At the end of training week number five for New York, I replaced the speed work with Üetliberglauf, the last in the 2011 ZüriLaufCup series. I already had my six results, it was not possible for me to advance in the overall ranking and I could not be passed either, so it was just for the sake of it.

Because I live rather close, I could run to the start; I was a bit late and had yet to collect my number, but that went smooth and I could join the crowd waiting for the start.

The weather was perfect and I looked like something stung me in the right eye:

I saw some people from afar and exchanged nods and thumbs up, and then we started. I had done the race in 2010 already and remembered especially some brutal climbs. Every flat or downhill bit was to be considered a little gift.

There was a small group I ran with for the first few kilometres. On the flat bits I would gain on them, in the uphill parts they would gain on me. Finally it was just one guy and me, and in the first longer steep uphill part, he went ahead and I had not the faintest chance to follow; never saw him again in that race.

I felt quite good overall, and the steepest bit was so gruel in my remembrance that the reality could not quite live up to it. After the halfway point, there was a longer downhill bit, and even though I felt quite fast, two guys caught up with me. I decided to stick to them, and together we passed a bunch of people (among them “red guy” from Hallwilerseelauf). Eventually I managed to get away from them again, and before the steepest bit of the way back, I saw that the leading woman was not too far away.

With maybe four kilometres to go, I caught up to her, breathing loud enough for her to glance back about five times. Sorry about that! I’m not a big fan of loud breathers myself, but I couldn’t help it. I passed her, and on the last downhill part there weren’t many people any more. Just before the end, I saw two guys close to each other and decided to try and get them.

Once I was with them, I tried to get away as quickly as possible, but that was a wee bit early for a strong finish and I almost blew up. Plus there was a chaos with walkers and people from the fun run all returning at the same time, but I managed to finish before the two.

I ended up 11th in my age group and with the third best result of my 2011 ZüriLaufCup races. As expected, that didn’t change my overall ranking, so I’m still number nine there.

I chatted a little bit with some people, but I got cold very soon and headed inside to get changed. I jogged home to cool down properly and was rather content with myself and the world. From now on, there was just one more hard workout on the plan (90 minutes marathon pace); other than that, the NYC taper would begin!