You know, I thought that at 58, I wasn’t doing too badly with keeping fit.
Then we spent two days with our friends Wolli and Marion, and I realised that I need to adjust my standards.
At 73, Wolli has qualified for one of the legendary UTMB races around Mont Blanc, the 60 km OCC ultra. To prepare, he and Marion are spending a couple of weeks in the area, hiking sections of the route.
We were super happy to join them for two days. The great thing about getting together with other runners is that you can TALK about running without boring anyone. We had such a blast!
Of course, our hiking days were not exactly gentle strolls. On Monday, we got caught in the rain and on Tuesday, we were out for 8½ hours, covering 27 km and climbing 1,920 m (6,300 ft).
Kai and I struggled to keep up with Wolli and Marion, who seemed to be treating the whole thing as a warm-up.
Inspired by two people who clearly have no intention of slowing down, we returned to Zurich. On Saturday, we lined up for our own, considerably shorter 14 km race.
It was a beautiful little race, meandering through fields and past a mountain lake. I was too busy running to take photos, so here’s an official photo from last year to give you an idea:
We had 220m (720ft) of elevation in this race, so I planned to follow my favourite strategy: start off slowly and gradually get faster if I felt good. It worked beautifully!
I crossed the finish line in 1:02 and Kai came in just a few minutes after me. He looked strong and fresh, and he said he felt good throughout the race.
There were only 14 women in my age group, so I managed to snag the age-group win. But what pleased me even more was finishing 4th woman overall, just a minute behind 3rd.
Besides the running event, there was also a Schwingen competition, Switzerland’s traditional style of wrestling. It dates back to the 13th century and is deeply rooted in the Swiss Alpine regions.
When we got home, I texted Wolli and Marion about our race. They had just returned from another monster hike. I wished Wolli good luck for his ultra on Thursday, and he reminded me that just 10 days later, they would be lining up for their next challenge: the Jungfrau Marathon on 5 September.
Yep. I definitely need to adjust my standards.
- Do you have real-life fitness role models?
- What’s your favourite type of bread?
I am linking up with Jenny from Runners Fly and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday Topics as well as Runners’ Roundup with Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs!
I would say you REALLY aren’t doing too badly with keeping fit… but then there’s always friends who make you think otherwise! What a fantastic time you had hiking with Wolli and Marion, despite the rain. So glad you got to do this together.
And then you snagged another age group win at the race. Huge congrats, Catrina. You truly are inspiring! And I love that you got a “Zopf” as a race prize! Yum! 🙂
Thank you, San! It really is funny how a few days with the right friends can completely reset your standards! 😂 We had such a great time with Wolli and Marion, rain and all.
And yes, I was pretty happy with the race result! Although after spending time with Wolli, I’m not sure I should be getting too smug about it.
Ah yes, you know of course what a “proper” Zopf tastes like! It’s all gone already, it was so tasty!
Was für unglaublich wunderschöne Landschaften, in denen du deine Fitness nochmal mit neuen Anreizen und Vorbildern auf Vorderfrau bringst! Wobei ich ja finde, dass vermutlich du als Vorbild für andere eine ziemlich gute Figur abgibst.
Bei diesem Posting lässt sich quasi alles bejubeln: neben den Landschaften, den fitten Freunden, der bewundernswerten Wanderung – 27 mit 1,920 hm bei Regen sind wahrlich kein Sonntagsspaziergang – der Platz auf dem Siegerpodest – Glückwunsch dazu! – diese tollen Preise, die sich mit Genuss verwerten lassen und für Zuschauerinnen am Wegesrand wie ich eine bin, ganz besonders diese herrlichen Landschaftsfotos!
Als Mittelfeldmensch nehme ich als Vorbilder, wenn ich sie mal brauche (selten), die anderen Mittelfeldmenschen, die sich trotz diverser Hindernisse gelassen und froh im Mittelfeld wohlfühlen und kein Problem damit haben, in dem einen oder andren Punkt auch mal ins Hinterfeld zu rutschen. Sich natürlich gleichzeitig freuen, wenn es auch Punkte über Durchschnitt gibt.
