After spending most of my time on the bike for the last couple of weeks, it was time to test the Achilles. We signed up for one of the biggest running events in Switzerland, the Greifenseelauf. It’s a beautiful run around a lake.
I had signed Kai up for the half marathon (yes, I sign him up for races without asking) and I opted for the 10k distance. My plan was to take it easy to test Lady Achilles.
This race offers a nice team run version: Runner A (Kai) runs the half marathon and runner B (me) joins the first runner after 11 kilometres.
The race was only a 15-minute train ride from Zurich. As usual, the train ticket was included in the registration fee.
Kai went to the starting line.
Meanwhile, I took a boat across the lake to get to the meeting point at the 11k mark.
The aid station team was just setting up when I got there.
While I waited, I saw the elite runners coming through. It was incredible to watch.
Finally, Kai arrived and we took off together. It felt strange to join a race that was already underway. Everyone was sweating and breathing heavily while I was completely fresh.
However, it didn’t take long and I had joined the sweaty gang.
Our plan was to stick to a 5min/km pace (8min/mile). This worked well most of the time but it was difficult to hold back with the fresh legs. Kai helpfully kept reminding me of Lady Achilles. We took our time at the aid stations and stopped running completely.
Kai finished his half marathon in 1:39 and I finished the 9.5k in 46 minutes. Our times were added up so that our end result was 2:25. Somehow, we even managed to place 5th out of 99 teams.
After we crossed the finish line, I went straight to the medical team to get some ice for Lady Achilles. She seemed to like that. I think she also liked my Hokas because she kept quiet during the race and even the day after. Such a relief!
Next Sunday, the Berlin Marathon is on the agenda. I hope Lady Achilles will let me run this one, too.
Oh, and remember that bike ride we did last week? Our friend Raphael sent me these photos from his bike ride last Sunday. I think we were lucky with our timing!
- Have you ever joined a race that was already underway?
- Ever visited the medical team right after a race?
I’m joining Kooky Runner and Zenaida’s link-up, Tuesday Topics. I’m also joining Runner’s Roundup with Mile By Mile, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner and Runs with Pugs.
Liebe Catrina,
dieser Lauf ist ja wie geschaffen für einen Wiedereinstieg für dich! Tolles Konzept, dass die “Begleitläufer” mit der kürzeren Distanz für die zweite Hälfte einsteigen!
Aber am besten ist die Info, dass Lady A. sich ruhig verhalten und die Strecke ohne zu zicken, ausgehalten hat. 😀
Oh, der Winter ist bei euch jetzt auch schon da! Da wird euch der Gedanke, bald wieder nach Südafrika zu reisen, wohl sehr verlockend erscheinen, oder? 😉
Ich wünsche dir eine gute Taperingwoche und sag jetzt schon mal ToiToiToi für Berlin! 🙂
Liebe Doris
Dieses Konzept haben die Organisatoren vor ein paar Wochen vorgestellt – da habe ich mich gleich umgemeldet. Eine super Idee!
Zum Glück war sie ruhig – ich glaube, das Eis war die Zauberformel. Viellleicht ist sie eine Eiskönigin?
Haha, genau! In der ersten Oktoberwoche geht’s los nach Cape Town. Die Armen kämpfen da gerade mit sehr vielen Stromausfällen… es wird interessant.
Danke dir! Tapering ist schon in vollem Gange (das kann ich immer gut!). Yay für Berlin!
Great photos of Rafael on the snowy mountains.🇨🇭
Happy travels to Berlin & enjoying the exhibition there. Always fun to see the latest gear & food supplements.
You will crush Berlin. 3:15 Marathon I am predicting!🏃♀️💨💨
No to both questions. 🌞
Poor Rafael! But he stoically persevered – definitely our biking hero!
Oh yes, I’m looking forward to the expo. I want to try Maurten gels – I’ve heard a lot of good things about them.
Oh, Yves, I hope so! It would be great if everything comes together. I’m so excited! (and nervous!)
