Training Log Archive: Ari-o

So I was traveling to Venice with a friend who is traveling to "somewhere in Eastern France." The Dolomites didn't make sense from a travel perspective (cost and time) but we found a cheap flight to Zurich, so back to Switzerland! Found a town in the Alps in this amazing valley with hanging valleys and waterfalls—almost Yosemite-ish—near Eiger.

Got in, I was tired, and it started to pour rain. So no run.

This morning, woke up, ate breakfast, and set off up the hill. After 10m realized that the "run" setting on the new watch was far different than the trail run setting, and didn't give me any elevation data. So I stopped, and started a new activity. Nice huff and puff up the hill, just about as long as expected.

C • Lauterbrunnen valley 2

Then a hike off to the Eiger Trail, which goes right along the face of Eiger. Definitely hiking, sort of guessing at useful training time, since on the downhills I was in Level -2 or so. But that was fine. Great views. Snow, cliffs, waterfalls.

There was some discussion of me running back over the top but after food, beer and a check of the weather, I decided to take the train around. Then it rained again, so good idea.

Running around Berlin, after quite a bit of napping. Lovely weather when I finally made it out. Ran along the Spree, by a portion of the wall, etc.

The weather looked good for Tuesday and since I didn't have to be on a train until 1, Maartje suggested I run up Rochers de Naye. Sounded fun! She came the first bit, we stored my bags at the train station, and she ran with me to the base of a gorge in Montreux, where a Brit took a photo of us. Then it was up the gorge, which was nice and cool, and then on to roads and trails through some towns before the real climb began.

Well, also before was a poorly-signed intersection where I ran out a forest road for a while which was nice, but after a while found out I was way off course. Oof. So, back to the trail, saw the British guy again, and then up, up, up. Warmer now, some nice running, and lots of people to pass on the switchbacks, then steep up a couloir to the summit. Good views of Lac Leman, and Mont Blanc was in the clouds off in the distance.

Down from the summit to the train, where I had time to eat the two suggested pieces of cake (Carrot and blueberry pie). Train down to save legs, and because I didn't have a good other route down, and because it was only a few extra CHF to get a SBB CFF FFS day pass since I was off to Zurich.