- Lizzy
- My enduring passion is for the mountains and wilderness. Having trained as an environmental scientist I have somehow fallen into the world of ultra and endurance running. My dream is to encourage people to realise the sanctuary of the mountains, the richness of our environment and our responsibility to protect it, and the value of challenging yourself both physically and mentally.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Graubunden, Switzerland
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
But sometimes, just sometimes .... it is hard to even ourselves judge what we feel capable of doing?
78km - the Swiss Alpine Marathon - the 26th July
I started ... and I finished ... happy yet sad too. In 2006 I set a new record, I was first woman again there in 2007 - and it would have been very special to make it again. It wasn't to be. I finished 2nd behind Jasmin Nunige of Davos, in what for me was a very slow time. But I finished despite sickness during the race, and on relatively little training.
When I was last here in the Graubunden in early June I could run maybe just 10 minutes a day. Step by step. Injury teaches you to take the time; to have the patience to take those 'baby steps' to climb back up to the peaks. But sometimes it is tempting to try what you think may still be out of reach. Because unless you try, you will never know.
So - I guess I will judge myself by what I know is possible for me to do - and so be disappointed with my run on Saturday, while yet happy to have held the strength of mind to finish. But others look sometimes to what we have already achieved - and the incredible support I received from so many during the race and after showed me that. To be known by name by strangers from near and far, and to know they are rooting for you - is an incredible source of strength. Thank you.
But most of all - I am happy to be running - and happy to be in the mountains!
Now I have some days with family - and we stay with friends who have been such great support to me. So I am lucky. Very lucky ...
Uncertain yet of my plans for the next few weeks as I aim towards The North Face Ultra Trail Tour du Mont Blanc - but living from day to day - and all will become clear ...
Swiss Alpine Marathon Davos http://www.swissalpine.ch/
Right to Play: ‘when children play, the world wins’.
http://www.righttoplay.org.uk
Monday, 7 July 2008
Zermatt, Switzerland
The future depends on what we do in the present.
MAHATMA GANDHI
The head said don't run ....
The heart said try ....
I tried. I started, I finished and some miracle was working with me because I defended my title at the Zermatt Marathon for the 3rd year.
I was so happy just to be here in Zermatt amongst the mountains which are so special to me. It must have given my heart extra strength. I was so well looked after by Dany and Felicitas Biner and all at Hotel Silvana - they gave me wonderful support and encouragement. The good wishes of so many people were carrying me. From one hour running a day for maybe two weeks to a half marathon to a marathon? But it worked this time .....
The morning of the marathon I stared up to the Riffelberg from the Silvana - and wondered if and how I might be there that day. Not at all, by train, by walking if I pulled out of the race, or by running?! The power of the mountains here drew me onwards and upwards. And it feels all alright still now - so no damage done I hope. Now for an easy few long days of walking, some running and some mountains if weather permits.....
July 11th
Still here in Zermatt - and the weather has been kind to us this week, although now will turn to rain for the weekend. From Hotel Silvana to the campsite to Monte Rosa Hutte. A wonderful few days in the mountains - almost to the summit of the Doufourspitze of the Monte Rosa. Almost but not quite - a mountain to return to. And then a solitary jaunt along the ridge from Gornergrat to the summit of the Stockhorn. A walk - but a lone summit moment - peace. It was special.
Zermatt Marathon http://www.zermattmarathon.ch
Right to Play: ‘when children play, the world wins’.
http://www.righttoplay.org.uk
The heart said try ....
I tried. I started, I finished and some miracle was working with me because I defended my title at the Zermatt Marathon for the 3rd year.
I was so happy just to be here in Zermatt amongst the mountains which are so special to me. It must have given my heart extra strength. I was so well looked after by Dany and Felicitas Biner and all at Hotel Silvana - they gave me wonderful support and encouragement. The good wishes of so many people were carrying me. From one hour running a day for maybe two weeks to a half marathon to a marathon? But it worked this time .....
The morning of the marathon I stared up to the Riffelberg from the Silvana - and wondered if and how I might be there that day. Not at all, by train, by walking if I pulled out of the race, or by running?! The power of the mountains here drew me onwards and upwards. And it feels all alright still now - so no damage done I hope. Now for an easy few long days of walking, some running and some mountains if weather permits.....
July 11th
Still here in Zermatt - and the weather has been kind to us this week, although now will turn to rain for the weekend. From Hotel Silvana to the campsite to Monte Rosa Hutte. A wonderful few days in the mountains - almost to the summit of the Doufourspitze of the Monte Rosa. Almost but not quite - a mountain to return to. And then a solitary jaunt along the ridge from Gornergrat to the summit of the Stockhorn. A walk - but a lone summit moment - peace. It was special.
Zermatt Marathon http://www.zermattmarathon.ch
Right to Play: ‘when children play, the world wins’.
http://www.righttoplay.org.uk
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Winterthur, Switzerland
Adventure means risking something, and its only when we are doing that, that we know what a splendid thing life is and how well it can be lived ….
GERBOULT
Bettmeralp … they call it the “better” alp …. and so it was perhaps an apt place for me to go just now when I start to feel that the injury is finally getting better?
So … well …. good and bad news.
Not so bad - but disappointingly I was deferred on my IML (International Mountain Leader Assessment). It wasn’t the best time for me this summer, and I feel I let myself down badly. So now I’m determined to get more group leading experience this coming year and then it will just be a one day test early next summer. It was a long week - assessments of any kind are a strain - even if this one did mean I was on home ground walking in the mountains. But the assessors were great, we were so well looked after at the gite, and some lasting friendships were made I hope.