Great team effort, both of you! And what good news that you have managed to appease Lady Achilles. I guess the only thing to do if injured is to take it very, very slowly and remember to rest – however boring that may feel.
Thank you, Riitta! I’m so glad Lady A was quiet for this one. You are absolutely right – I will need to take it slowly and rest. It is a bit boring, but it’s necessary! 🙂
Strahlende Gesichter ! Mir gefällt das Zieleinlaufbild am besten, Familie Strahlermann, hattet auch allen Grund dazu ! Bravo – auch für Kai !!
Sieht doch ganz gut aus für Berlin, mit ein bisschen Glück und Optimismus im Koffer wird alles richtig gut laufen, ich bin sicher . Das wünsche ich euch beiden von ❤ – und dann noch mehr Fotos von Familie Strahlemann !!
Habe einmal nach einem tierisch heißen 60-Kilometer-Lauf einen Arzt konsultiert, er stand für jedermann im Zielbereich, Blutdruck: bestens – alles gut – das war aber auch das einzige Mal, zum Glück brauchte ich nie einen Arzt !
So – dann nochmals viel, viel Glück für euch beide🍀🍀
Das Bild gefällt mir auch am besten! Kai hat das super gemacht. Ich glaube, es ist nicht so einfach, wenn der Laufpartner frisch-fröhlich dazukommt, wenn man selbst schon etwas kaputt ist.
Ich hoffe es, liebe Margitta! Kai wird selbst nicht laufen, er wird die Supporter-Rolle übernehmen. Jetzt müssen wir nur noch ausrechnen, wo er wann stehen muss. Mit der Tracking-App sollte es einfach sein, die Läufer zu orten.
Ah, sehr gut! Nur mal Blutdruck testen bei einem heissen Lauf – das ist zum Glück noch harmlos. Und die geschwollenen Füsse kann man ja bestens selbst behandeln.
Danke dir! Ich hoffe, dass es gut gehen wird!
Liebe Catrina,
nochmals an dieser Stelle herzliche Glückwünsche zu eurem Super-Resultat! Eine interessante Variante, 21+10. Ich fragte mich schon, wie du dann über den See zu deinem Start gekommen bist, aber Boot, klar…. Eine solche Rennvariante kannte ich noch nicht.
Prima, dass du auch gleich Kühl-Eis bekommen konntest! Ich brauchte im Ziel noch nie Hilfe, aber bei anderer Gelegenheit, als ich als Zuschauerin bei einem Survivalrun direkt vor einem Samariterzelt so dumm stürzte, dass ich echt ein paar Minuten dort auf einem Feldbett liegen musste…
Da der Greifensee für euch ja quasi um die Ecke liegt, und dann noch kostenfreie Bahnfahrt, dann ist es ja ein must-do! Zumal das Wetter ja noch mitspielte. Das sah dann auf dem Klausen ja schon gleich ganz anders aus, als bei eurer Biketour dort hinauf. Ein Glück, dass das vorher war!
Das war ja nun ein prima Test für Berlin, ich denke mal, der Marathon dort kann kommen!
Liebe Grüße
Elke
Liebe Elke
Danke dir! Diese Rennvariante ist ganz neu. Ca. 4 Wochen her bekamen wir ein Mail, wo das OK dieses Konzept angeboten hat. Ich denke, es ging ihnen darum, mehr Teilnehmer zu motivieren. Für uns war es optimal.
Als Zuschauerin?! Haha, das ist lustig. Gut für dich, dass da gerade ein Samariterzelt war. Zum Glück ist nichts Schlimmeres bei deinem Sturz passiert.
Greifensee ist jedes Jahr ein “Muss” – fast wie der GP Lauf für die Berner. Mit dem Klausenpass hatten wir ein Riesenglück – das wäre mir zu kalt gewesen.
Mal sehen, wie Berlin laufen wird. Unser kleines Lazarett-Team ist ja bestens vorbereitet! 🙂
Liebe Grüsse und bis Ende Woche!!
