Mount Blanc Race Attack

Be sure to tune in to the Mount Blanc Race Attack that is planned for the 30th of April. The goal is to break both the ski/speed climbing record and the over all speed climbing record from Chamonix to Mt Blanc's summit and return. Nicolas Bonnet of France and Matteo Eydallin of Italy will attempt to break the record of Swiss mountaineer Pierre-André Gobet- 5hr 10min. If successfully they will break the speed climb/ski record set by Pierre Gignoux and Stephan Brosse- 5hr 15min. While I really enjoy ski mountaineering racing a lot, it is this kind of skiing that really gets me excited, taking the skills learnt in races to the big mountains! More details can be found HERE

April Dynafit Calendar

April Dynafit Calendar

Avalanche Peak Challange '09

FULL RESULTS HERE Finally raced the Avalanche Peak Challenge this past Saturday! Seemed like a age ago that I entered for the race and then after being out of action for a month I didn't think I would race at all, so it was a feeling of relief when I was standing in the rain on the start line out side the Arthur's Pass DOC center. I have to admit I aren't the smartest racer. I decided to stick with my pre injury race plan. This was a decent race plan, but it didn't take into account the month off from running that I just had. I went out in the lead bunch and entered the tree's in 4th or 5th place. I excited the bush line in 4th, after spending a little time in 3rd place. The rivers were running high and the day was wet and windy, so we got turned on to Scott's track at around 1680m. Some mad man when flying past me here and I went into a cruz mode on the down hill. I snapped out of it when a racer came up behind me just before we got back into the Village. I was super surprised to see the 4th place guy just in front and went after him so after we got on the Bealy River. It was a long 10km to the Bealy Hotel, with 3 of us changing positions a few times before I finaly ended up in 6th place. Not surprisingly I run out of stem in the final K's. I ended the run in 2hr23, about 15min behind 1st place and around 5 mins off a top 3 finish. Over all really happy with the result! Jane finished in 5th place and was also pretty happy after not running a lot because of a twisted ankle we got around 6 weeks ago. My Mum, who turns 60 this year, also did the race in the tramping class. She did pretty well, apart from having some lady that was freaking out a little clinging on to her climbing up the Avalanche Peak track. This slowed her down a little and she ended up coming in last (I think). I was pretty impressed that she stuck it out after being slowed down so much during the first half of the race. Nice job Mum!

Avalanche Peak Challenge- Compulsory Gear

Most mountain running races have a list of compulsory gear and with the Avalanche Peak Challenge climbing up to 1800m above sea level, down a nasty scree slope and along less than ideal river bed, its no big surprise that there is a list of compulsory gear for this weekend. My compulsory gear is as follows- -drinking bladder filled with water or other drink at the start: Platy Pus filled with some watered down sports drink - long-sleeved parka: Texner Hyper Light jacket-100gr! -hat or hood on parka: Buff! -two long-sleeved thermal tops, one to wear and one spare. If you do not wear one of them during the race, you must carry two of these tops: I'll have to search out might lightest 2 thermal tops -tights or leggings: Luckily I have a nice light pair of 3/4 Dynafit tights, that hopfully will be OK -gloves: A pair of $5 thermal gloves from the local gas station -thermal blanket and survival bag: Got the thermal blanket out of my winter survival kit –all of the above to be carried in a day pack: Salomon Raid Revo 15 I'm gonna use the Salomon XA Pro running shoes, my T6C and a bunch of Gu. My pack with all the compulsory gear in it (minis the 2l H2O) weights in at 1247gr. A lot lighter that my ski mountaineering race pack, that's for sure. Hoping that the 3/4 Dynafit tights and crazy light Texner jacket will be excepted

Jane and ChristinA making there way off the Rome/Avalanche Ridge and into the Crow Valley

Avalanche Peak Count Down

One of my bigger goals of the summer, the Avalanche Peak Challenge, is this weekend (7th March). Today I did only my 3rd run in over a month, not exactly great preparation, but that is the joy of being injured I guess. With R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compression and elevation) the shin splits/tendonitis I had in my lower right leg seems to have settled down, so after a 30min and 1hr earlier this week (as well as a few road cycles) I did 1hr20min run up the BR road, over Camp saddle in to the Craigiburn Valley and back to the BR road via Lyndon saddle. This run was my last run before getting injured 5 weeks ago, so it was a little bit of a head game, as I worried that it might be something about this particular run that injured me. My shin had a little niggle, but I iced it straight after and is now feeling fine. I worked a little hard than the last time I did the run, but did it about 10mins fast and felt I could have gone faster. Surprisingly I may not have lost as much fitness as I expected? I have have had the Suunto T6C for almost 2 months now, but it hasn't been till these last 3 runs that I have done that I really appreciated it. The T6C takes your heart rate, then using your activity level (my has dropped from about 8 down to 5) it calculations a training effect. I found this really useful as I have wanted to take things really easy as I am getting back into running. Will see how much time I have over this week, but hopfully will do a few more post Avalanche Peak Challenge posts.