DAY 8 TRANSALPINE COMES TO AN EXCITING END in LATSCH, South Tyrol, Italy
A CELEBRATION ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH! As I finished my last pit stop at the final Aid Station...the anticipation and excitement started to well up. I shoved my final round of tomato, cucumber, salt and banana in my mouth and off we went! Always when we see the 10 km mark, it is home stretch. This was a pounding 10km downhill all the way into the apple orchards of Latsch......The last few days, I felt stronger and stronger as we approached the finish and better everyday...but now I was feeling it! For the first time in awhile the heaviness set into my legs, knee twinging, crampy muscle in adductor...and Simone with her taped up shin....ignoring any tweaks she may have....we decided to go for it....Or as we say to each other ' Give it Hell, Babe!' As we got onto an open stretch, it was our chance to pass and pass lots we did (hard to pass on the technical downhills)....with 3km to go...I hear a Arrrrgggggghhhh thump!!! Simone fell hard....must have hit a root on the ground....it knocked her for a minute...as heart rates and adrenyline were pumping.....with a scaped up shoulder and the breath knocked out of her....she got right back in.....she was having her strongest day....we both felt good.....Now the home stretch.....As we appoached the finiish....Andy ran out to us with huge Sunflowers and sprayed us with a bottle of Champage....the crowd was roaring....We swooped each other up, got on the ground and rolled over the finish (Simone's idea)...then I picked up my girl and swung her around......The Elation at the finish was like no other..We got a little glass of Champagne as we crossed the finish and received the medal around our necks.....It was unreal to fathom what we had done over the last 8 Days....With the highs and lows, grumpiness, impatience, aches here and there....we just had to get up and do it....and the body and mind so adapted and now ...I just need to absorb everything I just did and take in this very emotional moment....just awesome....No matter what place...how slow or how fast.....it is sticking it out to the end, getting up when you fall, supporting others who are there, taking in the awe of the land we get to cross, being your own best coach to give it your all each day and appreciate the energy and the pain and exhaustion, ...it's about turning off the mind and just running...being purely in the moment....(well the great space in between aid stations at times sure tested my patience...)...and the support from everyone....from high up at 3000m in the cold to the finish line just blew my mind and highlighted everything......Can't say enough about this experience.......Words will never give it justice....It just has to be experienced....What is absolutely crazy is I feel somewhat fresh and want to keep going, like I am just getting into it....will keep it up until I come home anyways....TEAM ENERGI ended up 10th overall for the women out of 36 Teams........10 Teams of the women had pulled out...We completed the 8 Stages in over 45 hours - Our higher placing days were the Mountain Sprint and the last day.... The CELEBRATION continues into the night........FOOD, PICS, VIDEO, MUSIC, DANCING will miss our Portugese Brothers (who we always ended up running with), will miss HOSE - the crazy spanaird...who would rub my bruised eye everyday.....will miss Ingrid and Seppe in their Magic Bus (an old Mercedes Trailer) always driving us around and taking care of us....I will miss them all.....UNTIL NEXT YEAR!OK I am looking for a male....who loves to run fast downhill......any takers on this? The fatigue has set in today in the middle of my little hike....I think tomorrow is a chill, write, pack, make some goodbye visits around Rietz, and espresso day...Home in 4 Days....OK my friends BIG HUGS Karbear
1 Comment
 This Event is absolutely mind bogglingly amazing....I am so used to running and climbing most of the day now...what the heck am I going to do when I get back....I'll just have to take all my clients and friends out climbing and running - hmmm we'll have to find a mountain though...DAY 6 SKUOL, Switz to Mals, South Tyrol, Italy 37km This was one of the most incredible stretches we did. As we climbed over to Italy...they had a steep section that was breathtaking, with tunnels and complete drop offs about a foot or two outside of my foot....pretty wild...I am soooo lucky to be running through this land. The organization and everything they do for each day is incredible.....from the Helicopters above us filming to all the Photographers out on course....even 3000m high to catch numerous shots of the day...in no time they put a film together of all the best pics and video of the day...I am so thankful that I am feeling stronger and stronger everyday....I never would have imagined that ...even though I did train a lot for it...body gets so used to it....that