Letztlich sehe ich das pragmatisch: damit es einen Durchschnitt gibt, müssen auch Leute drunter liegen. Sonst wär‘s ja kein Durchschnitt. Hier und da stehe ich für diese Rolle zur Verfügung 😀
Und natürlich mag ich am liebsten (auch meine) frisch gebackene Brote mit Sauerteig, langer Gare und einem hohen Vollkornanteil. Solche weißen Zöpfe wie der gewonnene sind auch mal lecker … persönlich muss ich damit sehr vorsichtig sein weil ich auf Weißmehlprodukte und viele andere Backwaren schnell mit unangenehmen Blähungen bis hin zu Bauchschmerzen und Magenproblemen reagiere. Bisschen davon geht – aber wirklich nie viel. Lasst ihr ihn euch schmecken! (Falls nicht schon geschehen 😉
Danke, Lizzy! Ich musste bei deinem Mittelfeld-Manifest wirklich schmunzeln. 😀 Du hast natürlich recht: Ohne Mittelfeld gibt es keinen Durchschnitt, und irgendjemand muss schliesslich dafür sorgen, dass die Statistik funktioniert! Und ich finde deine Einstellung sehr sympathisch: sich über die Punkte zu freuen, bei denen man über dem Durchschnitt liegt, und gleichzeitig ganz entspannt damit zu sein, wenn man bei anderen Dingen eben weiter hinten landet. Ich messe mich ja auch nicht mit den sehr schnellen jungen Männern, sondern an den gesetzteren Damen. Es ist zum Glück alles relativ! Und ich bin sicher, dass du sehr vielen als Vorbild dienst, mehr als du denkst! Für mich bis du zum Beispiel ein Vorbild mit deinen unerschrockenen Allein-Reisen und vielfältigem Essen. Da kann man nur davon lernen!
Danke auch für die Glückwünsche! Die Wanderung war tatsächlich kein Sonntagsspaziergang, aber die Landschaft und die Gesellschaft haben jede Anstrengung mehr als wettgemacht. Und mit Wolli und Marion mitzuhalten, ist ja auch eine gute Möglichkeit, die eigenen Massstäbe regelmässig neu zu justieren.
Und ja, der Zopf ist natürlich längst verschwunden! Bei deinem Sauerteig mit langer Gare und hohem Vollkornanteil würde ich allerdings auch nicht Nein sagen. Den würde ich vermutlich sogar einem Sieger-Zopf vorziehen. 😋
Liebe Catrina,
also ich glaube, wenn eine ihre Standards sowieso schon hoch hält, bist du das! Wahrscheinlich kam dir der Gedanke nur deshalb, weil es dir eben so selten passiert, dass du Leute triffst, die mehr machen, als du! 😉
Wie schön, dass ihr mit Marion und Wolli unterwegs wart! So sehe ich die beiden auch mal wieder. Die Wanderung klingt unglaublich schön und noch unglaublicher anstrengend! Wie viele Tage wart ihr denn unterwegs?
Gratulation zu deiner – und Kais’ super Zeit! Vierte Frau gesamt ist ja grandios, und der AK-Sieg ist sehr verdient. Lass dir den Zopf schmecken …. ich muss dann eh noch einkaufen gehen, vielleicht hole ich mir auch noch einen. 😀
Grrrr… mich hat’s mal wieder rausgeschmissen – ich war’s!
Deine Texte sind unverkennbar, Doris, habe ich mir schon gedacht!
Liebe Doris,
haha, das kann natürlich sein! 😉 Vielleicht braucht es einfach Wollis & Marions, damit wir gelegentlich daran erinnert werden, dass unsere Standards noch Luft nach oben haben.
Wir haben uns am Sonntag Nachmittag für die Besichtigung der “Gorges du Durnand” getroffen und sind dann Montag und Dienstag gewandert. Die Wanderung am Dienstag war lange, aber die Landschaft war einfach super – und das Wetter war absolut perfekt!
Danke auch für die Glückwünsche zum Rennen! Mit dem 4. Platz overall war ich tatsächlich noch mehr zufrieden als mit dem AK-Sieg. Und Kai hatte ebenfalls ein richtig gutes Rennen. 😊
Der Zopf ist weg! Leider habe ich nicht so viel abbekommen, weil ich gestern noch eine Darmspiegelung hatte (Routine). Mann, was bin ich froh, als ich das hinter mir hatte! Ich hoffe, du holst dir einen Zopf! Geniesse es!
Irgendwann fängt scheinbar jede/r an mit dem Alter zu hadern. Das sollten wir einfach lassen, ist nur eine Zahl. Ja klar, manches wird mühevoller, aber einiges funktioniert auch besser. Ein 14km Sprint (herzlichen Glückwunsch zum super Ergebnis!!) wird irgendwann vielleicht keine beeindruckende Gesamt-Platzierung mehr abwerfen. Ich spiele ja auch immer gerne vorne mit, aber wenn es sich ändert, dann ist es eben so, dafür kommt ein immer größerer Erfahrungsschatz für längere Distanzen dazu. Und genau das machen die beiden unzerstörbaren Braunis, dem Alter entsprechend ausreizen was möglich ist. Sehr inspirierend, tatsächlich.
Die Fotos von der Wanderung übrigens: woah!! 🙂
Du triffst genau ins Schwarze, Oliver! Genau das ist es, was ich von den Braunis mitnehme: nicht ständig darüber nachdenken, was mit zunehmendem Alter schwieriger wird, sondern schauen, was immer noch möglich ist. Und die beiden reizen das definitiv aus! 😄 “Unzerstörbar”, herrlich!
