Practicing some uphill running

Only 2 weeks left...

Thus far, all my trainings were around my home in The Netherlands. Flat. But the first ten kilometers in Brussels will be mainly uphill. How will my system react to that? I don't want to under-estimate the effect and on the other hand I don't want to be too fearful. 

Visiting my dear brother Ruben in Switzerland offers a perfect opportunity to also try some uphil and downhill running. That's what I thought. But does this classify as running??? 

The uphill start was an immediate confrontation. Would that road never stop rising? Every turn in the road I was presented yet another climbing road. My breath was running out even while this was only supposed to be the warm-up part. 

Five beeps - my watch telling me that I'm supposed to run 800m at my intended marathon pace. Well, that simply is impossible. It's challenging enough to keep moving as if I'm running. I just left the road and entered a dirt track. A tricky track, especially in the rain. My shoes are not made for these tracks. The soles have no profile at all. Every now and again my feet slip away. Sometimes it is even hard to stay on my feet. And with the rain and sweat dripping in my eyes I can't see the track very clearly. 

Soon the dirt road turns into a narrow track. Still slippery and now going downhill. Carefully I make my way down. Not even trying to run. It is more important to stay on the track and not slide down the mountainside. Somtimes I pause to enjoy the beauty of this scenery. Even in the rain it is lovely. 

Finally, I reach the paved road. Now running will be easier. Still going downhill. But... I lost the track! Somewhere in the woods I missed a turn. A little reluctant I decide to turn back. "Run" back up the trail and find that turn to take the right path. 

Now and again my watch is beeping. It still expects me to follow their instructions - 8x 800m at race pace with 3 minutes rest in between. Having found the right path, soon I reach the village. Now the course will be mainly paved roads and not too steep. Paved they are. But still steep. It is fun though, to be running in this scenery. Im pretty content with the course I planned for today. 

Accepting that running uphill my pace drops dramatically. An important warning for the first ten kilometers in Brussels. And part of me hopes that the effect is stronger here in Switzerland because of the altitude. Let's see. I promise myself to keep listening to my body and to not push beyond my capacity. 

Two hours after finishing my run I feel my system energised. Really, there's magic in running.