Flopped Footsteps

I wasn’t just burning it; I had burnt it! And I wasn’t hitting it; I had hit it!

After 6weeks totally and utterly focused on TransVulcania Race, the success and relief, the media and parties, the late nights with new and old friends and play and adventures in the mountains, mixed with travel and changing climates and then the 10hours on the Maxi-Race Annecy, I was cooked!

I needed rest and recovery. So off I went in my Origin Campervan to the top of the Semnoz, where I slept, slept in the sun and slept amongst the flowers and slept some more. My legs were not recovering. The muscles were twitching all night. I had fluid retention in my ankles.  I needed to recharge my mind. I needed to find my spirit and passion again in the mountains. And after nearly a week, my body and mind were ready to find a mountain summit. I went to Chinaillon to support Kilian and Lizzy in a race across some beautiful mountains. And there I found the freedom and contentment that I hunt. The beauty of the nature and the happiness is giving me. I spent one last night of recovery on aColin the clouds. And in the morning the summit opened up to me luring me in. and up there I found love. 360° of love.

I am sitting in a posh hotel in Les Contamines. I had a 20minute shower. A novelty these days. I await the arrival of some of my Salomon Family. We are going on a 3-day adventure on the Ultra Trail Mount Blanc (UTMB) Trail. There is a race on the trail which takes in 168km of stunning trail and 9600m of altitude change. And takes anywhere from 21.5hours-46hours http://www.ultratrailmb.com/accueil.php And to be honest it is tempting me in, it is intriguing me, and it is scaring me. This will be a beautiful way with friends to see some stunning scenery.

Annecy Maxi-Race

I’m not actually sure when I made the decision to race this one. But who can hold themselves back from a 810m vertical burst up Mount Veryier…not me. As well as the incredible beauty of Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountains that were luring me in. And I wanted a long day out so why not?! But 10.15hr was not as long as I was really thinking.

On Saturday the vertical race was over and done with in 41.28mins…with a reward of stunning views of the lake and towering mountains.

The Maxi-Race starts at 3.20am on Sunday morning. Initially it was 78km but with heavy rain the course was changed to avoid one of the highest points but was compromised with 10 more kms. So we were now up to 88km and 5100m worth of vertical climbing.

There were thousands of people out to play. Running, walking, jogging and supporting. Off into the dark peaceful night we were cheered through the streets. Don’t people sleep here?! Then as we reached the top of Semnoz – the first hill – the trail was marked with fire lights. I turned my head torch off and enjoyed the romance.

The rest of the day was filled with hard climbs and descents. Heat and water, support and freedom, peace and goats bells. As the clock ticked on, so did the pain in my legs. At the top of the final climb, I was only 1-minute behind the 3rd male. He spotted me and took off. My legs were done and just managed to stay on my wobbly feet for the final descent into Annecy. A stunning day out and a hilarious cartoon to sum it all up!

Zegama Chill

From La Palma to Zegama was a bit of a shock to the system.

Emotionally I was exhaused.

Physically I was tired.

Mentally I was buzzing.

I had put it all on the line at TransVulcania. See my blog here:  http://www.irunfar.com/2012/05/live-love-laugh-anna-frosts-2012-transvulcania-race-report.html#.T7YIQCk6QCo.facebook

I made the decision not to race Zegama this time, but to support my family of runners from all over the world, who had made the trip from La Palma to Zegama so special. Here is a really nice portrait of the race and the beautiful people chasing their dreams. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-Frost/211913938907017?sk=messages_inbox#!/media/set/?set=a.350438581688635.81270.111421112257051&type=1

(Photos: DROZ Photography)

Next up – to the Mt Blanc region in my new home…www.origin-campervans.com

 

 

 

TransVulcania LIVE LOVE LAUGH

Here is my race report from the TransVulcania race…finally!

http://www.irunfar.com/2012/05/live-love-laugh-anna-frosts-2012-transvulcania-race-report.html#respond

Pre-TransVulcania Interview with Back Country Runner

http://backcountryrunner.co.nz/2012/05/08/anna-frost-pre-transvulcania-interview/

Taper Time for TransVulcania

A Love : Hate Relationship

I love it because:

• After 5weeks of an average of 25hrs training (including running, biking, swimming/aqua jogging and walking) and three hard ones of those being here in La Palma I am sufficiently tired and in need of some recovery.