Ich finde deinen Gedanken mit dem Erfahrungsschatz für längere Distanzen auch spannend. Vielleicht verschieben sich die eigenen Stärken einfach mit der Zeit, das ist ja auch sehr spannend. Du hast absolut recht, es wird nicht für immer möglich sein, bei kürzeren Strecken vorne mitzumischen. Machen wir mit, so lange es geht! 😅
Und ja, die Mont Blanc Gegend ist wirklich der Wahnsinn. Wie findest du die Kühe?? 😍 Wir hatten mit dem Wetter am Dienstag auch unglaubliches Glück!
Das sind zwei wunderschöne Eringer Kühe, sehen auf dem Foto massig-groß aus und waren bestimmt eher klein, oder? Die sind übrigens sehr launisch und manchmal auch aggressiv, da ist nicht mit zu spaßen.
Ah, Eringer Kühe waren das! Wir haben einen riesen Respekt vor denen gehabt, die sahen so muskulös aus. Alleine schon der Nacken!
Aber stimmt, jetzt wo du’s sagst, besonders gross waren sie eigentlich nicht.
I love this topic! who told us that we need to slowdown while we age. the physical decline is caused by slowing down in physical activities or is it the reverse? I hope to see more evidence that athletic life is not as short as one thoughts. just look at Messi! I know that we recover slower, higher risk to injury, but we also get wiser and learned to be discipline and take care of ourself, wouldn’t that compensate and actually still be able to get faster?
please share any wisdom you learned from your running friends. She looks soooo fit!!! does she have a blog/inst? would love to follow her.
i don’t have many runner friends that are true running fanatic so you are my model!!!
I love this question too, Coco! I think we sometimes confuse “getting older” with “having to slow down,” when those are not necessarily the same thing. Of course there are physical changes and recovery becomes more important, but like you say, experience, discipline and knowing how to train smarter must count for something too!
And yes, Wolli and Marion are incredibly fit! I have told them MANY times that they should be on Strava or start a blog because people would love to follow what they are doing. Unfortunately, they are not into social media or sharing their training at all. Such a shame, because I would happily follow them myself! 😂 But I do know that they do strength training besides running, so it’s a good idea if you keep up with your Slimfit!
I’m not sure I have any great wisdom beyond watching them and thinking, “Well, if they can do this, what’s my excuse?” 😅 They are definitely a great reminder that there is no need to put an arbitrary age limit on what we can achieve.
And thank you for calling me your model! Oh my goodness, I’m embarrassed, especially when I’m the one following Wolli and Marion around trying to keep up! 😂
Wow, what a beautiful hike. The mountains, the waterfall, the meadows and lake, it all looks so beautiful.
Your friends are amazing. I generally don’t adjust my expectations according to my superhuman role models—got to stay in my lane! Speaking of super-human role models, that is a fantastic time for the race with that kind of elevation.
Thanks, Melissa! The scenery really was spectacular. It was really hard to select the photos for this post!
And I completely understand the “stay in my lane” approach! I was thinking of you this morning – Berlin is coming ever closer! I hope everything is still going well with your training.
And thank you! I was really happy with the race, especially with the elevation. Hopefully it will work out just as well for my upcoming half!
Liebe Catrina,
herzliche Glückwünsche zu deinem Super-Finish am Sihlsee! Ich denke, das beweist eindrücklich, dass du dir keine Sorgen um deine Fitness machen musst. Ich schön auch, dass Kai dank deiner Anmeldung nicht wieder, sagen wir mal, zu zu vielen Höhenmetern gezwungen war ;-)!
Vorbilder im Sport sind prima, wenn man nicht zu hoch greift. Aber auf Augenhöhe oder leicht darüber ist es eine prima Inspiration. Wobei man bei dortschreitendem Alter ein wenig aufpassen muss, sich nicht selber zu überfordern.
Ich liebe solche praktischen Gaben an Läufen! Züpfe kenne ich natürlich, frisch gebacken sehr lecker. Bei mir darf es gern aber auch Vollkornbrot sein. Oder süße Brotsorten, wir Grittibänze, die wir uns ja im Dezember erlaufen werden.
Ha, und Schwingen, die schweizer Spezialität. Fehlte nur noch Hornussen 😉
Liebe Grüße
Elke
Liebe Elke,
danke dir! Als ich Kai gefragt habe, ob er mitmacht, hat er zuerst eingehend die Höhenmeter studiert – nicht nochmals den selben Fehler! Und der Zopf war ja auch ein schöner Anreiz. Du kennst die “Züpfe” natürlich bestens. Der Einsiedler Käse war auch super!
Dein Gedanke zu den Vorbildern gefällt mir: auf Augenhöhe oder ein kleines Stück darüber sind sie wahrscheinlich am inspirierendsten. Bei Wolli und Marion ist das Niveau allerdings schon ziemlich hoch angesetzt! 😂 Und natürlich muss man aufpassen, die eigenen Grenzen nicht zu ignorieren. Gerade beim Älterwerden wird es wohl immer wichtiger, auf den Körper zu hören und nicht nur auf das Ego.
