17 days, 1205 km across Germany!(click on any picture for a larger image) |
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In 2002 Stephanie and I ran our first long stage race,
La Transe Gaule (TG),
18-days and 1145 km across France.
Deutschlandlauf (DL) would be our second race beyond 1000 km.
But, this one was much harder! DL average 71 km per day, versus 64 km per day
for the TG. That works out to nearly one hour per day more running, and of course
less rest! Also, DL had 7 stages over 80 km, really long days.
(click here for a summary of the DL2005 stages, and route map)
Also, after a "short" first day of 58 km the 2nd - 8th days totalled over 340 miles in one week!
And, we still had another 9 stages after that.
TG did not exceed 285 miles in a week, and the longest stage was 78 km.
This was a very well organized event. I can't fathom the job that RD
Ingo Schulze did to
coordinate a 17-day stage race with 67 runners, crews, and support people.
Each night we stayed in a different town (in gymnasiums),
food had to be coordinated at each location, and so on. Aid stations
alone are a real challenge as there were over 100 stations in this race!
And course marking: can you imagine marking a course for over 1200 km?
I am aware of only one mix-up with course marking, which was due to a
mis-informed volunteer and cost 5 runners a few minutes each. Ingo said
to the runners "All you have to do is run, eat and sleep," and he was
absolutely right.
Ingo Schulze
crowded gymnasium
gymnasium life
Tangermunde
feeding time
course marking
aid station
nice roads
It was also very lovely. Every day we ran on quiet back roads and bike
paths (and sometimes even trails) through sleepy farm lands and quiet
small towns. This is a really neat way to see a country up close and
personal -- not the sights
but the landscape and out-of-the-way places that tourists rarely visit.
The first half of the run was in the old East Germany, and it was very
interesting to see the contrast that still exists with the western part.
We received very warm receptions in many of the small towns where we stayed.
Often locals would make cakes, which we would hungily consume at the finish
line (Germans are famous for their cakes, and beer of course.)
Sometimes
runners from a local club would come run along with us. In several of the
small towns where we stayed the mayor came out to give a welcoming speech.
Stephanie ran very well for about 5 days, but then experienced the same
metabolic problems that have plagued her in every multiday she has tried
(we call it the "Pillsbury Dough Boy" effect.) I guess this just isn't
her event. She did the first 8 stages, then rested for a week, while
supporting me and the other runners, and then ran the last 2 stages as
well, completing something over 730 km. We were able to finish the final
stage together, which was really special for me.
Things went pretty well for me, considering that I train almost
exclusively for mountain running. In France I started too fast and didn't
heed the warning signs of injury, and so ended up with horrible shin
splits that had me walking slowly for 5 days. This time I tried to start
slowly, running about 10 km/hr for the first 2 days. Apparently that
wasn't slow enough as my legs really HURT for several days. My pace
gradually dropped, bottoming out at 8 km/hr or so.
I felt OK, but there
was just no power for many days. Frustating. Still, with
previous experience I was able to avoid significant injuries, while
watching very fine runners crater all around me, mainly the victims of
shin splints. My ankles did hurt and became swollen after 4-5 days, but
it was manageable and by the end of the race they were fine. After the
11th or 12th stage the stages got shorter, I got more rest, and I began
finally to be able to run a bit faster, around 10 km/hr again.
(click here for a summary of my times in the DL2005 stages)
With so many physically and mentally stressed people living in close
quarters illness was a problem. A stomach virus ripped through the field,
sparing almost no one. At some time or other you just had to accept that
you were going to feel like death and go very slowly for one day.
Fortunately, my time came on
one of the shorter days. It took me 8:45 to complete 58 km that day, then
2-3 more days to recover my appetite and catch back up on calories.
Many runners were not so lucky and had to drop due to this virus.
The overall results are here.
The final tally was 67 starters and 37 finishers. I held on to 10th
place, which was satisfying considering the quality and experience of
the field. Four of the guys ahead of me finished the
TransEurope,
a 5100 km stage race from Lisbon to Moscow held 2 years ago. The winner,
Rainer Koch, is certainly one of the best multiday runners in the World.
This kid would pull off 50 mile stages in well under 7 hours, day in & out!
Rainer has run 7:05 for 100km, and also won Rocky Racoon while living in
the USA in 2004.
Perhaps the best thing about multiday stage racing is the comeraderie that
develops between the runners. We become brothers in the struggle, united in
the purpose that each of us should reach the Lörrach. Of course, we could not
do it with out the dedicated support of so many who helped us along the way.
Thanks!
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In 2002 Stephanie and I ran our first long stage race, La Transe Gaule (TG), 18-days and 1145 km across France. Deutschlandlauf (DL) would be our second race beyond 1000 km. But, this one was much harder! DL average 71 km per day, versus 64 km per day for the TG. That works out to nearly one hour per day more running, and of course less rest! Also, DL had 7 stages over 80 km, really long days. (click here for a summary of the DL2005 stages, and route map) Also, after a "short" first day of 58 km the 2nd - 8th days totalled over 340 miles in one week! And, we still had another 9 stages after that. TG did not exceed 285 miles in a week, and the longest stage was 78 km. |
| This was a very well organized event. I can't fathom the job that RD Ingo Schulze did to coordinate a 17-day stage race with 67 runners, crews, and support people. Each night we stayed in a different town (in gymnasiums), food had to be coordinated at each location, and so on. Aid stations alone are a real challenge as there were over 100 stations in this race! And course marking: can you imagine marking a course for over 1200 km? I am aware of only one mix-up with course marking, which was due to a mis-informed volunteer and cost 5 runners a few minutes each. Ingo said to the runners "All you have to do is run, eat and sleep," and he was absolutely right. |
Ingo Schulze |
crowded gymnasium |
gymnasium life |
Tangermunde |
feeding time |
course marking |
aid station |
nice roads |
|
It was also very lovely. Every day we ran on quiet back roads and bike paths (and sometimes even trails) through sleepy farm lands and quiet small towns. This is a really neat way to see a country up close and personal -- not the sights but the landscape and out-of-the-way places that tourists rarely visit. The first half of the run was in the old East Germany, and it was very interesting to see the contrast that still exists with the western part. |
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We received very warm receptions in many of the small towns where we stayed. Often locals would make cakes, which we would hungily consume at the finish line (Germans are famous for their cakes, and beer of course.) Sometimes runners from a local club would come run along with us. In several of the small towns where we stayed the mayor came out to give a welcoming speech. |
| Stephanie ran very well for about 5 days, but then experienced the same metabolic problems that have plagued her in every multiday she has tried (we call it the "Pillsbury Dough Boy" effect.) I guess this just isn't her event. She did the first 8 stages, then rested for a week, while supporting me and the other runners, and then ran the last 2 stages as well, completing something over 730 km. We were able to finish the final stage together, which was really special for me. |
|
| Things went pretty well for me, considering that I train almost exclusively for mountain running. In France I started too fast and didn't heed the warning signs of injury, and so ended up with horrible shin splits that had me walking slowly for 5 days. This time I tried to start slowly, running about 10 km/hr for the first 2 days. Apparently that wasn't slow enough as my legs really HURT for several days. My pace gradually dropped, bottoming out at 8 km/hr or so. I felt OK, but there was just no power for many days. Frustating. Still, with previous experience I was able to avoid significant injuries, while watching very fine runners crater all around me, mainly the victims of shin splints. My ankles did hurt and became swollen after 4-5 days, but it was manageable and by the end of the race they were fine. After the 11th or 12th stage the stages got shorter, I got more rest, and I began finally to be able to run a bit faster, around 10 km/hr again. (click here for a summary of my times in the DL2005 stages) |
| With so many physically and mentally stressed people living in close quarters illness was a problem. A stomach virus ripped through the field, sparing almost no one. At some time or other you just had to accept that you were going to feel like death and go very slowly for one day. Fortunately, my time came on one of the shorter days. It took me 8:45 to complete 58 km that day, then 2-3 more days to recover my appetite and catch back up on calories. Many runners were not so lucky and had to drop due to this virus. |
|
| The overall results are here. The final tally was 67 starters and 37 finishers. I held on to 10th place, which was satisfying considering the quality and experience of the field. Four of the guys ahead of me finished the TransEurope, a 5100 km stage race from Lisbon to Moscow held 2 years ago. The winner, Rainer Koch, is certainly one of the best multiday runners in the World. This kid would pull off 50 mile stages in well under 7 hours, day in & out! Rainer has run 7:05 for 100km, and also won Rocky Racoon while living in the USA in 2004. |
| Perhaps the best thing about multiday stage racing is the comeraderie that develops between the runners. We become brothers in the struggle, united in the purpose that each of us should reach the Lörrach. Of course, we could not do it with out the dedicated support of so many who helped us along the way. Thanks! |
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