2014 has ended and here is the review of my year of running. To make a long story short, it was a highly successful year considering I successfully completed my three major objectives: the 80k Paris Ecotrail, the 70 mile Laurel Highlands Ultra and the Marathon de Mont Blanc. To get the details and read about my ups and downs, keep reading.
Here was the list of objectives formulated in Dec 2013:
- half marathon at Rueil-Malmaison on 2 March
- the 30k trail at Auffargis on 16 March
- the 80k Ecotrail Paris on 29 March
- the 42k Maratrail at St-Leu-la-Forêt on 13 April
- the 35k trail at L’Yonne on 4 May
- the 54k trail de Donjons at La Roche-Guyon on 18 May
- the 70 mile Laurel Highlands Ultra in Pa on 14 June
- the Marathon de Mont Blanc on 29 June
- the 21k Cul d’Enfer at Mondeville on 31 August
- the 72k Infernal Trail at Remiremont on 14 Sept.
I did not participate in seven of those ten races for various reasons. I had to adapt my training as the year went on.
It got off to a bad start with foot problems that basically prevented me from running during the first 5 weeks of the year. At the end of January, I was thinking that the first 6 months of the year were compromised. I went to the orthopedist and he made me some arch supports that seemed to get me back on track. Through the month of February I slowly ramped up the mileage each week. I skipped the Rueil-Malmaison half marathon because I thought it was too early and too risky to race. In a race it’s easy to get caught up in the event and end up getting hurt. Instead I did my first easy long run of 30k.
I decided to skip the 30k at Auffargis because in my prep for the 80k Ecotrail, I needed a longer run that weekend – a 50k which I did on a 6 hour outing in the Marly Park. That gave me time to taper off before the Ecotrail 2 weeks later.
For the Ecotrail, I was fortunate to have nice weather. With a lot of determination I completed it in under 11 hours. Given my relatively short preparation I was happy just to complete the race. At that time, that was my longest race to date. It was a great confidence builder. I took long rest breaks at the aid stations to refuel. With a more thorough prep and shorter rest breaks I believe I can do that race in under 10 hours.
The Maratrail (42k) that was in April other years was not held in 2014. Instead I did a nice 25k run on the 25-hill trail in Fontainebleau forest with Thomas. Then during the next two weeks I came down with a cold and sore throat that prevented me from running the planned 42k Gatinais trail marathon that I wanted to do to replace the Maratrail.
On the 4th of May I did the 37k trail at Compiegne. They offer a 60k race as well but because I was still somewhat recovering from sickness I didn’t attempt it.
In mid-May the Trail Donjon closed out before I got my entry in so I missed that race due to poor planning. A lesson was learned. Get your entries in early for trail races because often there are low limits on the number of runners allowed to participate.
In late May, on my own, I did a 42k and a 50k on successive weekends to prepare for the Laurel Highlands Ultra on 14 June.
The LHU was a great experience. Read the write-up here LHU for the details. It took me nearly 19 hours to complete, but with the help of a good support crew, a good pacer (thanks John W.!), and a lot of effort I got it done.
Back in France two weeks later the Marathon Mont-Blanc was waiting. On a cold, rainy day Thomas and I set out from Chamonix on some serious mountain climbs. The write-up is here: Mont-Blanc. It took me twice as long as my last Paris Marathon, but I finished.
I had to skip the last two scheduled races for in the year, the Mondeville Trail and the Infernal Trail because I had other things going on.
My last race of the year was the night Noctutrail at Sully. This was my 4th participation and I ran my best time on the 17k course.
I didn’t race much over the last three months of the year but I had a lot of consistent training weeks logging more than 60k. I finished the year with 2252 km total which was 125 less than 2013 but still a good total.
Shortly I will post the objectives and plan for 2015.