

Eco-Trail de Paris 2012 80K / 50 miler Recap and Photos

As promised, the Eco-Trail de Paris Recap and Photos. Mostly photos. Since I took a bunch of them. And they kind of say it all. :) Boy, did I have fun at this race. :)

83-ish K / 52-ish miles and 1,500 meters / 4,900 ft elevation gain. Trails for most of the course. Finish line ON the Eiffel Tower. Could I have asked for more? Nope. :)

As said earlier today here I planned on approaching this race as an 'ultra tourist'. I'd had a crazy busy week at work and didn't sleep too well the nights before. I needed a relaxed fun run. Planned on taking lots and lots of pictures, treating the aid stations as a buffet, and soaking in every single mile of this race. :) And that's exactly what I did. I soaked in every inch of this race. :) The running gods must have been with me last Saturday - I had a blast. :)

The signs that would lead the way.

Saturday March 24th 2012. 12 PM. Toeing the start line. Temps were up (le sigh...), sun was burning on my scalp. After a short briefing, we were ready to go. Woo Hoo! :) I had been looking forward to this race for monts...and now I was finally getting ready to cross that start line.

My dear Mom was sweet enough to join me for this race and drove me to the start line. Cheered me on with her dog Diddy. :) And took these pics when I spotted them right after the start.

Goof ball, anyone?

First, we ran a loop through a park. Pretty crowded, but nice trails. :)

Uhm...yeah...no freaking clue what I was doing here.

Running a 50 miler AND working on your tan? That's how it's done Silly Girl Running Style...

How awesome is this? In awe. :)

We entered the first aid station after 22K /14 miles. Mom was waiting for me there, so I chatted with her for a bit, refilled my pack, had some energy gel and drank a bottle of Coca Cola (yep...). There was a hilly / steep climbs part coming up after this, so I took some time to refuel. :) Especially since the next aid station (water only) would be at 45K / 27 miles.

25-ish K / 16 miles in.

35K / 22 miles in. Feeling the heat. I. Do. Not. Do. Well. In. Heat.

A nice lady was sweet enough to take my photo right after the 45K/27 mile aid station. Can you spot the Eiffel Tower in the back? I could not stop smiling at this point in the race. :)

I suck at taking self portraits. Just saying. :)

After the 45K aid station, I ran into a nice French guy named Patrick and ended up chatting with him for the rest of the race. At the 55K / 33 mile aid station (on top of a hill :)) we refueled and had some noodle soup. Best. Soup. Ever. Especially since my tummy wasn't a huge fan of the heat / GU combo. Since the race started at 12 PM and I would end up finishing this race in the night time, I changed my shirt for a short sleeve (I could make a long sleeve out of it with the arm sleeves I was wearing), and took out my head lamp. It would probably be dark before I'd make it to the next aid station, so I figured it would be better to take care of that before I'd stumble over some sort of tree trunk. Uh-huh. :)

67K in. Last aid station before the Eiffel Tower Finish line. Before the start of the race I was pretty worried about the night time running, but ended up loving it. :) After the 67K /42 miles aid station there was a short down hill, and after that we were following the Seine River to the Eiffel Tower. :)

Yep, I suck at taking self portraits. :)

Musee de Ceramique. 70-ish K /44 miles in.

Hello, Eiffel Tower!

Insert Eiffel Tower photo shoot. Ha! How cool are the blinking lights? Seriously, how cool is that? :)

With the Eiffel Tower withing reach we must have been almost there, right? Yep, exactly! Running under the Eiffel Tower with the crowds cheering you on: total rock star moment. ;) Made climbing the stairs to the first level of the Eiffel Tower to the finish line feel like a walk in the clouds. Crossed that finish line after 10 hours and 9 minutes of fun. Slowpoke for life. :)

Done? Already? :(

Not too shabby, huh?

The day after. Bringing sexy back in my compression socks. Wearing the race shirt, a size small, which ended up being more like a size XXXX-large. Yeah...

Despite of the fact that I actually felt okay, somehow walking down steps was less funny...

Post race lunch. :) Still could not stop smiling. :)

Eco-trail de Paris 50 miler (Teaser)

About that 50 miler... Full race report (with pics) coming a.s.a.p.. For now...a quick preview. :)

I. Had. A. Freaking. Blast. Still smiling just thinking about it (enter room mate at the firm looking funny at me...).

Last Saturday, March 24th 2012, I was lucky and fortunate enough to participate in the Eco-trail de Paris 50 miler (although the course measured long and it turned out to be 83-ishK / 52-ish miles) in Paris, France. Amazing weather (too hot...and this girl doesn't do well in heat...you probably know that by now...) and amazing course. The race directors managed to map out an amazing trail race around Paris. A hilly race through beautiful forests (about 1,500 meters / 4,900 ft of elevation gain). On the terrain of the most amazing Chateaus (yep, that's 'Castles' in French). Finish line on (yes, ON, as in walking stairs up the Eiffel Tower to finish the race) the Eiffel Tower. Loved it. Loved it, loved it. :)

Due to the temps (this hot in March...seriously?) and the crazy busy week I'd had at work (and the lack of sleep the nights before), I planned on 'ultra touristing' this race. I.e. taking a sh*t load of photos, treating the aid stations as a buffet (oh yeah!) and trying to keep that smile on my face from start to finish. :) And that's exactly how it worked out. The running gods must have been with me last Saturday: I ended up having a blast, found myself singing on several occasions (sorry, about that...I must have traumatized at least a dozen of fellow runners), and met some cool people en route. Ran into a really nice French guy - Patrick - after 46K (29-ish miles) and ended up running with him for the rest of the race. Patrick, thanks for making me laugh out loud. :) I actually felt sad it was over after 10 hours and 9 minutes (slowpoke for life ;)). I feel blessed. :)

So, since I took a sh*t load of photos, I'll need some time to upload those. The official race pics aren't online yet. I'll try and work on the uploading of the photos I took tonight - be prepared for being photo bombed later this week. ;)

Mountain lover? Trail lover? Watch this!

Inspirational. And look at those views! :) Okay, I'll stop babbling now. Just watch this video. :)

Full Moon or 'What I do on weekends'

Last Saturday Night. Full moon. A fun group of runners. 'Santa's little Helpers' picked as a theme for this theme run.

That's moi on the right. On the left, yep, that's a guy. In a dress.

A full moon trail run = A heck of a lot of fun.



Courtesy of Fred & Marianne

The 13K Lordie ran on Saturday, combined with the 24K he ran yesterday (Sunday) made one tired doggio. :) He snuck his way on my side of the bed while I was in the shower...