Und stimmt, Hornussen hätte beim Schweizer Sportprogramm tatsächlich noch gefehlt! Schwingen und Alphörner können wir ja inzwischen abhaken, aber ein Event mit Hornussen fehlt definitiv noch auf der Liste! 😉
Did you say you run 95 km a week at 58, lift weights 3-4 times a week, have run an ultra marathon, several 3.18-ish marathons, and you have too low fitness standards? Hmm…
Your friends may impress you, but see that as inspiration and something that proves the fact that age is just a number and you can still improve whatever the age and be fit and strong in your 70s. YOU are an inspiration for other people… like me. Everyone has different circumstances, but you show other people what can be possible in your late 50s.
When I do full renegade rows in the gym and complain about my form or performance, my trainer has said several times “very few people can do that at all”. Of course we should strive for improvement but there’s also a time for being proud of what we can do and have achieved so far. (I’m preaching to myself now after feeling down yesterday about not going “deep enough” with my 70 kg squats)
The photos from the hike and the race route are stunning! And – congrats to winning your age group, AND coming 4th in the overall women’s group! I think you seem to doing quite well with your fitness. 🙂
Haha, OK, when you put it all together like that, it does sound a little ridiculous! 😂 You are right, Wolli and Marion are an absolute inspiration. There is always room for improvement, regardless of age.
And I have to say, you are one of my inspirations too when it comes to strength training. Squatting 70 kg??? I always imagined you were a very tall woman, but when I found out we’re about the same size, I thought, OK, your weight lifting definitely makes me think I should be pushing myself a bit harder in that department!
But I also really like what your trainer said. We sometimes completely lose perspective because we focus so much on what we can’t quite do YET, instead of recognising how much we can already do. I think that’s something we all need to remind ourselves of from time to time.
And thank you for the congratulations, Susanne! I was genuinely thrilled with 4th overall. It was a really fun race! 😊
Wow, all of this is so inspiring – your friends, your first-place win, and the gorgeous photos! That hike is amazing. What a gorgeous country you live in!
But my dear friend, I have to say that you are so fit – I tell my 20ish boys all the time about your race times, and they are always so impressed. Just because your friends are literal machines (I mean, wow, that is incredible) doesn’t mean that you aren’t super-fit and very impressive yourself!
Question! Is there always such a delicious prize for Swiss races? That bread looks so good and I feel like you just won a wheel of cheese as well. Is that typical for a Swiss race? Because I like it!
Thank you, Nicole! Haha, your poor boys must be sick about hearing of me! 😂 Wolli and Marion are MACHINES, absolute machines.
And yes, food is quite often a race prize in Switzerland! I’ve won spaghetti, honey, salami, chocolate and, of course, very often CHEESE. The race organisers seem to understand that runners are much more motivated by food than by another random polyester T-shirt or cotton towel!
And I agree, we were spoiled with scenery over the last two weeks. Zurich, where we live, isn’t super-scenic, so we really enjoy when we go out to the countryside.
Congrats again on the 14km race! Great result 👏 I think now you have pressure on you. There are expectations of winning every race?🤔 You work hard and it is important to you I can see. But not to worry just let it happen. Surprise winning are fun and more exciting than planning it.
I don’t care about others around me. I just do it for myself. I just want to be able to climb a mountain, tree or staircase without stopping or heavily breathing. 😅💦💦 Everyone has their own journey. Competition is not mine any more. Just happy I can still be active at 72.
That hiking weekend was certainly glorious. Amazing landscapes and climbing. I am wondering about where you slept and what you ate? Are there huts and did you make your own food or was it something else?🤔
Keep on moving like that and you will be strong at 💯 years.🎊
Yves
Thanks, Yves! And yes, I think you’re right that once you win an age group, you can start creating expectations for yourself. 😂 But I’m trying not to fall into that trap. My next race in September is a very big half marathon, and winning that one will definitely be a lot more challenging! There will be plenty of fast women in my age group, so I’ll have to manage my expectations there.
I really like your approach of simply doing it for yourself. Being able to climb a mountain, or tree(!) or staircase without stopping and feeling good while doing are important goals! I think you are doing AMAZING at 72, in fact, I keep on forgetting that you are already over 70. And you’re absolutely right, everyone has their own journey.
For the hike, we stayed in a hotel in Champex-Lac. Wolli and Marion had managed to get the last room, which happened to be a family room with two bedrooms, so we got the second bedroom. 😂 We ate at the hotel and in restaurants, so no cooking or sleeping in huts this time. Quite civilized!
Absolutely! I hope both of us will make it to a very fit 100!
Good luck w your next race!🏃♀️💨🤚
Thank you, Yves!!
Oh my goodness. ANOTHER WIN, Catrina. You are just slaying these competitions. That loaf of bread looks truly delicious.
It is truly inspirational to watch active people age so… gracefully and adventurously. You can tell they love moving their bodies and being mobile at that age is such a gift in so many ways.
The views on your hike were phenomenal.
Thank you, Elisabeth! 😊 I was really happy with the race, although I’m not sure I can keep this winning streak going forever!
And yes, I completely agree. People like Wolli and Marion are such a great example of how much fun you can still have with your body and being active as you get older. They certainly don’t seem to have any intention of slowing down!
And the views around Champex-Lac were absolutely spectacular. I think you need to come back for another visit!
Es wird höchste Zeit, wieder hier bei dir die neuesten Nachrichten von Catrinas Abenteuern mitzuerleben !
Sieht ganz schön gefährlich aus, was ihr dort hoch auf den Bergen unternommen habt, herumgekraxelt seid !! Wow !! Und ich stimme dir voll zu, wenn man mit Gleichgesinnten unterwegs ist, wird es nie langweilig, jeder versteht jeden, es gibt immer etwas worüber stundenlang quatschen, gemeinsam erleben kann, das liebe ich auch sehr – man fühlt sich irgendwie ” daheim “.
Tja, das Alter, da kann ich auch mitreden, bin ich noch ein ” paar” Jährchen weiter als du. Aber ich habe die Erfahrung gemacht,je älter ich bei Wettkämpfen war, umso öfter stand ich ganz oben auf dem Treppchen, so wie du auf dem Foto, strahlende Catrina -wie immer ! Herzlichen Glückwunsch für die tolle Zeit ! Älter werden wir alle, wenn wir Glück haben, Hauptsache, wir bleiben fit und können laufen, tut einfach nur gut,worauf ich derzeit leider verzichten muss, aber……………………..
Sportliche Vorbilder habe ich nicht, Anerkennung für Leistungen schon !
Liebe Grüße von ganz oben und – pass auf dich auf – ich weiß, wovon ich rede !
Schön, dass du wieder da bist, liebe Margitta! Gut dass du noch die Tastatur bedienen kannst!
Und ja, ich glaube, du hast mit dem Alter bei Wettkämpfen einen ganz wichtigen Punkt entdeckt: Je älter man wird, desto weniger Konkurrenz gibt es, besonders bei den Damen! Da wird das Treppchen plötzlich deutlich realistischer. Ich nehme das gerne so mit!
Und genau das finde ich auch so schön an Wolli und Marion: Man kann gemeinsam stundenlang über Laufen, Wandern und alles Mögliche quatschen, und niemand ist gelangweilt. Der Gesprächstoff geht nie aus! Man fühlt sich tatsächlich sofort “daheim”.
Danke dir auch für die Glückwünsche! Und ich hoffe sehr, dass du bald wieder selbst laufen kannst. Bis dahin drücke ich dir ganz fest die Daumen und hoffe, dass es mit deinem “aber…” bald wieder vorbei ist. ❤️
Liebe Grüsse aus dem bedeckten Zürich – und ja, ich passe auf! Wir wollen schliesslich nicht noch mehr Knochenbrüche!
Well I’d say you are doing pretty well on the aging front! Congrats on another age group win rocking it girlfriend
Thank you so much, Deborah! I hope you’re having fun in Nantucket!
I think a lot about benchmarks at work, so of course, I think about them in my real life as well. I think we have to be very careful about selecting the right benchmark. If I chose you as my benchmark, it would be like comparing an A-rated corporate bond from the utility sector to the magnificent 7 of the S&P500!! These friends might be your Mag 7 of sorts (but you are dang close to the Mag 7, maybe you are the Mag 7 less one name). I think a custom benchmark is the right approach for many of us as we all have unique challenges we face. I have to fight against a natural inclination to compare myself to others and it is rarely good for my self esteem and sense of self worth. 🙁 I can’t even compare myself to past versions of myself (ie old 10 mile and 1/2 marathon times). I am so much slower but I have way more demands on my time and can’t train like I used to. You, on the other hand, are getting faster which is incredible. You should be so very proud of yourself!!
Ok, I will step off my soap box now.
Those photos are gorgeous!! And Wally does not look like he’s in his 70s!!
Haha, I love your benchmark analogy, Lisa! And I think you’re absolutely right. Choosing the wrong benchmark can make you feel like you’re failing when you’re actually doing quite well. Comparing ourselves to people with completely different circumstances is rarely helpful. Just look at the two of us: I don’t have small kids, I don’t have RA, and I don’t have to travel for a demanding job. Those are HUGE factors that make a real difference!
I also like the idea of a custom benchmark. Maybe we should all have our own little personal index based on what we’re trying to achieve and the constraints we’re working with. Much healthier than constantly looking sideways!
And please don’t compare your current times to your old ones too harshly. You have different demands on your time now, and that matters. The fact that you’re still out there doing OTF and running is something to be proud of too. ❤️
As for Wolli, yes, he really doesn’t look 73! I kept thinking the same thing while we were hiking.
