The first virtual run of MST in which I participated was still relatively easy. Can I shift the gears to 1,000 altimeters in a maximum of 10 km?
I'll be honest right away: that title is not a clue for me winning a Strava segment or performing superbly uphill. But the Altra King MT 2 is really one of the best shoes whenever Mud Sweat Trails gives you a difficult challenge: 1,000 altimeters (hm d+) within a maximum route length of 16 km. With so many ascents and descents, you can sure use some Velcro to secure your shoes. Also you don't want to trip over the laces if you're descending fast, an ailment that affects almost all of Altra's other models. And ok, the name sounds good as well.
For those who do competitions or training abroad: this many altimeters over such a short distance usually means that you climb a steep mountain top. Climbing steeply is something I did myself for the first time in the Ardennes, at the Castle Trail. A loop of 10-12 km usually has around 500 altimeters there. Because the loops always change, I think my first 25 km there, has around 1,200 hm. And last year on Lanzarote the ascent was only 1,000 hm per 20-30 km. Both Lanzarote and the Ardennes have real mountains, but they don't rise as fast as we're allowed to do here. Plus: mountain races are sometimes point to point. In other words: you climb 1,000 meters over 20 km, but don't descend that much, so the slope stays mild.
Scouting for Locations
With the Me-Mover I trialled a couple of locations. At first I thought of Snowworld (Zoetermeer). That's just a bit closer and therefore more convenient for the still deflated tire of my regular bike. There were a few options near Snowworld, including one right next to the ski slope, where you can take a fairly heavy track up and go down via the stairs. However, this only yielded a meagre 20 hm at a time and the stairs were a bit of a cheat, not really a trail. If you take stretch the path a little further, to where you can get to the iron stairs of Snowworld, then you only get 27 m in almost half a kilometer. Risky.
At the same time, I also decided to sign up with Ramona to do the Kill the Hill challenge, where you only have to travel 200 to 300 metres, regardless of distance. Could we combine it together and did I dare to let her do that many altimeters right away?
Because we both don't want to travel by public transport, I decided to look at the options that were feasible within cycling distance. The nice thing is, there's a GIS map which indicates exactly how high a certain point is. The disadvantage is that tall buildings are also counted (recognizable by the shape and sudden color change) and that it is not always clear whether you can and may walk there. In the end the MST challenge turned out not to be possible within cycling distance of both, but we are going to kill that Hill another time.
The only real option for me was at Outdoor Valley in the Hoge Bergsche Bos. According to the Rotterdam Trailheads there are even several options there, including taking the ski hill through the grass. With that, within 8 km the 1,000 hm would be doable. The altitude map also showed it as promising.
On the way to the top
This morning I drove to Bergschenhoek, somewhat tense. Since Lanzarote I haven't made all that many altimeters. Before that I was a climbing goat – albeit a slow one – but ever since the fall on the first day I have a nasty fear of descending. Which by the way is getting better and better, I have to add. In any case I left much too late again, around eleven o'clock. And halfway I had to re-inflate the rear tire of my bike, so I only reached my destination around half past eleven. Smack in the middle of the bright sun, but with enough drink and a body that handles it reasonably well.
After parking it was time to look for the beginning of the hill. Parking the bike on the mtb trail, where the lowest point was, didn't seem like such a good idea to me. So I first had to walk a few hundred meters, which of course went towards the 16 km maximum. A 500 m and 40 easy altimeters further, I stood on top of the viewpoint. This is where it was going to happen.
In the old days it was always my favorite just to throw myself down the hill, nowadays I'm a little more careful. But the first descent and climb went peacefully (1 minute descending, a few minutes climbing) and before I knew it, I had around 35 hm again. Running up the hill was a bit too steep – too little training as of late – but running well. Descending went fine because of the long grass and the megagrip of the Kings.
Running in circles
Round after round I ran. Occasionally pausing. Just sitting on a tree trunk. Hanging out on the lookout. It must have been a strange sight for the other visitors. Luckily most people were present at the viewpoint for a maximum of two or three rounds. Only once others walked down the steep path: two boys, their sister and father. I don't know if I inspired them, but of course the children went running and one stumbled while trying to stay in my step. Not to worry: the grass was soft and forgiving.
On my watch I counted the altimeters. I had no idea how many laps I had done, but was euphoric when I could mark a milestone. One third, half, two thirds, 900 m. The delay was not so much because the legs were heavy, but because I got tired. I had been running for an hour or two. My long low grass that helped descending gracefully had already been mowed by a tractor.
After about 25 rounds, I'd had enough. With more than 970 m, I would come back to the bike with a loop. Of course the counter after that loop got stuck on a crazy 999 hm. This always happens to me. So I had to run a bit back up to finally get that 1.000+. And eventually I made it well within 16 km (10 km and a total time of 2 hours 48, lots of peace of mind in between).
At the end I was glad I had finished and persevered. Salt everywhere because of the warm sun. But a good feeling after this repetitive and exciting challenge. Thanks Marc, this assignment really got me out of the rut and lethargy of the past few days.
The muscle pain in calves and thighs did follow, but only after returning home. Tomorrow I will keep quiet and then I will be ready to go again.
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Keep on running (: