1.000 k biking and mountainmarathon. I did it!

Robert Gardien / 26.09.2011

The second day was more hilly through the Belgium Ardennes and after 100 km in a downhill I crashed on the asphalt at 50 km / hour. My left arm was grazed and my knee was heavily wounded. Fortunately we were close to a town, where I could clean the wounds. On advise I went to a doctor, who desinfected the wounds and put on plaster. We finished the day of again 210 km in Bollendorf (D) without further incidents.
The 3rd day was 200 km to Mittersheim (F) and we had severe wind against us the whole day. Our escort had trouble finding the right track, so we hardly had any refreshments during the day.
Next morning on day 4 it was raining and cold. Within 18 km we had 3 flat tires and after a long climb of 11 km, we reached the top frozen. After a cup of soup and warm clothes we continued, but we knew it would be a long day. We ended in Basel after 220 km just in time for diner. It was a long hard day for all of us.
Thursday, the last day to Interlaken was a peace of cake. The distance was only 150 km and the weather was perfect. At Interlaken we were welcomed by the other participants from our club, who only ran the marathon.

The next morning I started my preparation for the marathon. To be sure my knee was OK, I did a small training of 4 km. After collecting the start nr. the rest of the day was mainly occupied with resting, watching other running events and having a small massage. Tomorrow we will start the marathon. Our group was existing out of 22 runners, 12 fresh people and 10 men who had already cycled 1000 km. Internally we made a pool at which position each individual would finish. Due to my injured knee, most guessed I would finish last or wouldn't finish at all.