Trail Challenge for Beginners
When Thorsten lay in his hospital bed with a fractured pelvis, he was certain of one thing: the only way is up! However, he would never have imagined that four years later he would compete in the Walser Trail Challenge which covers an altitude difference of 1,100 metres from the valley to the summit.
When Thorsten lay in his hospital bed with a fractured pelvis, he was certain of one thing: the only way is up! However, he would never have imagined that four years later he would compete in the Walser Trail Challenge which covers an altitude difference of 1,100 metres from the valley to the summit.
Different Requirements, Same Goal
Hana has always been sporty because her health required her to be so. As a child, she tried to overcome her asthma through cross-country skiing. She then went on to live a hippy lifestyle in Canada and hiked across the vast national parks before love drew her to Leipzig. She wasn’t completely happy here due to problems of the heart and she decided to literally ran away from the situation. This initially involved 20 minute jogs each day followed by a move to the Allgäuer Alpen. It soon wasn’t enough for her to just hike up and down the mountainsides; she wanted to see more of the mountains in less time. She therefore started to jog on the mountain trails.
Rigorously Tested and Declared Fit
Thorsten received a tailor-made training programme based on the results of his HRV test (heart rate variability measurement test). Interval training, gentle runs before breakfast and the Tagesschauprogramm (stretches, sit-ups etc. designed to be done whilst watching the news - Tageschau) are an integral part of the programme. He takes Seppis ‘ recommendations very seriously. These include walking up and downhill barefoot, eating regularly and ensuring that you ‘ease off the pressure’. This is written on the training plan with two smiley faces next to it. Thorsten makes no secret of the fact that he is not always able to incorporate these good intentions into his long working day at the Bärgunthütte. However, the fact that he now feels fitter and in better shape when he builds fences on the alp and drives the cattle motivates him considerably.
You can really see that both rookies have been completely bitten by the trailrunning bug. They both head to the start of the Kanzelwand run during the Trail Challenge weekend. There are only 9 kilometres to the top. The first 300-metre climb to the Riezler Alp is definitely the toughest challenge for both of them. However, they have already have the greatest achievement under their belts: they have internalised the fact that the only way is up!
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