This week I took off was supposed to be loaded with heavy training before tapering the week before the Ultra Bike Marathon in the Black Forest. And so it was!
I just took a break on Friday and I think it was deserved due the successful bike rides and runs the days before.
Monday, was a another trail and climbs hunt day. I found some new climbs and the main Stuttgart trails around the famous TV antenna. The weather was very unstable so I cut it short but still reached the planned goals: Short distance with lot’s of climbs.
Tuesday, I did a slow paced 45min run, nothing special about it, maybe just the learning process of the new Polar computer. The runs are getting easier and faster.
Biking Log - 20090610
Wednesday, was in reality the sequel of Monday’s ride, this time with better weather I took the same routes and put in all the major climbs I could find and managed to sum up a 57km ride with 1100m of climbing. I revisited the trails and I can now say that I more or less know my way around Stuttgart on the MTB, finally! Although it is interesting riding new routes everyday, it is not so much fun being always lost…
Thursday, was running day. I had a 7km at race pace to make and did it at a (not so bad) 5min/km pace. I struggled for the first 2kms with the new computer but I finally got it worked out, next run will be perfect and I can start posting the running logs from the Polar. The complete run was 11k in exactly 1h. That is the goal to reach at half the training plan for the marathon (10k goal at week 5 of 10 is 50mins), therefore I am feeling happy and finally seeing some clear progress on the runs.
Friday, was a resting and replenishing day. I spent it with the girls wandering and seeing Stuttgart’s points of interest.
Biking Log - 20090613
Saturday, today, I had planned a 80km flat ride at an average 130bpm. I made it with a smile. This time I focused on eating/drinking properly and I finished with some long and tough climbs. Summed up 86kms at an average 132bpm climbing 985m and felt much better than on the previous 4h ride.
Since it was much flatter than the Ultra Bike Marathon will be I have to extrapolate the nutrition, maybe multiplying by 2. Here’s todays food intake listing:
- 1/2 liter water
- 1/2 liter Isostar
- 1 Champ Energy Power Snack bar (35g) (Carbohydrates + Milk protein)
- 2 PowerBar Gel (Strawberry/Banana, hummm… “lecker!!”)
- 2 SaltStick caps (Salt + Minerals)
Sunday, tomorrow, I have planned my first brick session with a short 20km ride followed by a 10km run. It will be the last heavy load day before tapering the week before the marathon.
Uff, long post. Time for bed and some triathlon dreams 
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