And thank you for the lovely words about my running. Let’s see for how long I can keep my little Mag 7 status going. 😉
I’ll agree with the other commenters that you’re doing pretty well!!! But it is nice to have inspiration like that. Just goes to show, we don’t need to slow down or start doing easier things just because we’re getting older! Good luck to your friend on his race…. and congratulations on your race! The scenery looks amazing, and you did great!!! I would happily take a loaf of bread as a prize, but I agree, nothing too sweet. Maybe sourdough… yum.
So are you, Jenny! You’re the one doing 60-mile ultras! 😅
And I completely agree about Wolli and Marion. They’re a great reminder that getting older doesn’t automatically mean we have to make everything easier. We just have to be a little smarter about how we train and recover.
And yes, I’m with you on the bread! A nice sourdough would make an excellent race prize. Although in Switzerland, there’s a good chance you’ll get cheese instead – not ideal for a vegan!
The fact that you’re questioning your standards now has me questioning mine, LOL! Wow, Wolli and Marion are certainly keeping quite fit! You, my dear, are still a big inspiration to myself (and others), though. Congrats on the AG win, and placing 4th with the others. That braided bread sounds delish!! N
Haha, I think we’re all in trouble if Wolli and Marion start making the rest of us question our standards too! 😂 They really are an impressive pair.
And thank you for the lovely words! There’s always room to improve, but there’s also a point where we should stop and appreciate the journey.
And yes, the Zopf was delicious! Edible prizes are the best!
Great post. I wish I was even close to that fit (as an old person).
And look at Jeannie Rice. She’s at a masters championship in Korea now.
Congrats on your AG win… love the prizes
O love most breads – favorite is French, then challah.
Ah no, Darlene, don’t dismiss yourself! You are a great role model for me with all the races you keep doing. I love your enthusiasm and, even more, your ability to just keep showing up. That’s something worth celebrating!
I saw that Jeannie Rice was in Korea on Strava too! Incredible, especially so soon after her knee surgery.
And yes, the edible race prizes are definitely a big motivation for me. French bread and challah are excellent choices! 😋
Yes you are all truly inspiring. The hike looks amazing. Such a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
I think we should all have gratitude for what we can do movement wise as we age. We never know when it can be taken away from us.
The past 2 years have been an adjustment for me. I have to be mindful to not compare myself to others and to the previous version of myself. It is a work in progress.
I now celebrate daily movement and am at the stage in my life where I move with joy whether it is swimming around the islands with friends , group bike riding , running on roads or trails and making sure that I do the strength training to build my bone strength and my muscles. In fact if I don’t race again I would be okay with that too.
Good luck with your upcoming race.
I think you’ve summed it up beautifully, Ilona. And especially after everything you’ve been dealing with over the past couple of years, I can imagine that learning to appreciate movement for what it is, rather than comparing it with what you used to be able to do, has been a real process.
I love your approach of moving with joy and celebrating the daily stuff. You do such a great job at staying fit! I’m always impressed by how diverse your activities are on Strava: swimming, cycling, running, yoga, strength training – a fantastic way to stay strong and healthy! And you’re right, we really don’t know when our ability to do those things might change, so there’s a lot to be said for appreciating them while we can.
I also really like what you said about being okay if you never race again. That’s a pretty healthy perspective. Racing is fun, but it’s only one small part of why we move in the first place. ❤️
I think you are doing awesome, but your friends are inspiring as well! Congrats on the AG win! The bread looks like a nice treat.
Thanks Lisa! Things are going well right now, I hope it stays that way for a bit!
I think your standards are just fine. You do amazing things for any age especially approaching 60 (sorry 🙂 ). Your problem is that you have friends who are above and beyond any standards. I think instead of adjusting yours, you just make a goal of being like your friends when you grow up.
Haha, I think you’ve figured out the real problem, Debbie! 😂 It’s not my standards, it’s my choice of friends!
And I love the idea of making “be like Wolli and Marion when I grow up” the goal. Although if Wolli is my benchmark, I’ve got another 15 years to work on it! 😉
I’m actually looking forward to turning 60, because then I’ll finally be in a fresh new age group!
Wow, the scenery from your hikes look absolutely stunning! I would be taking many photo breaks (to take photos but also as an excuse to have a quick rest!) Your friends are indeed an inspiration. I think no matter our fitness level and speed there is always someone doing better than us that we look up to and admire.
I definitely like the edible prizes… Cheese, pastry and bread – what’s not to like?! Any fresh bakery bread is delicious, just not the pre-packaged sandwich loaves.
Ha, Nicola, I can tell you I have MANY more photos on my camera… we took a lot of stops (and I was glad for them, ha!).
