Why running in Innsbruck?
In June I spent a couple of days in Tirol, before moving to Cortina d’Ampezzo for the Lavaredo Ultra Trail (LUT-Lavaredo Ultra Trail (ITA)-120 KM | EmigranTrailer).
In those days I realized that I had never raced in Austria yet.
So I went through the race calendar, I heard a couple of friends who know this race well, and eventually I decided to sign up for this marathon at the Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival.
Race review: my goals and status
After the previous weekend’s race in France where I had good feelings (Trail Haut-Koenigsburg (FRA) – 25 KM | EmigranTrailer), I wanted to confirm the good feelings and run with ease, avoiding injuries to the ankle which is not yet in a good shape.
I had set myself the goal of running it between 4h30 and 5 hours at the most. I didn’t know how technical or difficult the trails were and so I gave myself some flexibility.
However, not all plans are successful.
Let’s be clear: I reached the minimum goal, finishing in about 4h37′ (Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival 2021 , 09.09.2021-12.09.2021 : : my.race|result (raceresult.com)).
But, during the race and as soon as I crossed the finishing line, the feeling is that I could have completed the race at least 20 minutes earlier.
What were the reasons that prevent me from being faster?
I believe that I was simply tired! 🙂
In fact the hours before the race were everything but relaxing, mainly for two reasons.
The first reason was the trip on Friday. I left Wiesbaden in the late morning and arrived in Innsbruck in the evening just in time to take the bib and then move to the hostel, halfway between Innsbruck and Kranebitten. In other words: a very tiring day.
The second reason was the Friday night.
Namely, I had booked a bed in a mixed dormitory and I found myself in a small hostel, with only one bathroom for 10 people, divided into two rooms next to each other.
After eating a cold meal I had from prepared from home, I packed up my race bag and hoped to sleep at least 8 hours in peace.
No way.
The main problem was the very loud snoring of a person and the comings and goings of the guests at night between 22 in the evening and 4 in the morning.
As a consequence, I didn’t sleep at all. So at 5 o’clock in the morning I got up, dressed, had breakfast and started slowly towards the departure point three kilometers from the hostel.
At the starting line I felt like I had already run the complete marathon! 😉
The race and the trail
At the start it was a bit cold but there was a nice atmosphere with all the other competitors, the speaker and the music in the background.
The first two kilometers were slightly downhill or slightly flat and I let myself be carried away by the enthusiasm remaining in the Top 5 at an already high pace.
Then as soon as the ascent started, I even took the lead for a few hundred meters.
I wanted to understand how much energy was in the body……I would say very little!
So I gradually started to slow down and use my head rather than my legs.
The ascent continued along forest roads, with some steep points and others less steep, up to the highest point around 18 km. I tried to enjoy the view but it was still foggy and cloudy.
Between 11 and 14 km I had a crisis that led me to walk mostly. Same thing just after the refreshment at the top of the longest climb.
The next 5-6 km of descent (some beautiful single track passages in the woods) I ran at a good pace, but not with good sensations.
Few kilometers after the second refreshment point, I started to feel cramps.
Onestly I was not surprised at all!
From this point on it was a continuous balance between running and walking to get to the finish line. Too bad, because the last 10 km were potentially runable on some beautiful single tracks.
In any case, the final arrival at the Olympiaworld Innsbruck with the speaker announcing my name and above all starting the Gianna Nannini song in the background (Gianna Nannini – Bello e Impossibile – YouTube) was too funny!
Thank you again!
Race information
Official website: Innsbruck Alpine – Ein Event der Laufwerkstatt
Official distance: 42 km
Official Cumulative Gain +: 1600 m
Official Cumulative Loss -: 1600 m
Official max altitude: 1636 m
Start Date: 11/09/2021
Start Time: 08:00 a.m.
Start Point: Kranebitten (Kranebitter Hof, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)
Cost: 88 € (2 €/km)
Air Temperature (average): 18°C
Weather conditions: cloudy
Dominant Ground: trails, forest roads
Ground Status: partially wet
Technical Difficulties: none
Refreshment Points: 4 (ca. km 8, ca. km 18, ca. km 26, ca. km 35)
Race results
Official results: Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival 2021 , 09.09.2021-12.09.2021 : : my.race|result (raceresult.com)
Official starters: 281
Official finishers: 276
Official personal time: 4h37’20”
Official personal absolute position: 42
Official personal male position: 41
Official personal AGE Position (M1-H): 5
Official personal finisher certificate: Alle für Internet (raceresult.com)
Official personal finisher video clip: not available
Personal ratio absolute position/starters: 14,9 %
Personal Gps move (by Suunto 9): https://www.suunto.com/move/andreadefilippo70/613c90c4c16f9d638922c333 (note that I never wear a Hearth Rate Monitor. The recorded bpm is on the wrist. Thus it’s not correct. Ditto for VO2 and calories)
Personal Registration Team: Team NO LIMITS – EMIGRANTRAILER
Race equipment
Shoes Type: Saucony Peregrine 11 (Size: UK 8.5 / EU 43 / USA 9.5; Color: Future Blue)
Shoes usage at the start: 313 km; ca. 16044 D+ / ca. 15979 D-
Anklet: F&V (only used for the right ankle, still not ok)
Socks: Thyo Special Trail (Size: 41-43; Color: Black/Blue)
Calf Sleeves: Compressor Sport
Shorts: Raidlight Trail Raider Short (Size: M; Color: Dark Blue)
Race Belt: Suunto / Salomon (Color: Black)
Undershirt: not used
T-Shirt: Team NO LIMITS
Arm Sleeves: not used
Gloves: not used
Wristband: not used
GPS Clock: Suunto 9 (Color: Black)
Backpack: Ultimate Direction 10,8L (Size: M; Color: Blue)
Headwear: Kalenji Cap
Glasses: not used
Trail Running Poles: not used
Headlamp: not used
Wind/Rain Jacket: not used during the race (just before) but in the backpack
First Aid Help: in the backpack with all required equipment (mobile phone, face mask, passport, health insurance card, drinking cup, foldable bowl, rescue blanket, elastic bandage, tape, car key and money)
Race nutrition plan
My nutrition in the competition was strongly influenced by my physical condition.
- 1 L of water and electrolyte sports drink in the first 15 km
- 1,5 L of coke drunk between the 2nd and the 4th refreshment points
- 2 Gel by Overstim’s (used at km 8 and at km 28)
- 1 Bar by Overstim’s (used at km 10): 22g Bio Bar (I could not really eat too much in the last2 hours)
Additional information
If you want more information or technical details related to this event, please do not hesitate to contact me or comment below.
Other information about races, results and equipments at the following link: Trail & Running | EmigranTrailer.
Enjoy Trail Running!
Andrea De Filippo
Original post in english language. For other languages, please open with a web browser (i.e. Chrome) and apply the automatic translation.
