The Hell Run Ultra Cancelled

It was a sunny 13C/55F when I got home last night, but dark storm clouds were accumulating to the south – I knew I had better hustle out the door if I wanted to avoid another rain shower. I warmed up for a kilometer or so, then picked up the pace, cruising through the first 10K in 52:45 (5:17/K, 8:29/M). I then slowed down to a comfortable jog for the remaining 4K, just as the first sprinkles of rain began to fall. By the time I got home the sky had cleared again and the sun had returned – crazy weather anyway.

The long-term weather forecast for marathon day on the 11th is calling for mild temperatures (around 12C/54F) and a good chance of rain showers. I’m fine with this, but hopefully the wind won’t be too bad.

As Rob commented yesterday, I’m going to just try to enjoy the marathon on Sunday. This doesn’t mean that I will be stopping for breakfast along the way, rather it will allow me to concentrate on my real goal which is to stabilize my pace which will reap benefits in later races.

The Hollenlauf (Hell Run) 2007 Cancelled

I am still tweaking my race schedule for the next six months. The 57K/101K Hollenlauf (Hell Run) on May 12th has been officially cancelled due to hurricane winds wiping out half the forest where the event is held. Organizers were denied a permit for this year.

So I am leaning strongly on the 72K Guthsmuths Rennsteiglauf, which is held on May 19th. Here is a description from their website:

“The GUTSMUTHS-RENNSTEIGLAUF is a cross-country race named after GutsMuth. It is run along the Rennsteig, a long-distance walking - or running! - route that traverses the Thüringer Wald (the name given to Thüringen´s romantic, wooded part of the mid-German hills). The GutsMuths is the longest cross-country race in Central Europe, and quite certainly one of the most beautiful. Each year those who participate as runners or walkers number around 15,000. In Eastern Germany it has acquired an almost religious significance. Run regularly since the 1970´s, it was the GDR´s biggest amateur sporting event and those who reached the finishing line were accorded high esteem in sporting circles. Still, today, people are proud to be branded "a GutsMuths runner." Pride of place is taken by the Super Marathon, which starts in Eisenach. Distance: 72,7 kilometres; altitude at start 150 m above sea level, highest point reached 970 m; altitude of finishing point in Schmiedefeld 740 m.”

The race has a 12-hour time limit, which with the elevation gain could be tight. We are going to have to decide soon on this race as it will be filling up fast due to the Hollenlauf cancellation.