Trail

Today I went trail running in the Jura near St-Cergue and I found the experience okay. I think that the group stopping regularly helped make this a relatively easy run despite the gradient. Cycling got me used to making hard efforts, not for seconds or minutes at a time but for an hour or more, especially when heading up the Jura.

When I run, my fitness has a positive impact, and because running is more egalitarian than cycling, I suffer less to keep up. With cycling I have a heavier steel frame, heavier aluminium wheels, less efficient group set and rim brakes rather than disk brakes. All of those mean that for every climb I am at a disadvantage. I climb faster than some, but it costs me more.

Yesterday I went out in track suit trousers, a t-shirt and minimal other stuff. The plan was to run just three to four kilometres. I planned not to cross any busy roads. I had this plan because I felt that I needed a day of rest after yesterday’s bike ride.

Garmin wanted me to run for an hour, and Suunto wanted me to have a half hour run. I don’t remember what Apple apps wanted. I chose to follow the Garmin recommendation because I felt fine. I ran into Nyon, and then through the town, and then instead of going through the railway tunnel I turned right. This took me up a little climb, before taking me up another little climb, before taking me down to the lake.