• For the runner geeks out there (Matt, Tony) who want to know more stats here they are (for everyone else skip this point):

Weight	April 3rd	58kg
	May 10th
Diet (General)	Breakfast	Banana, yoghurt, honey,   almonds, strawberries (plus oats if I am doing a long run), black coffee (I   have cut out milk)
	Lunch	Salad with a mixture of:   Lettuce, tomato, avocado, poached eggs, beetroot, apple, carrot, tuna and   sundried tomatos. Mule Refuel bar, black coffee
	Dinner	Salad (as above) or grilled   vegetables. Brown rice or lentils (if I feel I need some more carbo’s) plus   protein – chicken, tuna, steak, eggs, tofu
	Snack	Nuts, yoghurt or ice-cream,   chai tea
Training	Mon	1hr run, 1-2hr bike, 1hr swim/aqua jog
	Tues	4-5hrs run, ~30mins swim/aqua jog
	Wed	2-2.5hr run, ~30mins swim/aqua jog, 2.5hr bike
	Thurs	4-5hrs run, ~30mins swim/aqua jog
	Fri	30mins swim/aqua jog, recovery day
	Sat	2-2.5hr run, ~30mins swim/aqua jog, 2.5hr bike
	Sun	4-6hr run plus 1hr walk at end, ~30mins swim/aqua   jog

•  I have more time to go to the beach, the markets, cafes, chatting to people and just enjoy being somewhere new and exciting

 I hate it because:

•  I love running and spending days out in the mountains exploring
• It is hard to hurry up and wait
• I can’t sit still for long
• I just want to race…NOW!

But like always, I never feel like you have done enough even though I have done what I can do. I have really loved the training out here although it has been very tough – hard, technical and hot. My poor shoes have been proof of the intensity of the terrain.

It is hard to judge how fit I really am as I haven’t had anyone, any race or any time trials to compare myself too. I know I am fit, but I guess we will see how fit on the day, when I go head to head with a field of incredibly strong women. Here is just a short list of some of the competition: IAU Trail World Champion Maud Gobert from France; Americans Darcy Africa, 2011 Hard-Rock 100; Nikki Kimball, 3rd 2011Western States 100 and 2007 TNF Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®; Kasia Zajac from Poland, Zugspitz Super Trail 2011. Germanys Julia Bottger and Spanish Nuria Picas.

This week the rest of my Salomon family arrive. I am really looking forward to showing them just some of the gems I have found on this incredible island. It is always so calming to be able to share their experience, passion, motivation and support in something we all work so hard for.

www.transvulcania.com

 

The GR131

I am in the final hard week of training before the TransVulcania race (for more info about it go to: www.transvulcania.com) so that meant a long day out on the course. I left from the El Paso visitors centre and headed up the steepest and quickest way to the GR131 to get going on the race route. I was blessed with a cloudless day…well for that moment, as the weather can change within minutes here…and I could see across to El Pilar where the race route comes from.

It was a constant climb for the next 3.30hrs but with continuous change in climate, terrain, foliage and colours of the volcanic rocks and cliffs I hardly noticed the time go by.

With clouds building in the valley and steadily climbing up to the ridge, I put in a bit of a burst to get to the Roque Muchachos – the Observatory (with more than 75% clear nights and the worlds largest telescope) which looked more to me like a parking space for the aliens and more importantly for me it is the highest point in the race at 2426m.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4apDrpx-3KI&feature=share

From here it is 18km down, down, down to Tazacorte Porte and another 6km meanly back up to Llanos to the finish.

I have learnt to enjoy running downhill but mentally I still lack the concentration to keep going hard all the way down, but my usual love for the uphill goes into over drive for the last 30killer-minutes up a cobbled banana plantation road.

I have 2 more long runs this week and then it is time to step back from the intense training and enjoy the beaches and cafes. I have tried to do 4-5hrs a day of running, swimming, biking, aqua jogging and walking/playing in the sea which I feel has got me to a pretty good standard. I would show you my ‘Movescount’ (an online training diary) but I am having issues with it….coming soon! but it looks a little something like this…http://www.movescount.com/moves/move5202670

This race is going to challenge me in every way. I am nervous and excited and a little scared about the unknown…but…bring it on!