you can push even more. I so look forward to it everyday. I am blessed that I have no injuries or problems going on.....many people have nagging injuries that are now really flaring up and lots of people with stomach problems...who can't eat or drink much. I feel bad for my Team Partner Simone...on this day...she was exhausted the whole day. Lots of tears today not just from Simone...but from lots (they say a lot of tears are on DayThis 6, different stuff going on). It's a different thing running in a TEAM (as I have never before) when you are so used to individual...it's a patience thing knowing that you can't really push it even if you feel good, when partner is not well....it's not about your performance for the day.....it's sticking it out no matter what.....Today my Body said to eat everything in sight....so I did....cake, and more cake and lots of other stuff....Not used to that!Then there is Jose, who keeps rubbing my eye in the mornings before the run, lightly and speaks full on Spanish as he's doing it he is doing this to help it heal faster.......and JOSE ROCKS as it looks better that ever.... DAY 7 MALS to SCHLANDERS, South Tyrol Italia 36km up to almost 3100m Love this profile today! This is my absolute favourite type of course to do......all steep uphill and then steep downhillWhat an incredible course ....the views blow you away......On narrow rocky single trail, almost on hand and knees nearing the top.. in the distance we hear..Crazy bald Gerhardt the farmer (who has done this event numerous times) playing his Trombone. By the Way, this man decided to pick a really cool route and ran 100km everyday for 25 days...one of many wild things he has done. Hitting the 3000m crest today was unbelievable......so many people supporting and cheering like crazy and then it was here....DOWNHILL....steep at first through sand like terrain....some were almost skiiing down it...was awesome!I felt even stronger today...and Simone...I know didn't feel super strong and then her shin splints were acting up like crazy....we had to pull back a bit but still managed to climb in rack to number 8! Yeahhhhh TEAM ENERGI! Tomorrow is the last day......I feel like I want to add on a few more days...30km to Latsh OUR FINISH! and then the very last stage is PARTY And DANCE ALL NIGHT BABY! Will keep you posted! Almost done! HugsKarrie   DAY 5 - BERG SPRINT 6km 1000m up.....Give it YOUR ALL BABE....And TEAM ENERGI did and climbed up the ranks a bit....We did a time of 1:04...and we were
pumping it! Holy cow did that ever feel short! Just got back from the Spa place...oh it's got everything in there.....doesn't hold my attention too long though....The naked Sauna part was OK though..... Well I'll tell you, if any of you were near the tent of Karrie and Simone this early morning as we awoke...you would have thought...What the heck is going on? Non stop laughter.....as we both awoke and looked at each other ....we were freaked out! Totally! Like something from the Night of the Living Dead....I have never in my life seen my face like it was...and hers was pretty much the same, except for ...she didn't have a black eye. We were sooooo puffed out...our eyes looked almost closed....I took a pic...to use as my mirror and was in shock....we could NOT stop laughing...You wouldn't believe it.....people were in shock as we walked through the camping shower area....we were trying to cover our face....I looked like Rocky just coming off from a fight! We have heard from others who have done this event many times, that it is very common to swell up in the face and eyes...especially around DAY 5....which is NOW.....Just a reaction from performing day after day. - the body, especially legs tends to swell up a bit too (or hold onto water)........But man am I ever glad I got some pics of that! In face I might use it for my FACEBOOK pic! Can't wait for tomorrow's early morning look!...That might be a better one for Facebook.... Oh and another highlight was our pre race Cafe stop this morning....only 12 Francs (almost $15) for a coffee and Simone and Double Espresso for me........now that was a funny one... I am just thinking now, it would be wierd to get up and do nothing tomorrow....we are so used to it now...it feels like we need to do it...and so look forward to it... Tomorrow is 37km and only 1300m of climbing up....that means A LOT of running tomorrow and less climbing..... I like a good mix of both but mostly steep climbing and steep downhill...that's the best! OK good night Until tomorrow my friends..........Ooooh this event just keeps getting better and better... Schlaf Gut Karrie Sitting here at the Camp Ground in Skuol, Switzerland...I am very satisfied and so grateful for the day.....even though there was a little mishap at the end.. So almost 40km Done todayThe most gorgeous landscape we scaled today with a 10km warm up and then climb climb climb - Today was a very strong day for myself