Great news about your Achilles. Phew.
Love the bike pics.
I’ve run the second half of a marathon relay. And yes it was strange to see everyone all sweaty already.
I broke foot at mile 1 of a 5k and went to the medical tents not much they could do. Also after the nyc marathon I asked for ibuprofen because my back ached.
I’m glad it held up for the 10k – now let’s see how it will go for the 42k!
Oh yes, I’ve done a marathon relay as well! It feels like you’re late for the party, right?
You broke a foot in a 5k race? Crazy! Incredible that you could hobble all the way to the medical tent. They should have called an ambulance and sent you straight to the hospital.
Yay for Lady A!!! I hope she stays happy (and quiet) to get you through Berlin. I have had to stop at the medical tent, following a race, only a couple times. Mainly for bandages, but one time I got stung by a hornet (or wasp?) around the halfway point of a half marathon. Luckily, I didn’t have any adverse reactions to it, but the sting site burned non-stop afterwards. It was on the backside of my leg, near the Achilles, and I couldn’t see if the stinger was still intact or not. Turns out, several other runners had also gotten stung at the same place on the race course!
I hope so too, Kim!
Oh wow, being stung by a hornet/wasp during a race sounds like the worst! I don’t know how you continued to run. There must have been a nest near the race course. Imagine if some of the runners had adverse reactions – that medical team must have had a lot to do!
I love relay races. It’s just a different experience to be part of a team and to either pick up or hand off to someone else instead of crossing the start or finish line.
Good luck this Sunday!!! I am sure that Ms. Achilles will give you a good race.
Right!! I love relay races too, although they always involve a lot of waiting if you’re not the first one to run!
I hope so, Birchie, I hope so!!
Liebe Catrina,
super gelaufen und prima beschrieben … und dann noch so gut mit Bildern ‘untermalt’! 🙂 … und als 5. Team im Ziel! Alle Achtung und HERZLICHEN GLÜCKWUNSCH!!!
Das Wichtigste war doch, dass die vorher zickende Lady ruhig gehalten hat! Gleich Eis drauf, war auch eine gute Idee. Vielleicht war der Lauf zudem gut für einen Schuhtest! – Da der Lauf so nah dran liegt, war er ein Muss, ist auch meine Meinung! – Der See hat aber nur gut 17 km Umfang. Wird der Rest am Anfang, oder am Ende dazugepackt, oder vorne und hinten?
Gut, dass ihr vor einer Woche dort oben wart, sonst hätte ich dir meine dicke Gore-Winter-Bekleidung für’s Rad schicken müssen! 😛
Das Rennformat kenne ich so auch noch nicht. Bin nur eine Winter-Staffel gelaufen: 4 Läufer je ein Viertelmarathon, allerdings auf sehr eisigem Untergrund, als Schlussläufer! Sonst nicht mal bei einem Marathon als Staffel parallel zu den Marathonis! Als Team, ja, aber da läuft man sein Rennen von Anfang an und wird dann nur gemeinsam gewertet!
Berlin-Marathon 2002, ich war wohl total dehydriert, musste ich mich hinlegen und da das 1.-Hilfe-Zelt in der Nähe war, habe ich mich dem Team anvertraut. Nach Flüssigkeit und etwa 15 Min. Pause bin ich zum Erstaunen des Teams wieder aufgestanden und meiner Wege gegangen! 😆
… und da wir KEIN Lazarett-Team sind 😆 wird uns allen der Berlin-Marathon viel Spaß machen!!! Ich freu mich drauf, obwohl ich blöderweise jetzt einen leichten Schnupfen habe, wie 2011.
Kommt gut hoch ins schöne Berlin! – Bei uns geht es Donnerstag früh per Bahn dorthin!
Liebe Grüße Manfred
Lieber Manfred
Danke dir! Es hat richtig Spass gemacht! Nächstes Mal machen wir es umgekehrt, da renne ich die 21km und Kai kommt bei KM 11 dazu. 🙂
Ich bin froh, dass die Achilles ruhig war. Jetzt hoffe ich nur, dass sie auch 42km durchhält, aber das werden wir dann am Sonntag sehen.
