September 21st, 2008 11:58pm
barky
A group of people is planning to have appr. 200 km race down from Europes biggest glacier and almost all the way down to sea. It follows mostly a big river. The last 33 km are a part of Dettifoss trail run that has been running for 5 years now.
We went for a test run last weekend and we ran the first 110 km of the route. I and my brother ran the first 30 km. The first part is a bit tough with rough gravel but after 6 km it becomes very runnable (crushed lava). After 9 km it we entered a rocky maze with sand in between. It was still very runnable but we had to zig zag berween the rocks but that made it more fun. After 11 km we came across a small river that runs along the whole route and followed it until we finished our section. Running along the river was easy cause the sand was wet and we had a good grip. There was almost no elevation at all on these 30 km.
On the blog below the last 30 km can be seen so there is a great contrast between the first 30 km and the last 30 km.
Date is set for 24th-25th of July.
After 30 km
August 10th, 2008 11:48pm
barky
Went with my friend on a training run along the Dettifoss trail route, followed mostly the same route exept that we took a little different route for the first 6 km and a little tourist action at km 20.
August 7th, 2008 12:11am
barky
This race went really well for me last year as I came in third in 2:38:00. I wasn´t too eager to compete this year, mostly because I had trained rather hard in the two weeks since the Laugavegur Ultra. Adding to that, the weather in Iceland had picked up steam and the heat was now approaching 30°C and it actually topped decades old heat record of 31,7 that weekend.
This course is rather fast but tricky and has only few hills were you have to walk few steps.
On my way to the race I found that the little carb-loading I did on the Friday hadn´t restored my carbs at all, felt hungry and out of energy. It was really hot in the hour long bus tour to the starting line but I made sure I hydrated well. After the gun went off I ran with some friends of mine who were focusing on 2:40 as I was, going below that was out of the question because of the heat. Running through black lava and in black sand in the beginning was horrible cause the heat there was probably above 30°C and there was no wind. After 5 km I felt that something big was missing and my pace dropped significantly. Two runners caught me and I soon realized that I needed some energy so I had one of three my gels and recovered quickly but that ruined my strategy of having gel at km 13, 20 and 27.
The heat just got worse and I started to wonder if I had to quit and the next aid station due to the heat. But as I ran into the aid station I was starting to feel better and after gel and water I took off, not far behind 3 other runners and in sixth place. Midway we have to cross a river and there I managed to pass one of the runners. It was nice to jump into the freezing river. After walking up a long hill I started running again and tried not to loose sight of the other two and ran appr. 70 sec. behind them.
My average pace was 5:00/km compared to 4:49 last year so I thought it was just OK, considering the heat, to finish with 5:00 average page or appr. in 2:43. Shortly after I ran into the second big aid station were the 13 km runners start from and I was still feeling amazingly well, another gel and two cups of water and I was off. Now we had to run a nice flat part before the longest hill climb. The runners in front of me were now just 40 seconds ahead of me and I decided to take it easy on the way up and try to pass them in the last 10 km to claim the third place.
That was a great plan until I reached the top of the hill, when I tried to run I just couldn´t, I was completly out of energy. I had been feeling well on the way up so I was surprised how fast the energy had gone. There was nothing to do but to take it easy for the rest of the race but I have never been so slow in a race. At that point, 13k and 21k runners began to pass me and lot of them did before I reached the finish line. Too my amazement, I didn´t notice any 33k runner passing me (one though actually did). Talking to my fellow runners after the race, it came clear that everybody had gotten fried in the first part of the race and struggled to finish. Even though I had lost 12-14 minutes on the guys I was following in the last 10 km the runners behind me weren´t able close the gap cause the slowed down as well. Many had actually a really bad day.
Finish time was 2:57:13 (6th), I had fallen 12-13 minutes behind the runners I was chasing in the last 10 km. Only the winner managed to finish in good time compared to last years times or 2:30:00. The rest of the runners were far off from their best.
But nonetheless a great race, and nice to spend a whole weekend in 26+degrees. The best thing was that I came from this race in a good shape, ready to start training again. A great race, and nice to spend a whole weekend in 26+degrees.
After the race few of us got together to discuss a potential 200km race next year along a river that flows from the Vatnajokull-glacier and to the sea. The Dettisfoss trail follows the river the last 33 km.
July 16th, 2008 11:04pm
barky
Participated in the Laugavegur Ultra last weekend and did it in 5:30:16 and 16th place (against 5:43:31 & 16th place last year). My time would have been enough for 10th place last year and top 5, the years before 2007. 5:30 and below has been the goal for many strong runners but hard to achieve. Running it in 5 hours or less is just for the best. Usually less than three runners make it below 5 hours each year.
The first part - 1:07:30 (pictures from a last years run with my friends)
I got a good start and managed to be one of the first to reach the narrow path leading up the first hill.
After we got up the trail leveled off for 1 km or so and then a steady ascend the next 5 km.
Then the grade of the slope became less steep so it became more runnable until we reached the snow at around km 7.5 and we ran more or less in snow until we reached the first hut. It was very hard to run on the snow and I began to question my goal of sub-5:30. The weather report said it could rain in the afternoon so most of the runners were wearing a longsleeves shirt and running vest.
Second part 1:05:30
Around the hut there was a thick fog and I ran with a friend of mine for few minutes but then I increased the pace and managed to catch 6 runners in front of me and ran with them towards the second aid station. After about 15 km we reached the second highest point in the race and from there is a magnificent view over lake Alftavatn where the second aidstation is located. A steep descend follows and it´s better save the quads on the descend, otherwise it will hit you hard later in the race.
Lake Alftavatn
Up on the hill
Going down the hill
The third part 1:32:00
The group I ran with now consisted of three icelandic guys that had run 2:47-2:57 marathon this spring, two danish guys and one british (Neil Kapoor: Spartathlon, Badwater and more). We had to cross two rivers but it was OK to get a little wet, the shoes drained really well. I was still running well and managed to keep up with these guys for the next 4 km or towards the midpoint of the race, the third rivercrossing.
The third river to cross, one more to go
After that the gap between all of us began to widen as we were now running on a jeep road and the marathon guys began to increase their pace. I dropped a little back since I ain´t as fast as those guys. Then we went off the road to run on the black volcanic sand that was a bit more lose this year than last years so I had to walk more often. Last year I managed to run this part without walking but when the sand is loose it´s becomes harder to run in.
I ran mostly with Neil since he had some problems with sand in his shoes and had to stop a few times and I managed to get ahead of him only to get caught few seconds later. We soon reached the third hut (aid station) and I was feeling good and positive I could run the rest in 1:45:00 to finish below 5:30. I´ve usually been tired at this point and run the last part in 1:50-2:00.
The third hut - Emstrur
The fourth part - 1:45:00
Shortly after leaving the aidstation I was overtaken by Neil, Christophe Vatinel (ran UTMB last year) and one danish runner living here in Iceland. Another danish guy soon past me too. Managed to overtake Neil again and ran as fast I could for the next few km and just to be overtaken by a good friend of mine who was running his first Laugavegur. It had now started to rain heavily after being a little wet and windy for the most part of the race.
After few more km I noticed that the two danish guys and the french guy had slowed down and I realized that I had a good chance to pass them since there were now only seven km left and the though terrain suited me well.
The final stretch
I ran very fast for the next 1.5 km and almost caught them before the first hill of two we had to climb in the last 5 km. But I got cramps as usual and lost 1-2 minutes. But on I went and now it was just a question of catching the slowest one. On my way down the hill I got cramps again and lost more time. I ran towards the river at km 50 and almost caught the danish guy but then I got cramps for the third time and now I just couldn´t move.
Me cramping up in the river
After few stretches I got moving again and now I tried to run as fast as I could since I had a good chance to run the course in less than 5:30. I ran/walked up the last hill and then ran the steep descend to the finish line like maniac until I reached the flats that lead up to the finish line. There I saw the danish guy slip into the final stretch and no way I could reach him in the last 200m or so . The last part was difficult but finally I crossed the finish line in just over 5:30. I was a bit wasted afterwards but recovered after a hot shower and some food. All runners got blanket as soon as the crossed the line and were cared for by doctor if necessarry, nothing serious though. The weather was still wet and cold so runners stayed more or less inside until they got warmed up.
Great race and many runners with outstanding performance.
Unlike last year, no woman passed me!
I´ve now almost recovered from this race and will now focus on the UTMB in late August.
The results
Röð Time Name Year Nat. Team
1 4:54:28 Daníel Smári Guðmundsson 1961 IS105 Afrek.is
2 4:59:21 Simon Möller Grimstrup 1976 DEN
3 4:59:52 Gauti Höskuldsson 1961 IS108 ÍR Skokk 1
4 5:01:59 Bazin Sylvain 1978 FRA VATINEL
5 5:13:30 Jósep Magnússon 1977 IS371 Afrek.is
6 5:13:35 Sigurður Þórarinsson 1967 IS109 ÍR Skokk 1
7 5:15:26 Matthew Aram Bedoukian 1980 USA
8 5:16:08 Stefán Viðar Sigtryggsson 1970 IS200 Afrek.is
9 5:19:26 Paul Rassam 1972 USA
10 5:20:43 Sigurjón Sigurbjörnsson 1955 IS108 ÍR Skokk 1
11 5:22:34 Jan Kloppenberg Möller 1976 DEN
12 5:22:42 Jóhann Gylfason 1964 IS112
13 5:26:35 Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson 1980 IS108 Boot Camp 2
14 5:27:34 Vatinel Christophe 1966 FRA VATINEL
15 5:29:58 Lars Peter 1964 IS110
16 5:30:16 Börkur Árnason 1972 IS621 Norðan 4
17 5:32:09 Neil Kapoor 1968 IS
18 5:36:14 Halldór Sævar Halldórsson 1963 IS112 Laugaskokk 1
19 5:36:20 Markus Reidlinger 1977 AUT
20 5:37:36 Höskuldur Ólafsson 1965 IS110
More here
http://www.marathon.is/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=43&Itemid=78&lang=en
June 25th, 2008 12:03am
barky
Decided to participate in the local half marathon last weekend. Had been injured for couple of days and wasn´t optimistic about the run beside, I wasn´t sure I had recovered from the 100k race.
