Training and getting Sun in Portugal

So I will start the blogging with a fun and different place,not your typical, in Monte Gordo Portugal (in the Algarve).

I was there with Renate and a group of Swiss distance runners, ranging from 1500 to marathon for some warm weather training. After returning from Australia in early January, we had some tough conditions to deal with weather wise, as the temperature plumetted to below zero... and kept going. I think the coldest run I did was in minus 15 degrees (no, that is not a misprint!!) which was challenging to say the least.

What kept me going was getting down to Portugal, knowing that the conditions would be much more bearable and great for longer training with the temperatures sitting around +15 degrees and Sun for most of the day.

When getting down South, it was good to get out on the varied trails and train with a few different people. Most of my runs were completed with the group, and faster ones done with Swiss runners Phil Bandi and Marco Kern. One of the days, I joined two Germans for a long (30km) run, winding up the pace as we went on.

The day as which is typical when on holidays and a training camp was pretty standard each day. Not to bore with details, but it usually includes plenty of eating, running, coffee drinking, midday naps, reading as well as a bit of stretching, gym work, massage and sauna for recovery.

This format is mixed up and repeated regularly.



With the marathon being the focus, the weekly kms are high, and the staples are the long run, tempos, longer intervals and recovery runs.



Next up, I will add some pics, and keep you posted on whats happening. I encourage comments and will do my best to keep this place up to date, interesting and relevant.

Thanks for reading...