Tazacorte Casa de La Palma

The hardest thing about last year was the constant travel, moving from one hotel to the next every 4 or less days, not having the same bed, never unpacking my 100L duffel bag, long haul flights and no routine.

This year I have made a conscious effort to base myself in one place for more than that. So here I am in Tazacorte –La Palma. In an apartment close to the beach, with trails surrounding and of course local cafes. What a treat it has felt having a shelf for my tooth brush, a draw for my running kit rather than just a stuff sack, a washing machine and drying rack…it is the small things that really do count.

I have had one week already with Gilbert to explore this brutally harsh volcanic island. It is the steepest island in the world and it definitely feels it. It is beautiful with some extreme weather microclimates which you can run through summer to winter in a matter of minutes. We have run and walked on the course as well as totally off trail on some adventures, swum at the outdoor pools and relaxed on the black volcanic beaches in the scorching sun.

I have another 3 weeks to reci the course and get my legs used to the intensity of the terrain before the TransVulcania Sky Race on May 12^th. It is going to be one tough 50mile race…with previous times really showing the toughness of this course.

I will be doing my extra miles on my newly acquired racing mountain bike and with a swimming pool close at hand ill be needing to save my legs at all costs!

It’s nice to call this incredible island my home…for now!

 

 

3 Days in 3 Ways – SNOWDON

From the Salomon Advance Week in Greece I had 4 days before I moved to my new abode – Tazacorte, West coast La Palma–Canary Islands.

I picked up the black beauty – the VW transporter van which was my European home during 2009-2010 and headed for Snowdonia -North Wales.

I would hardly call it a warm welcoming back to the mountains but I was certainly welcomed. TheSnowdon ranges have always been some of my favourite and successful training grounds. So I thought it would be rude not to spend the next 3 days getting back to the ‘routes’ of it.

I stared off with the most straight forward route that goes directly up and back down from the quarry village Llanberis to the summit along side the train track…yes that’s right…there is a mountain train that takes you to the summit…eeekkk.

This route is often used for the Great British Mountain running championships/trials in which I currently hold the record for. See my ‘move’ here: http://www.movescount.com/moves/move4957719

The next day I am stocked up with friends love from the core and curry night as well as some famous Lloydie cake and coffee for breakfast. We head up and over Moel Eilio from the Quarry carpark to the Ranger Trail below.

Helicopters were zigzagging across the valley searching for people that the mountain seems to gobble up. To the summit in snow was a novelty which soon wore off as the cold wind bit through me and deep into my bones.

3seconds on the summit was all I could bare before charging back down the ranger trail into the beautiful Telegraph valley track and into Petes Eat – Llanberis for coffee and cake.

 

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move4957720

Café Gwynant is at the bottom of Watkins Path so what better way to start the day than coffee and flapjack.

Tired legs meant it was a long 1.18hr to the summit which was clearer than the last 2 days but much more bitting.

So I sailed off the top, down the Ranger trail, around Cyngorion, over the marathon road, past the quarry and back to the warmth of the black beauty. http://www.movescount.com/moves/move4957721

That was it…my time in theUK. I didn’t get to go up the final routes to the Summit– Pyge and Miners Trails and the Horse shoe but I’m sure they will wait and welcome me back with open arms next time.

Next up…La Palma.

Race Days and Heading Onwards

Party time and midday heat meant nursing a cloudy head and a swirling stomach.

We dragged ourselves to the start of the vertical climb and of course the adrenaline hit and we were in race mode. 650m distance from the bottom took about 4-6minutes with cheering and learing and a few elbows and shoves to get the best line to the top. I have never been so happy to see the finish flags.

But, by the next day I was excited about the 35km beast of a race that we were lining up for. Climbing up for hours before descending steeply down coral-like rocks. It was one of those days…when I just doesn’t go well. The temperature soared, my lactic acid built up and up and up, I turned my ankle and I went the wrong way…badly…all in the first 8km. Which in hindsight gave me the kick up the butt I needed to get moving. I chased the field down over the rocks and through the sleepy villages. It turned into a special day out to top off our magical week.

Sharing time and laughs with each other. Motivating and learning, giving ideas and testing products. Thanks to all the Salomon Crew for making me feel so content. Good luck for another awesome year ahead.