Now the “better” news …. I was running every morning from St Luc up to Hotel Weisshorn and feeling good. Steep uphills are probably the best thing at the moment?!
So …. Saturday morning I made the snap decision to go to Bettmeralp (in the Valais near Brig, on the north side of the Rhone Valley) and to run in the half marathon the following day. The organisers very kindly accepted my last minute request (!) and so I found myself on that beautiful alp on a beautiful evening, in the company of a good friend also running. I was feeling very uncertain I should run, and convinced myself I’d pull out if I needed to. For once I knew the head had to govern the heart. For such a quiet village we probably slept in the noisiest place - above the village bakery! But what a treat to be somewhere where the bakery is the noisiest place? Fretful sleep and awoke to a beautiful dawn. Breakfasting outside the bakery with the alpine panorama before us, the Matterhorn in all his glory, and just a 2 minute walk to the start of the race. Not often you get such pre-race preparation?!
And so to the race – it is a stunning course. And for me only just getting back into running again after the stress fracture it felt a true privilege just to be there - whether I could finish the race or not. The early kilometres maybe were the hardest. Wondering if I should be running, feeling not so strong as normal …. But no pain or twinge from the pelvis … and it was beautiful … and so I carried on … and on … until the finish. Slower – much slower than I guess I would have been - but 1st lady to my surprise. It was quite something for me even to start the race, let alone to finish. So for me, it was truly special to be there on the Bettmeralp.
Now a few days to catch up with life, staying with a friend in Winterthur. And tomorrow - back to the mountains - to Zermatt. A tough decision - but I think it wouldn’t be wise to run the Zermatt Marathon on Saturday. Perhaps doubling the distance and time in just one week would be asking too much of the injury? But I will go anyway to help. Andrea Schneider (the organiser) is going to welcome me there - whether I run or help - and for that I am so grateful. The heat here in Winterthur is too much … so I’m longing again to be high and in the mountains. I will stay in Zermatt for 10 days or so - perhaps my tent, perhaps a bunkhouse - we will see? I will meet some good friends there, so I hope for the chance of a few mountains as well as some good mountain training.
Vediamo?
Bettmeralp Half Marathon http://www.aletsch-halbmarathon.ch
Zermatt Marathon http://www.zermattmarathon.ch
Right to Play: ‘when children play, the world wins’.
http://www.righttoplay.org.uk
GERBOULT
Bettmeralp … they call it the “better” alp …. and so it was perhaps an apt place for me to go just now when I start to feel that the injury is finally getting better?
So … well …. good and bad news.
Not so bad - but disappointingly I was deferred on my IML (International Mountain Leader Assessment). It wasn’t the best time for me this summer, and I feel I let myself down badly. So now I’m determined to get more group leading experience this coming year and then it will just be a one day test early next summer. It was a long week - assessments of any kind are a strain - even if this one did mean I was on home ground walking in the mountains. But the assessors were great, we were so well looked after at the gite, and some lasting friendships were made I hope.
Now the “better” news …. I was running every morning from St Luc up to Hotel Weisshorn and feeling good. Steep uphills are probably the best thing at the moment?!
So …. Saturday morning I made the snap decision to go to Bettmeralp (in the Valais near Brig, on the north side of the Rhone Valley) and to run in the half marathon the following day. The organisers very kindly accepted my last minute request (!) and so I found myself on that beautiful alp on a beautiful evening, in the company of a good friend also running. I was feeling very uncertain I should run, and convinced myself I’d pull out if I needed to. For once I knew the head had to govern the heart. For such a quiet village we probably slept in the noisiest place - above the village bakery! But what a treat to be somewhere where the bakery is the noisiest place? Fretful sleep and awoke to a beautiful dawn. Breakfasting outside the bakery with the alpine panorama before us, the Matterhorn in all his glory, and just a 2 minute walk to the start of the race. Not often you get such pre-race preparation?!
And so to the race – it is a stunning course. And for me only just getting back into running again after the stress fracture it felt a true privilege just to be there - whether I could finish the race or not. The early kilometres maybe were the hardest. Wondering if I should be running, feeling not so strong as normal …. But no pain or twinge from the pelvis … and it was beautiful … and so I carried on … and on … until the finish. Slower – much slower than I guess I would have been - but 1st lady to my surprise. It was quite something for me even to start the race, let alone to finish. So for me, it was truly special to be there on the Bettmeralp.
Now a few days to catch up with life, staying with a friend in Winterthur. And tomorrow - back to the mountains - to Zermatt. A tough decision - but I think it wouldn’t be wise to run the Zermatt Marathon on Saturday. Perhaps doubling the distance and time in just one week would be asking too much of the injury? But I will go anyway to help. Andrea Schneider (the organiser) is going to welcome me there - whether I run or help - and for that I am so grateful. The heat here in Winterthur is too much … so I’m longing again to be high and in the mountains. I will stay in Zermatt for 10 days or so - perhaps my tent, perhaps a bunkhouse - we will see? I will meet some good friends there, so I hope for the chance of a few mountains as well as some good mountain training.
Vediamo?
Bettmeralp Half Marathon http://www.aletsch-halbmarathon.ch
Zermatt Marathon http://www.zermattmarathon.ch
Right to Play: ‘when children play, the world wins’.
http://www.righttoplay.org.uk
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