but my partner was exhausted the whole day...that's the way it goes with TEAM...I could be exhausted on another day and her not. I can't believe how much the body is adapting....it expects it everyday and I am feeling better and better..... It's like a Family out there - there is Fabio and Diogo, the Portugese Brothers who we always end up running with and see everywhere, or the other German Canadian Pair - Norma and Bernd - who are not going so good, as they are too far apart in Fitness, and that makes it tough- he used to be a Pro Triathlete and she is runner from out west...they just met here ( a little misconception maybe on her fitness) - they are now not getting along. Anything can happen out here at an event like this, even though you are fit...so choosing a partner that is very similar to you is important. And then there are the two Swedes - Frederik and Mikael - They are quite the characters and love bumping into them. Then there is Stefan and Rolf -Stefan, a good friend of ours from Germany and Rolf from Austria - Stefan is on his 7th Transalpine! Can you believe it! He is very good.....but this year, he is having problems -Diarhhea on route two days in a row - which is really weakening him - but Rolf is doing great...that''s just the way it can go.... The aid stations are hilarious as we all DIVE into the food and push around like we haven't eaten in days - when there is 10- sometimes 15km in between aid stations....you DIVE in. Holy crap you wouldn't believe the finish, a super steep (love that) 6km descent into the cobblestone laced streets of the village...that's a long way to run 6km downhill....and we just FLEW.....no brakes! Right now I sit here with a little ice pack on my eye....5min after the finish, standing and chatting, holding onto both Simone's and my hiking poles...I bent over fast to do something and I hit my eye direct on the handle (thank God it was the handle....I thought it was the spike right away in panic) and it hit hard and went in,. man was that painful... ....spent some time in medical tent...and the Doctor recommended to go the Hospital to an eye doctor to get it checked....it is an hour outside the village...May be doing that tomorrow...right now though....swollen and turning black and blue.....It looks like Simone was really ticked off today and gave me a Whallop! So two adventures in the day! Tomorrow is like a DAY OFF - The MOUNTAIN SPRINT 6km up the Mountain, almost 1000m...that exact thing we ran down today! We would be done in around 2 hours or less....WHAT the heck are we going to do with ourselves the rest of the day....I know massage, drink Cappucinos and lie in the sun... Until tomorrow Puffy eyed Karrie  TRANSALPINE DAY 3
STAGE 3 DONE! 42km 1800m climbing From Hirshegg to Galtur, Austria/ Felt Strong TEAM Energi fell back a few positions today..d'ats OK. Couldn't imagine how my body could get up and do it today considering how it felt last night. But Wow it just starts to adapt to this crazy stuff! Rained the whole day! Was about 3 Degrees at over 2700m where we were and I froze my buns off, especially my hands...like icicles! When you are up high...the weather can bite you (always better to bring more than enough clothes) The HOT SOUP at the Food Stations Just Rocks! As well as the tomato and cucumber with salt. and...wolfing that down by the handfuls. and of course a whopping handful of trailmix.....always manage to grab When you are wet...its hard to stay warm...we weren't running as much as it was rocky and wet... Simone had a lot of stomach problems but we made it through with a smile on our face at the end. She hasn't been eating much most of the week as her stomach won't let her...so I forced a shake in her at the end....She must stay strong for the week! Staying at this Guesthouse in this HUGE beautiful room with breakfast for only 25 Euros....that rocks! Well to bed we go and up at 6! Oh my goodness....I think I am getting used to this.......Just another 40km tomorrow! with temperatures of 0 Degrees and ice where we are hiking to.... I will let you know how the adventure unfolds.... Karrie and Team Energi Karrie is 'Out of Order'......and missing the Pasta Party, sprawled out on the bed with many parts aching at yet another Private BnB....we are wimps with the Mass Camp - Don't like Pasta anyhow.... A long and at many times very challenging...'It frickin HURT! day. We finished in over 8 1/2 hours....I don't know how tomorrow is going to happen but IT WILL... You know there is a couple doing this with their 2 Dogs - Husky like Dogs.....I LOVE THAT....up and down the peaks.... I have never ate so much during a race in my life....a buffet of everything at the 4 stations throughout... and people stuffing their faces like crazy as we know we won't see one for a while.....but afterwards....really hard to eat well, even though we need it.....the stomach just doesn't want it....I eat far more on days I do nothing....
