Running with Jack

I signed up for the 25K (15.5M) Bellheimer Summer Nights Run (Sommernachtslauf) last night. This race is held on August 6th in Bellheim, Rhineland-Pfalz, about 40 minutes from where we live. This race is considered one of the milestones for the Baden Marathon in September. If you recall this is the second marathon that I am training for this year.

There are a couple things that make this run special:

1. It’s slightly longer than a half-marathon.

2. It starts at 7:30 p.m. (when it’s cooler)

3. It has a time limit:

- You have to complete the first 12K in 1:15:00 – 6:15/K (10:04/M) average pace
- You have to complete the first 19K in 2:00:00 – 6:19/K (10:10/M) average pace
- You have to finish the 25K in less than 2:30:00 – 6:00/K (9:39/M) average pace

If you don’t pass the 12K and 19K point in the allocated time, you are removed from the race.

4. The entire race is on roads or asphalt-covered trails.

5. The race is slightly larger than a lot of the area races, approx. 1500 runner's are expected.

So basically you have to average 6:00/K (9:39) for the entire 25K. In theory this is no problem for me, I just ran my half-marathon with an average pace of 5:27/K (8:47/M), but if I have a bad day anything could happen.

Here is a picture of the race route:

If you read my race report from this past weekend you might have noticed that I said that another runner was staying at the Bed & Breakfast on Saturday. He ran his first marathon on Sunday in Hundseck. He mentioned that he was from Mannheim, so I was able to check the results and figured out his name. Through Google I found his homepage and signed his guestbook. I ended up getting an e-mail from him. He said he is planning to run at Bellheim too, so maybe we will bump into each other again. Cool!

Summary of Last’s Nights Training

I did my weight training last night for the first time in a week. My muscles are sore this morning as a result. I jogged almost 5K after the workout, trying to loosen up some. My right ankle is sore for some reason, I feel it especially when I go up and down stairs. I have to keep an eye on this.

Tonight I had planned on running my 14K hill route, but with my ankle being a little strange I think I will run my normal 14K route in case the ankle starts freaking out on me (lots of shortcuts back home). I imagine the muscles in the ankle are worn out still, I really didn’t give them much of a rest after my HM this past weekend.

Next week I want to increase my 14K (8.7 miles) routes to 16K (10 miles) in order to meet my training goals (e.g. mileage).