Sehr gut beobachtet! Vor allem am Schluss werden ein paar Kilometer dazugepackt – und zwischendurch gibt es eine fiese Schlaufe, wo man hin- und zurücklaufen muss. Da sieht man so schön die hintere und vordere Konkurrenz: https://trackmaxx.ch/maps/?m=9b33f317-72d8-4ce1-ac7e-5784762fc6b1
Und besonders die dicken Handschuhe! Uff, Radeln im Schnee wäre nichts für mich gewesen.
Ah, dann wäre das ja mal ein Format, das du ausprobieren müsstest. Es macht Spass, frisch in einen Lauf einzusteigen.
Ich hoffe, dass du das Erlebnis von 2002 nicht nochmals wiederholst… Aber mit so viel Lauf- und Wettkampferfahrung wird das wohl kaum mehr passieren.
Ok, wir sind KEIN Lazarett-Team! Dein Schnupfen wird auch noch verschwinden, und dann kann das Berlin-Sightseeing mit Spass losgehen!
Super! Dann sehen wir uns am Samstag beim Carb-Loading beim Volker!
Liebe Grüsse aus dem kühlen Zürich!
Great to hear that you were able to complete the race without any problems! And I hope the you have a great time in Berlin next week!!
Thanks, Kat! I hope it will hold up for the marathon. I’m so excited to visit Berlin again!
I am so glad that your achilles is feeling better. Injuries are the worst! I just love how you 2 ran through the finish together holding hands. Relay races are fun and a great way to get in some mileage
Me too, Deborah! It’s still sore in the mornings, but I’m hoping it will hold up for the marathon.
Kai insisted on holding hands, but he was right, it made for a good photo! I’m now using it as my new profile pic on my phone 🙂
I’m so glad you were able to do this! Congrats to both of you!
Funny story, after I finished my PR Chicago marathon, I was walking through the finishing chute and reached up on my toes to get a food box. My calves cramped up and I fell backwards. Amazingly, someone caught me, there was a wheelchair, and I was wheeled into the medical tent. I was fine but they wouldn’t let me leave. So of course, I left and made a beeline to the beer truck. I needed hydration! :p
HAHA, Wendy, that’s the best medical tent story yet!! That’s hilarious!
I’m sure beer is the best medicine for cramped-up calves. 🙂
I’m so glad you were able to run and your achilles cooperated! Hopefully it will continue to feel good. A relay like this sounds like fun!
I hope so too, Lisa! I am so nervous about this marathon – I wanted it to be my big PR race but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Oh my gosh! That mountain you climbed last week! You really were lucky.
I’m glad to hear your Achilles is going well. Good luck at Berlin next week.
I love how they had that team option at your race. Good job to both of you. Also that they included the train ticket in the registration. What a great way to get cars off the road.
Right! I wouldn’t wanted to have climbed that mountain in the snow!
I hope all will go well in Berlin. I’m starting to feel nervous…
I love the train tickets! So convenient, no parking hassle and environmentally friendly too! 😊
That’s such a great photo of you both approaching the finish line. Those smiles say it all!
Thanks, Kim! Kai was so happy to see that finish line! 😀
Good luck at the Berlin marathon, Catrina!
Sounds like this was a very well organized race. I like how they had sponges waiting. Beautiful lake! Now that is a nice way, via a scenic boat ride, to get to the race start 😀 Congrats to you and Kai for placing 5th!
Thank you, Firefly! I hope it will go well in Berlin.
The race last Saturday was very well organized. That boat ride was actually quite beautiful if it hadn’t been so cold. I was glad when I could start to run to warm up! 😀
I love that you sign him up for races! That’s so fun!
And I’m glad your Achilles cooperated. That helps. Fingers crossed it behaves in Berlin for you!
I’ve been to the med tent after a race (for my hip at one point), and I’ve joined a race that has already started. That’s kind of a weird feeling.