My brother's note was our inspiration for the day.....just four sweet words...can't tell you though....Tomorrow's weather not looking good...wonder how they will change the course... hmmmm. Good night all Karrie and TEAM ENERGI New Video and Fotos of the day on website! www.transalpine-run.com Check it out, baby! TRANSALPINE DAY 1 OH my flippin goodness! This is the TOUR DE FRANCE of Running! At 11am this morning this amazing race took off with 300 Teams running through the village of Obertsdorf, Germany (Bayern). People are running because they have a crazy love for Mountain Running, also some are running for a Charity and some are running to WIN the day, the stage, the week! 9 Runners from Canada in total! Day 1 done STAGE one done! and TEAM ENERGI - Simone and Karrie DONE! Well not quite....we have bounced back well considering how much it beat us up! 27km and 1800 m of steep climbing - Team Energi did well coming 11th out of 36 women teams! I will say this was the longest 27km I have done in my life! When we crossed that finish line...hands held together.....I was handed a package of dried meat and got a big hug! I hardly was past the finish line and went right to the ground in exhaustion pulling Simone down with me.... What's just crazy is that, we have to keep laughing about it though, tomorrow, Stage 2 is double today and much tougher. in fact it's an absolutely crazy route..which means I think we'll be out there for at least 9 hours! and most of it will be rain....Our strategy has to be much different from today....really slow at first....eating and drinking lots in the first half....then see what gas we have in the last third....but this is on Bugger of a 53km day and I am soooooo pumped for it....and the 5am wake up... RUN CAMP! - This is truly like a Camp - Numerous countries from all around the world...everyone knowing everyone like brothers and sisters, from doing it many years in a row. The energy here is absolutely incredible Most of the athletes are staying in what we call a Camp - which is basically a big Hall floor - mattresses side by side and people side by side.. it looks hilarious... You can imagine...stinky bodies and feet, snoring, breathing in someone else face.....Well this princess and my other princess opted out of that...and chose the more luxurious option of sleeping outside in a sleeping bag....We searched for a spot by the Athlete hall and found a terrace...so there we were...3 of us (another friend of Simone's) lying on a paper thin mattress all mummied up in a sleeping bag laughing our butts off and then listening to my tunes as i drifted off to sleep...Men who worked at the hall walked by and offered for us to move inside the Breakfast Hall and sleep there.....ahhh so nice.....and then 4 am .....bright blasted lights came on in the huge hall.....Oh.....the cleaning ladies were there......so we moved back out into the darkness of the terrace.....Now I like sleeping on hard surfaces but this was not the most comfortable....so here we are....tonight staying in a Guesthouse with a beautiful bed....we pay much extra...but we are living in luxury for the big day tomorrow.... You must check out the Photos and Video of the day on the main web page www.transalpine-run.com. Simone and I are in at least one pic... OK The HARDEST DAY is Upon us....and sleep I must....Good night all....Karrie and Team Energi...Until tomorrow.  Oh I get chills just thinking of all the Blogs I will be reading following this one. This is the first official on Livin Adventure.
This BLOG page is a place where we express and share our adventures - Whatever that is to you. This is a place to share Stories that INSPIRE, ENCOURAGE, ENERGIZE and remind us that we are here to PLAY like curious little kid. WHatever that play is to you...is Perfect...and if it scares us a bit? Even better... So fire away! Share your Adventures past and present and future, crazy or unique or even arising from your everyday life! Have you done a race lately? Travelled to some unique places....Rode on the back of a camel...Started your own unique Business...Ran NAKED on the Beach...Share excerpts from a Trip Journal...or even what you are planning to do coming up... My Intention is to turn this section into a BOOK someday....so let's get writing Karrie Gregson |
AuthorKarrie Gregson is the owner and lead guide for Livin' Adventure. ArchivesCategories
All
|
RSS Feed