Like true troopers Marathon Man, Michael and myself found ourselves at 6am standing in the dark and rain at the entrance of Ku-ring-gai National Park.
Our aim was to run for a good 6 - 7 hrs in preparation of The Comrades in 4 weeks time and Michael will do the 100km Wilderness Team Trail next weekend.
The first 10 km where a nice downhill to Akuna Bay before heading up again to the main route out to West Head. Rain was easing and by 9 am we had covered a good 25 km and started to dry out.
Michael and I started to get a bit too fast for Trent and we left him behind running out to the West Head, knowing that we will see him on the way back again, which we did 30 km into the run. On the way out we made great progress and soon Michael and I found ourselves at the turn off to Church Point and down to Pittwater. Michael for the first time ran more then 50km in 6 hrs and the last bit up Mona Vale Road back to Terrey Hills was a killer - not only because of the hills but also because the road was not really ideal to run on with all the heavy traffice - we survived and I managed to reach the car after 60.5km and 7hrs with Michael following shortly after. A quick stretch later and off we went to look for Trent, who we found only 5km short of the finish - we picked him up with the car and drove home to a well deserved cool beer and and ice bath......
Next week Trent and I will run the Canberra Ultra Marathon as a final test before tempering down till South Africa.
25 April 2010
18 April 2010
Francois qualified !
Some good news this week - Francois, my running buddy for The Comrades, has qualified for the race by finishing the Loskop Ultra Marathon with 10 seconds to spare. After 5hrs 59min and 50sec he and his guide Kero crossed the finishing line after a hard 50km race. This was Francois's first ultra marathon and a great introduction to what's to come end of May.
My week was busy as usual - two days preparing Ben for the Sydney 1/2 marathon doing our rounds in Centennial Park and on Saturday doing a big run with Trent and Doug moving for almost 5 hours. All in all another 100+ km week done, two more to go....
Today I jogged the route of the Sydney 1/2 marathon with Ben to give him an opportunity to memories all the corners, hills and other features of the run. We will do one more recon run next weekend to give Ben a perfect preparation for the race mid-May.
Happy feet
My week was busy as usual - two days preparing Ben for the Sydney 1/2 marathon doing our rounds in Centennial Park and on Saturday doing a big run with Trent and Doug moving for almost 5 hours. All in all another 100+ km week done, two more to go....
Today I jogged the route of the Sydney 1/2 marathon with Ben to give him an opportunity to memories all the corners, hills and other features of the run. We will do one more recon run next weekend to give Ben a perfect preparation for the race mid-May.
Happy feet
29 March 2010
Run 4 Vision Fundraiser Movie Night - 14 May 2010
Take your friends and family for a night out and watch Aussie icons Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett star in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood. (http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com.au)
The Foundation needs our help to eliminate avoidable blindness. They have managed to reduce the cost of cataract surgery to as little as $25 in some developing countries, and so far, over one million people in the world can see today because of initiatives instigated by Professor Fred Hollows and thanks to your generous support.
Please pre-purchase your tickets. The movie will be just newly released, and there are only limited seats available for sale on the evening. The movie tickets are $25 per person and include a pre-movie drink at the Ritz Bar.
Tickets can be booked by transferring the money with your name and the number of tickets required using bank transfer to HSBC Bank Australia at BSB: 342-080 / Account: 126923-412 / Name: Markus Schar / Ref: Run 4 Vision
or simply go to www.run4vision.com and use your credit card to pay via PayPal
I'm looking forward to welcoming you, your family, friends and work colleagues to a fun night out and help The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Thank you for your generous and continuous support
The Foundation needs our help to eliminate avoidable blindness. They have managed to reduce the cost of cataract surgery to as little as $25 in some developing countries, and so far, over one million people in the world can see today because of initiatives instigated by Professor Fred Hollows and thanks to your generous support.
Please pre-purchase your tickets. The movie will be just newly released, and there are only limited seats available for sale on the evening. The movie tickets are $25 per person and include a pre-movie drink at the Ritz Bar.
