Since years I have been training consequently. Personally I see myself more like a sportsman than an adventourous person. I find my personal challenges in the mountains. Adventurous trips are not what I am looking for. With today's media means it is easy to get these news to the public. Via blog it is possible within minutes to forward someones daily experiences. But if it is possible to switch on every day the satellite telephone and to take its time to write, so I am convinced, that this has nothing to do anymore with performance limits.
If I go jogging easily I can make conversation. As soon as I push myself into my limits, conversation gets impossible. After a fast and hard work out I am more satisfied. While I am doing a hard workout I forget about all my daily problems. This is the fascinating thing about doing sports or expeditions. These are the momoents I am looking for and which a worthwhile for me. While climbing in the Zinnen in the Dolomites I lost myself in the moment. The day took its course and the result from the sporting view could be seen: Three climbing routes in one day, from which the big Zinne in a good hour. I am completely happy about this ascent. A further point on my way.
This year my focus lies in the preparation for my projects in 2011. I want to go to the Himalaya and there I would like to try to push my personal limits a little further. For this I am training hard. I feel how I am moving and this progress is making the whole thing very interesting. Together with Simon Trachsel my work out is well thought out. To summit a peak of 8000 meters is not so dramatic, if we think that the base camps lie mostly in between of 4500 and 6000 meters above sea level. If we make an average we find ouselves only about 3200 meters from summit. This is not a tremendous distance. So: why do we need several days for this? I think this is not necessary. That's why I am working very hard on my basic endurance. This means that I have brought my body so far, that I can run the Niesen three times a day. What means 5000 meter of altitude a a distance of 27 km. To rest I take the train which brings me back to the valley. Of course I am trying to extend the whole thing. At the moment I am able to do this two times a week. In between I have my climbing work outs. I am sure, that three times a week will be possible. I will try for sure. Only in this way I will able to find out, what my body can perform and it will adapt as good as possible.
Not long ago I have decided to participate at the legendary Jungfrau Marathon, which will take place on September 11. I've always wanted to run this marathon once. I find it great how people do motivate themselves for such an event. Several year ago I participated at the Engadin Skimarathon in cross country skiing. Before I found myself maybe 10 time on the cross country skies. My technique is definitively to improve...the experience was great. It is great to have all these sports enthusiast people around oneselves. For each of them it means its personal challenge. It is not important at which level you run. Important is, that you do it. You get back so much. To run through the finish line, to arrive. What is there better? The heavy legs, the sweat, the effort are forgotten at that very moment. Only the moment counts. Nevertheless: also these moments go over. Afterwards you have to motivate youself again, again and again. You need courage to experience these moments again. Because you know that everything starts from the beginning.
My goal is to run the marathon and finish it. I will have to queue behind, since I will not be able to run at the front. I am alpinist and a not marathon runner. This fact does not dimish my fascination in the least. On the contrary: I will experience what it means to run this route.
I am looking forward September 11!