Haha, he always moans a bit in the beginning but very kindly, he cooperates like a good sport. 😄
I hope so too, Jenn. I feel so nervous about it.
Doesn’t it feel strange? As if you’re late to a party and missed something! 😄
Yay! I’m glad to hear your achilles is feeling good. This was an interesting race format- I like how you had to take a boat to get to your starting point. GOOD LUCK ON SUNDAY!!! We’re all rooting for you. Looking forward to the race recap!
I loved this race format! I want to do it again next year, but then Kai will do the short one and I will do the half marathon. I know he will love to join me with fresh legs when I’m already feeling tired. 🙂
Thank you, Jenny! We have just arrived in Berlin and I’m already nervous!
I seem to recognise Marina – didn’t she visit you while your parents were in Cape Town with you?
What a brilliant race idea to join the Half runner midway! Love, love it! And yes, how strange to be so beautifully fresh while surrounded by sweaty runners! So happy Lady Achilles behaved herself. That is such a relief especially with Berlin coming up. One of my friends Kuma from Gaborone will be doing Berlin as well! She’s battled injuries the last few weeks but is going to give it a shot anyway.
PS: You and I both chose purple tops for our last races!
Oh wow, you have a great memory, Shathiso! Yes, Marina visited us in Cape Town in February! She has a similar background to you: her mum is from northern Europe (Finland) and her dad is from Africa (Nigeria).
This is such a great concept that would work for so many races! I loved it!
We just arrived in Berlin this evening – I’m so nervous… who knows whether Lady Achilles will hold up for 42k. No risk, no fun!
So cool that there is a runner from Gabarone here! I will look out for Kuma – meeting her would be lovely.
PS: now I need your beautiful shorts to go with the purple top!
Maybe that’s why she stands out to me! I could sense our similar heritage even through the screen 🤣 Love it!
Kuma is the loveliest person. Originally from Sri Lanka but has lived in Gaborone and raised three amazing kids (now young adults) here.
Dear Catrina,
this is the best news that your Achilles got better before Berlin and then feeling like holding back and 5th place – very well done!
I have only visited the medical tent for blister care – I learned a lot from them and am able to do things mostly for myself now.
Best of luck to you in Berlin!
Dear Roni
I hope it will work out in Berlin. We are now here and I’m going to pick up my bib today. So nervous!
Very cool that you can treat your own blisters now! It will come in very handy on many of your adventures. Looking forward to reading your recap soon!
Hooray for a happy achilles!
I hope it will hold up for Berlin, Birdie!
I just picked up my bib. I’m so nervous already!
You have the coolest running events — and the best views!
I have been thinking of you today and hope you are having a great run through Berlin.
Thank you, Coco!
Unfortunately, the race in Berlin didn’t go too well. I had to pull out at Kilometre 30 because of the Achilles.
Next year! 😄
Congrats on finishing your 10K pain free! I’m happy to hear that Lady Achilles behaved herself and hope she is doing likewise today at the Berlin Marathon!
Thank you, Debbie! Unfortunately, it didn’t go so well in Berlin. I had to stop at kilometre 30 because of the Achilles. 😬
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that, Catrina.
Sorry to hear that Catrina. I was wondering how you did with the Berlin marathon. Wishing you all the best for your achilles. It will recover with time!
Thank you, Sean! 🤗
So kind of you. Yes, I hope the Achilles will heal soon. Can’t wait to get back on the trails. 😄
You are amazing, Catrina. I always love you mentioning that the train ticket is included in the ticket price. That is such a cool idea how Kai and you were able to run this as a team. To finish 5th out of 99 teams is absolutely incredible. Congratulations to both of you. 🏃♀️ 🏃 😀
Thank you, Carl! It was a well-organized race. The train tickets made everything so much easier! There was no parking and the race organizers announced that well ahead of time. Everyone came by train! You would have enjoyed everything about this race.
I have so much respect for your country, Catrina!