Tickets can be booked by transferring the money with your name and the number of tickets required using bank transfer to HSBC Bank Australia at BSB: 342-080 / Account: 126923-412 / Name: Markus Schar / Ref: Run 4 Vision
or simply go to www.run4vision.com and use your credit card to pay via PayPal
I'm looking forward to welcoming you, your family, friends and work colleagues to a fun night out and help The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Thank you for your generous and continuous support
16 March 2010
Yes! New PB for 6ft Track
Finally - a very slow start a few years ago, a DNF in 2008 and a good race last year, finally last Saturday I had a great 6ft track race. Conditions were dry and with an overcast sky most of the morning, I was ready to start in wave 3 at 8.20am from the Explorer Tree. Trent, Mangos and Denis had to wait another 15 min to get on the way with wave 4.
On the way down those steps I caught up with Michael from New Zealand, who is preparing for the Marathon des Sables in 2 months time and he was delighted to have found a good source of information in me. We chatted along for the first 8 - 10 km and without realizing I ended up at the Cox River in less they 2 hours. The river was not too high but some runners still got caught out leaving their bumbags with iPod and phone around their waist.
Hmmm, Trent, try again to get an replacement iPod from Apple now.
The long hours of walking with the Wild Women the week earlier helped me to keep up the momentum getting up to MiniMini and Pulvio and I was surprised to find myself reaching the top of the race in only 3 1/2 hours. So suddenly I realized that I have more then 2 hours to finish under the aimed 6 hours. So I kept taking those energy gels and powered along finishing the last, steep 4 km in under 4min/km and crossing the finish in 5hrs34min - still slow compared to the winners but hey, at least I left the youngsters behind me!
Very happy and looking forward to the next challenge - the 50km in Canberra in May
On the way down those steps I caught up with Michael from New Zealand, who is preparing for the Marathon des Sables in 2 months time and he was delighted to have found a good source of information in me. We chatted along for the first 8 - 10 km and without realizing I ended up at the Cox River in less they 2 hours. The river was not too high but some runners still got caught out leaving their bumbags with iPod and phone around their waist.
Hmmm, Trent, try again to get an replacement iPod from Apple now.
The long hours of walking with the Wild Women the week earlier helped me to keep up the momentum getting up to MiniMini and Pulvio and I was surprised to find myself reaching the top of the race in only 3 1/2 hours. So suddenly I realized that I have more then 2 hours to finish under the aimed 6 hours. So I kept taking those energy gels and powered along finishing the last, steep 4 km in under 4min/km and crossing the finish in 5hrs34min - still slow compared to the winners but hey, at least I left the youngsters behind me!
Very happy and looking forward to the next challenge - the 50km in Canberra in May
05 March 2010
Sydney Half Marathon
Signed up for the last training race before flying to South Africa.The Sydney Half-Marathon on Sunday, 16 May is an excellent race to test final fitness.
In conjunction with the race I created a donation webpage supporting my case of helping The Fred Hollows Foundation - giving people their eye sight back!
Run4Vision - helping needlessly blind people see again
Thank you for your support.
Happy feet
Markus
Team Fred 1
What a great Coast Trek! After a long (my bus ride for the year) bus trip to Avalon on Friday evening I settled in at the Beach Backpackers for the night. A short and noisy one too. At 4.45 Penny from The Fred Hollows Foundation picked me up and we drove the last 10 km to the start at Palm Beach - already a busy place at 5am in the morning. Last preparation in the dark and me waiting for the rest of team Fred 1 - John Faulkner and Lachlan Harris, who showed up just before 6am for the start. We three made up the first group of Team Fred 1 and had to cover the first 50km of the 100km Coastrek from Palm Beach to Coogee Beach. Caitlin, Ying and Lisa from The Foundation were waiting for us in Balmoral to take over the 'baton' for the second 50km to the finish.