And you’re right, there is always someone faster, stronger or doing something more ambitious. I think that’s what makes having inspiring friends so much fun, as long as we remember to be inspired rather than intimidated. 😉
Edible prizes are the best! Instantly useful after a race. Yesterday evening, I was at a tiny race near Zurich and we got pasta, tomato sauce and delicious CHEESE. Of course, I ate the cheese the same evening… 😋
I’m inspired and motivated by so many people — including you!
Your running adventures are amazing.
Did you have to go across that rickety bridge by the gorge???
Your races have the coolest prizes!
Haha, you’re so kind, Coco! I guess we’re all inspired by each other. For example, I really admire how you keep up your fitness routine despite all the work stress and travel. That’s pretty amazing!
And yes, we did cross that rickety-looking bridge by the gorge!
And that prize was eaten within hours! 😋
See? I’d say it’s all about the people you surround yourself with! I’d also say you and Kai are doing more than fine! Congrats on the strong race and AG win. Those pics are absolutely stunning!
Now that’s a good looking loaf of bread! I’d love to win it! Haha!
Exactly! I think you’ve identified the problem, Marcia. 😂 Wolli and Marion are definitely raising the bar rather dramatically!
And thank you! I was really happy with the race!
I was actually thinking about your micro-bakery and wondering if you have Zopf in your range. Although I have a feeling it would have a hard time competing with your sourdough! 😋
Liebe Catrina,
ich bin ehrlich, mein erster Gedanke war, warum muss Catrina ihre Standards neu anpassen? – Ist sie nicht ganz zufrieden? (Sorry, nicht böse gemeint!)
Du hast so viel erreicht, was andere in deinem Alter nicht (mehr) erreichen können. Sogar Jüngere, oder viel Jüngere kommen z. T. bei weitem nicht dorthin. Das soll nicht heißen, dass man keine Ziele haben soll, oder sich Anregungen schaffen soll, aber die Standards müsstest du nicht anpassen, so meine bescheidene Meinung! – … und ganz nebenbei ich habe vor dem, was du in den letzten 2 Jahren gelaufen bist, Hochachtung und tiefen Respekt! – Bleib so wie du bist, ehrgeizig, aber mit Spaß und Freude dabei und du wirst noch viel ‘reißen’ können! 😆
Was in meinen Augen viel wichtiger ist, eine tiefe Dankbarkeit für das, was man erleben und leisten konnte, für die vielen tollen Läufe, Wanderungen, Begegnungen, Platzierungen, Podiumsplätze, Zeiten und die Top-Fitness bis ins fortschreitende Alter. Genieße deine Zeit und guck gar nicht so sehr darauf, was andere zu leisten imstande sind. – Wir kennen nicht die genetischen Voraussetzungen von solchen Top-Athleten! – Oder was hätte ich auf unserer Zugspitzwanderung sagen und denken müssen? (Ich war über meinen Zenit! – Fertig!)
Grundsätzlich gucke ich nicht darauf. Natürlich konnte die eine oder andere Leistung eines anderen Läufers anregen, aber wenn’s nicht dazu kam, ihn einzuholen oder zu toppen, ich war im Rückblick zufrieden. Ja, es gab Rennen, da hab ich mit meinen Fehlern manchmal gehadert. Allerdings bin ich kein Mensch, der nach hinten, sondern nach vorne schaut! – Ich wäre gerne länger gelaufen, geht nicht mehr, also arrangiere ich mich mit meinen Märschen! 😆
Bitte verstehe es nicht als Zeigefinger, oder erhabene ‘Predigt’! Du bist mir sympathisch, so wie du bist und vielleicht steht dir ein sehr fittes Altwerden bevor, wer weiß! 😉
Quatschen mit Gleichgesinnten ist toll, aber ich fand es auch toll im Berner Oberland mit Kai nicht übers Laufen zu reden, sondern von ihm über seine/eure beruflichen ‘Beschäftigungen’ zu erfahren. Es ist mir nachhaltig positiv in Erinnerung geblieben! Bitte ausrichten!
Brot: Dunkles Vollkornbrot, auch Vollkornbrötchen und hin und wieder auch mal etwas Weißes, auch liebe ich ‘graues Landbrot’ mit schöner Kruste!
Ich finde es immer spannend bei dir zu lesen, auch von deinen Trainings und den Läufen! Gratulation für und zu dem letzten 14er mit AK-Sieg und dem 14. Gesamtplatz!
Liebe Grüße Manfred
Lieber Manfred,
Ah nein, ich habe deinen Kommentar überhaupt nicht als Predigt verstanden. Im Gegenteil, ich glaube, du hast einen wichtigen Punkt getroffen: Man sollte sich nicht ständig mit anderen messen, sondern auch einmal innehalten und schätzen, was man selbst schon alles erleben und erreichen durfte.