But this turned out differently, from the first minute I felt great and decided to follow two of my friends that where aiming for sub 1:30. We ran together the first 15k but then I took of to secure sub 1:30 finish but at km 18 I realized that my Garmin showed 18.5 km instead of 18, the race was half a kilometer too long!!
That blew it and I ran the rest of the race at little slower pace to finish in 1:31:45. After the race I learned that it was actually 550m too long. By PB is 1:30:30 and by substracting the estimated time wasted I would have finished in 1:29-1:30. But the good news is that I felt great all the way and could have done it 1:27-1:29 if I would have been more confident in the beginning. Beside all this, there were very conflicting message about how the route was before the start that created total confusion among the runners during the race.
But this sometimes happens and just let hope it doesn´t happen again.
June 12th, 2008 10:43pm
barky
It didn´t start well for me cause I had to drive for 5 hours on Friday to get to Reykjavik. I was hoping to get going around 12 o´clock but got delayed at work because of some stuff I had to finish. Frustrated I hit the road around three o´clock and was rather tired and frustrated when I got to Reykjavik in the evening and hadn´t eaten all day…….no a good sign for 100 km race. And I didn´t eat anything until the race started the morning after, why? Have no idea, just wasn´t hungry, at least not yet but that would change soon!
16 runners started, in all age categories and in all sizes and shapes.
I ran off with the two fastest ones to guide them through the first 2 km were the path was most confusing but backed down after that (or at least I tried). My plan was to finish between 9 and 10 hours, preferrably closer to 9 hours. I was feeling great and ran fast, too fast actually and my attempts to slow down didn´t work, I just wanted to run fast I guess. After 30 km it began to rain and the wind started to blow as expected according to the weathereport. Finally I managed to slow down, crossing the marathon distance in 3:40 or close. But after that I bonked, there was absoultly no energy in my body and I had to eat 4 gels every 10 km just to get going and that was awful. I fell from 3rd place to the 4th and couldn´t even keep up with that old guy. The life from 40th km to the 70th was just boring, running, bonking, eating gel, running, bonking, eating gel. In addition, the weather was getting really wet and windy.
I set up a new strategy to catch the third place again, run slower than him for the next 15 km and then hit it hard hoping he would then be out of fuel. At km 87 I clocked him 5 minutes ahead of me and increased my speed. Surprised by the power I had left I ran very fast the next 4 km and caught him at km 91. I realized that at this pace I could make it under 10 hours and kept a good pace for the next 5 km but then I ran out of energy and slowed down just to finish in good condition. My time was 10:05:43, not what I planned but I happy that I didn´t feel destroyed like last year and it took me just two days to get back to normal.
Third place and the first of the Icelanders not bad after all.
Neil Kapoor (Jez´s friend) and Tommy Carstenssen (DEN) took the first and second place in 7:53 and 8:12, maniacs!
June 3rd, 2008 10:05pm
barky
Ran my fasted 10 km last Satursday, the time was 39:57. It was a great run were I managed to keep a good speed the first 6-7 km but then the headwind picked up and slowed me a little bit down. At the 5k mark the time was 19:23 wich is also PB.
Few days until the 100 km race startes and I will get my Hammer Nutr. stuff from UK tomorrow.
Today I took the day off but went for a short walk in a small forest nearby my house that will be my main training area for the next 3 months or so.
May 31st, 2008 01:38am
barky
Went yesterday for the first time in my life to play golf! That´s nothing like long distance running, much more frustrating and I now know why my friends freak out and throw their clubs away into the bushes!
Think Tiger Woods is not threatened by me, that´s for sure.
May 26th, 2008 12:00am
barky
This week I ran more tempo runs than long distance runs. Was testing my speed in can handle fast runs more easily now than earlier in the month. Next week I´ll turn my focus again to 20 and 30 km easy runs before slowing down the last days before the 100 km race.
Today, Sunday I took easy run in the country side with my brother
May 23rd, 2008 12:47am
barky
Bin running 130-150km for the past weeks and and in the last days I´ve started seeing the results from such a good training session. I´ve usually been running 60-100 km a week, so it´s of course huge difference. My speed and endurance has improved very much and my weight has gone straight down and I´m now 1-2 pounds lighter than just before UTMB last year and now I have 3 months to shed some more weight 
Did a 10 km test run today with my friend on medium difficult course (headwind and hills) and it went great, 40:46 was the time, only 7 seconds from my PB and 2:10 improvement from the 1st of May run of 42:56.
My next goal is 10 km race on 31st of May on a fast course and 7th of June is the first 100km race in Iceland.
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