28. Canyon
This morning started early with the alarm going off at 6 AM, but Coach Matthew and I decided to take it easy, lounging in bed a bit longer while wifey was already up, handling breakfast and preparations for the day ahead. When I finally decided to get up, I headed to the kitchen for a quick coffee, some muesli, and a large glass of water. I had prepped my race day bag the night before, so it was just a matter of making a quick visit to the bathroom and then helping Coach Matthew and wifey get ready.
By 8 AM, we were all set and jumped into our Aygo for the drive to the start line. It was a peaceful 30-minute drive through a deserted Frankfurt on a sunny Sunday morning. I had some concerns about parking, and while we could have taken public transport, we opted for the car given all the gear we had to bring—Matthew’s pram, a bunch of toys, and a couple of bags. Thankfully, parking turned out to be a non-issue, and with the easiest of commutes, we found ourselves at the start.
I picked up my race bib and changed into my gear while Alessia and Coach Matthew collected his 400m bib for his race later. Before we knew it, it was 9:30 AM, and we were lining up for the start of the trail half marathon. My priorities for this race were clear: test my body at a higher intensity, get a good workout, trial my nutrition routine (a RedBull 15 minutes before the start, one Maurten 160 with 65g of carbs 30 minutes in, and another an hour into the race), and most importantly, avoid any injuries, especially on the tricky trail terrain.
The race started well. I set off at a solid pace, and for the first 15km, I felt strong, enjoying the rhythmic stretches where the kilometers ticked by at a good pace-to-intensity ratio. I made the most of all aid stations (every ~4/5km) practicing drinking from paper cups (Berlin will have the same). However, things took a turn at kilometer 16 when the course left the shade and became fully exposed to the scorching sun. I made the most of the sponges and water at that aid station, but I couldn’t quite get back to my earlier pace. Nonetheless, I was mindful of my goal to avoid injury and not overextend myself, so I didn’t push too hard. Before long, the finish line came into view, and I crossed it with a time of 1h37m to a well-deserved 0% beer and the family cheers! Given the terrain and the weather, I’m quite happy with the result—it’s pretty much where I expected my body to land. A very well organised event, properly marked and with good supply of water/isotonic water at the aid stations, and a stocked finish line with bananas, pretzels, 0% cold beers, RedBull and water.
After the race, we had about an hour to entertain Coach Matthew before his event. He was getting a bit restless, but we were prepared with the right toys, and he spent most of the time playing with a football. When his moment came, we lined up at the start line, and with wifey, we encouraged him during his 400m race around the pitch. He kept his focus, didn’t get distracted, and soldiered on all the way to the end—ah, teach them young!
All in all, it was a great day out—solid running, quality family time, and a fun experience for Coach Matthew. As always, it’s these shared moments that make the hard work worth it. Stay tuned for more updates as the journey to Berlin continues!
1/ Before the race, Coach Matthew and I pose for the mandatory pre-race media pictures. Coach Matthew seems relaxed and doesn’t bother standing up. I proudly show my HRV4Training vest, the best app to keep tabs on your physiology #notsponsored.
2/ Coach Matthew’s bib taste, not so good.
3/ Finish line feelings and thumbs up!
4/ Mandatory “let me stop my watch first” finish line photo.
5/ Coach Matthew breezing through the first 10 meters of his race, smiling to the photographers and taking it all in.
6/ Coach Matthew and mummy showing his finisher medal! (No medals for other race finishers, which I don’t mind).