What a great morning it was - clear sky, great sun-rise over the ocean and beautiful scenery all along the coast to Manly. I have never walk or run (nor did I know about it) the coast track from Palm Beach. A narrow track snailing its way south along the cliff. Steep drop to the left and great real estate to the right. My two companions were a bit on the slow side and my legs got quite itchy walking at sub 5min/km, so I started to jog along and by 8.30 am I had a stop at Narrabeen Beach for breakfast and cafe waiting for them. Along we went together but soon my runner instinct got the better of me again and I headed off towards Manly where I had lunch. The sky got darker and the last thing I wanted is to run in the wet so I decided to head off towards the finish. Knowing that this is a team event I finished first the 50km less 500m in about 8 1/2 hours and then had to wait for John and Lachlan. I had a swim in the harbour, a hot shower and change at the Balmoral Pavilion and let pass 4 teams having a couple of drinks at the pavilion. 3 hours later finally they showed up and together we crossed the finish at the half way point. Being the first relay team the 3 girls were all excited and headed off straight away. Unfortunately they had to start and walk in heavy rain, which must not have been too much fun for them. 12 hours an a few minutes later they arrived at 4am in Coogee Beach and as far as I am aware team Fred 1 finished first as the relay team - great effort. Next year I like to be back with a runner team to enjoy the whole 100km. By the way - the organiser, Wild Women on Top did a fantastic job and all involved rose over 170'000 AU$ for The Fred Hollows Foundation - a great effort!
For me - it is recovering quickly now and getting ready for next Saturday's 6ft track ultra marathon - not as easy as yesterdays trail run, that's for sure. Fingers crossed the sun will be out again by next weekend
Happy feet
Markus
What a great morning it was - clear sky, great sun-rise over the ocean and beautiful scenery all along the coast to Manly. I have never walk or run (nor did I know about it) the coast track from Palm Beach. A narrow track snailing its way south along the cliff. Steep drop to the left and great real estate to the right. My two companions were a bit on the slow side and my legs got quite itchy walking at sub 5min/km, so I started to jog along and by 8.30 am I had a stop at Narrabeen Beach for breakfast and cafe waiting for them. Along we went together but soon my runner instinct got the better of me again and I headed off towards Manly where I had lunch. The sky got darker and the last thing I wanted is to run in the wet so I decided to head off towards the finish. Knowing that this is a team event I finished first the 50km less 500m in about 8 1/2 hours and then had to wait for John and Lachlan. I had a swim in the harbour, a hot shower and change at the Balmoral Pavilion and let pass 4 teams having a couple of drinks at the pavilion. 3 hours later finally they showed up and together we crossed the finish at the half way point. Being the first relay team the 3 girls were all excited and headed off straight away. Unfortunately they had to start and walk in heavy rain, which must not have been too much fun for them. 12 hours an a few minutes later they arrived at 4am in Coogee Beach and as far as I am aware team Fred 1 finished first as the relay team - great effort. Next year I like to be back with a runner team to enjoy the whole 100km. By the way - the organiser, Wild Women on Top did a fantastic job and all involved rose over 170'000 AU$ for The Fred Hollows Foundation - a great effort!
For me - it is recovering quickly now and getting ready for next Saturday's 6ft track ultra marathon - not as easy as yesterdays trail run, that's for sure. Fingers crossed the sun will be out again by next weekend
Happy feet
Markus
03 March 2010
100 km along Sydney's coast
I am participating in a great team (Fred 1) at tomorrow’s 1st edition of Coastrek. My team will be running from Palm Beach to Balmoral tomorrow morning, where we hand over the baton to 3 girls from the Fred Hollows Foundation, who will finish up the 100km at Coogee Beach.
You can follow us on http://www.wildwomenontop.com/wild-walks-adventures/coastrek, look for the link for live updates half way down the page.
The ‘Wild Women on Top’ have created a great ‘race’ along Sydney’s coast line and generated enourmous good will in the process for The Fred Hollows Foundation. Close to 150’000 AU$ have been raised sofar in conjuction with this Coastrek!
You too can participate and help, please visit http://www.everydayhero.com.au/fred_team_1 and give generously. Thank you for your support
Happy feet
You can follow us on http://www.wildwomenontop.com/wild-walks-adventures/coastrek, look for the link for live updates half way down the page.
The ‘Wild Women on Top’ have created a great ‘race’ along Sydney’s coast line and generated enourmous good will in the process for The Fred Hollows Foundation. Close to 150’000 AU$ have been raised sofar in conjuction with this Coastrek!
You too can participate and help, please visit http://www.everydayhero.com.au/fred_team_1 and give generously. Thank you for your support
Happy feet
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