School ended well. I have been running. I did two hours at Mt. Work on Sunday and two hours with Adamo today at Thetis. Jazzy helped me out with some nutrition stuff for Iceland and the clock is ticking incessantly and moving and leaving.
The past few runs have felt incredibly good. I had to slow myself down yesterday, but Adamo made sure I was slow at the end of today's Thetis adventure.
Everything is laid out for the race. I even practiced taking pictures while running to make sure I could do it well. 25 seconds for two pictures. This is an example from the summit of Mt. Work. I will definitely be bringing my camera with me on the course.
For those interested, Comfortably Numb went well. Adamo (seems like this post is an ode to Adamo) won the race with his goatlike ability to climb hills. I ran the course 4 minutes faster than I did last year, coming in third, but it was a great finish - four runners within one minute of each other. And all four runners were under the previous course record. A great last race before the biggie.
I will be updating more while I am on the road (I promise) and I may stray away from running content, so please stay tuned...
7 comments:
Brad:
Enjoy your experience in Iceland. It is one of the most wonderful places I've ever been. As for the race - beautiful trail - you'll be above tree line until the last two km's to the end. The river crossings are cold - damn cold (something about all that glacial ice sitting around). That being said, the trail is in very good condition though be ready for some snow (first section) and oozing mud (second section) and the last river crossing is the longest and toughest. They sell beer at the end and have a wonderful free open air hot pool at the start and end of the race.
Good luck and I'll be checking back to see how you make out.
Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement. I haven't yet spoken to anyone who has raced this before, so I am glad for the feedback on the course. I am curious about the difficulty of the first climb...
It starts straight uphill (switch backs) right from the get go! In fact, the people (many, many Germans) in the hot pools get to watch in luxury as the runners head up. The good news is that the trail is at its best here. You essentially go up a small wall gaining about (my estimate only) of about 400 vertical feet. After that it levels off (put only for a while) before heading up for the next major climb (and your fist exposure to the many steaming vents in the area). From here to the next hut will be up and up (you will go through one cool obsidian field) until you start hitting the snow. Through this part you will pass a small memorial marker dedicated to a young Japanese hiker who died in a summer storm a couple of years ago. At this point you know you are nearing the top. Once on the top the next hut is right below you (400 m). You can look straight across to see where you are going. If clear it is spectacular. Descending on snow and loose gravel will take you past the hut and then over some of the more challenging terrain as you go up, down and around a series of ravines cut by the waters of the snowfields above to your left. It is probably about 4-5 km of tough going to the next ridge and this is a good climb. Many of these ravines will have streams covered by snow bridges for crossing - some are good, some are.... Once on the next ridge (pass) look back quickly to see where you've gone (and appreciate the wonderful colours of the rocks). You maintain you altitude for about 1 km before appearing before the most impressive site on the run - a wide verdant green valley with a beautiful lake at the end surrounded by small black volcanic cones. It really looks like something out of the Ice Age (you half expect wolly mammoth or two to walk by). From here it is fast and steep single track down to the river below. A couple of crossings and you get to the lake (and second hut on the route). You don't cross the lake but head to your left around and in a couple of k's of easy running hit the third hut. From here it is the flatest running - through a barren but beautiful landscape (one good stream crossing). There is much black grey sandlike stuff to be run. On your left is a massive icefield! Finally you come around a small hill and head down toward the river - the next hut is about 500 m below. From here it is all downhill to the bridged (thankfully) river crossing over the gorge. On the other side things are flat for quite a ways (the most boring part of the run). You finally cut left and climb up a ridge (500-600 ft of vertical gain) and over the top and down to the last river crossing. This is the river that is the toughest (pray of little or no rain before the race!). It is quite wide where you cross (thus shallow) maybe 150m. Of course it is cold with lots of smooth loose rocks. On the other side you climb! Damn, surprisingly it is now in small trees and you continue on a path/old jeep track for a good ways (2-3 km) until you come to the Portsmark (pronounced THORSMARK - we didn't learn that until we were leaving) hut and the end of the trail. Hot showers, cold beer, and the hot pool (small but free). Of course it's now into the bus for an interesting ride back to Reykavik (they have to stop and put a snorkel on the bus to cross the rivers). Anyway, you will have a great time. The average runner is not that fast - many are from Britain.
Good luck and can't wait to read you report.
WOW!
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge of the course - it will prove invaluable. Now I have to write a great report!
What other "crazy" races have you done?
Brad:
I think there is some video of the start of the race that shows the first climb quite well. Also, the main picture currently on the website was taken just after that fist climb of the head wall. The runners are going to head up to their left in the photo.
As you can see in the photo the surface is very good at the start. The best part is that there are no roots to trip over!
Most of my crazy runs (probably like yours) have been unorganized efforts I have done some Ultras in the States. Longest run so far (on own) was 180 km on trails. I still want to go farther. Close to your neck of the woods I have tortured myself on the Knee Knacker - trust me, Iceland is easier (and faster).
Later in the summer there is another trail run along a gorge in a national park in the north of Iceland. Very cool - starts in a natural amphitheatre that legends says was a hoof print left by Odin's horse (I think I remember that correctly!)It follows the edge of the gorge all the way to some of most spectacular water falls in Iceland called Dettifoss (foss means falls).
Brad,
Good luck in Iceland. Will be looking forward to your story.
Bob Jackman
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