Bei mir ist es tatsächlich weniger eine Frage der Unzufriedenheit als der Neugier. Ich finde es einfach faszinierend zu sehen, was andere in unserem Alter noch machen, und Wolli und Marion sind dafür wirklich ein ziemlich extremes Beispiel. 😂
Und Wolli hat am Donnerstag seinen OCC tatsächlich erfolgreich beendet: 11:08 Stunden und 1. Platz in seiner Altersklasse! Und stell dir vor, es gab sogar einen Teilnehmer in der Altersklasse 75–79. Da bekommt das Thema “Altwerden” doch gleich eine ganz andere Perspektive.
Danke auch für die Glückwünsche zum 14er! Ich bin jedenfalls weiterhin sehr froh, dass ich noch so viel Spass am Laufen habe und schauen kann, was noch geht.
Und Kai werde ich natürlich ausrichten, dass dir eure Gespräche im Berner Oberland so positiv in Erinnerung geblieben sind. Das wird ihn freuen. 😊
Liebe Grüsse!
Catrina, YOU are a real life fitness role model for so many people: fellow competitors, the women you coach, and your readers! You’re smart about your training (like listening to your body and taking the necessary time off when injured), you work hard, you’re consistent, you’re fast, you’re funny, and you don’t take yourself too seriously. Those qualities are what draw people to you and make you such a great role model!
Wow, Debbie, now I’m really embarrassed! That is a lot of lovely things to say in one comment! ❤️ Thank you! I think the “don’t take yourself too seriously” part is probably the easiest one for me. 😂
I’m still working on the “smart about my training” part, though. Sometimes the hardest training decision is actually not to train! 😅
But I think that’s the really nice thing about our little running community here: we all inspire each other in different ways. I sometimes wonder what I’ll do when I can’t run anymore, and then I think of you. You’re staying active with your bike and fitness training, and clearly still having fun with it, so I think, “Look at Debbie! If she can keep moving like that, then so can I!” 😊
So you’re one of my role models too!
Girl, you do have high standards–but you are crushing it! While the rest of us are just hobbling along, you’re setting the bar high. I love seeing what you can do. Keep inspiring us!!
Haha, thank you, Wendy! 😂 I think I need to work on lowering those standards a little! But honestly, this running community is full of people who inspire me too. And so do you with your heavy Crossfit lifts and handstands, my goodness!
Hans Maier is definitely my real life fitness role model, Catrina. He is 87 this year. I’ve run with him a few times over the years. Despite being 19 years older, he is hard to keep up with. Hans is still running and ran 2 ultras last year.
Really incredible reading about Wolli’s accomplishments and what he is soon to be running. That is very rugged terrain you guys hiked.
That is an incredible finishing time in the 14km race. Congratulations on both being 1st in age group and really incredible coming in 4th, you almost stood on the podium a second time. You are amazing.🙌🏃♀️
Oh yes, Carl, I remember you telling me about Hans Maier before! He sounds absolutely incredible. 87 and still running ultras, and you’ve actually run with him! I can imagine he’s a pretty tough person to keep up with! 😂 He sounds like exactly the kind of real-life role model I was talking about.
And yes, the hiking was definitely rugged, but the scenery made it worth every uphill step. We had such a great time with Wolli and Marion. Wolli successfully completed his 60k race in the following week and came in 1st in his age group.
And thank you for the congratulations! I was especially thrilled with 4th woman overall. 😊
Wolli and Marion are inspirational! Les Gorges looks beautiful and those cow bells are very ornate/impressive looking. Well done on the 4th overall position Catrina, that’s excellent, and a nice little prize for snagging the age category win too! I’ll have you know that you and Kai are some of my real life fitness models. You’re also providing a valuable service of doing all these cool adventures/hikes/races, which serves as an amazing backlog for me to look at and pick out to add to my “wishlist” 😆
Haha, Sean, I feel very honoured to be one of your fitness models, although we are way out of your league! Your blog is doing a pretty great service for us too – we still have Baviaanskloof lined up for December after you inspired us to check out that area, so clearly this is a two-way arrangement.
And Wolli and Marion really are something else. Wolli went on to take 1st in his age group at the OCC, then 3rd in his age group at the Jungfrau Marathon, while Marion was 2nd in her age group at Jungfrau! They clearly weren’t just making us look bad on the hike.
Thank you for the congratulations too! I was really happy with 4th overall… so far, my South African coach seems to be doing everything right!
That’s so good! OCC is a huge field, so taking 1st in age category is remarkable, and 2nd for Marion at Jungfrau again, so impressive!
Enjoy Baviaanskloof if you manage a trip in December! You’re right, maybe this is a bit of a activity list exchange programme we have going on 😆
I need to take notes from your long run sessions and coaching direction for when I try to focus on some specifics for marathon at some point in the future.
Haha, definitely an activity list exchange programme! 😂 I’m already looking forward to Baviaanskloof, so you’ll be getting a report back from us afterwards!
And yes, Wolli and Marion are pretty incredible! They’re going to do the Frankfurt Marathon next month, I’m curious to see what happens there.
Oh, you would crush a road marathon, Sean! Maybe one day you’ll do the Two Oceans – that would be a walk in the park for you!