r/trailrunning • u/UphillTowardsTheSun • 3h ago
Garmin heart rate monitor got a little bit too excited after my 50km PR lol
After I first powerhiked the 50km distance back in the fall of 2023, I repeated it a handful of times but never increased the distance materially, parts because for me even 50km is hard lol (reading this sub sometimes gives the impression that everyone here casually runs the UTMB 170km:-)), parts because I have a rather busy life, parts because I am not a big sufferer, parts because I invest too little in building the aerobic base. Oh and I also likely have Proctalgia Fugax, which is manageable but still sucks for a day or two after a proper run of more than say 25k.
Still, a goal of mine was to complete the 50km distance over a hilly course in under 10 mins per km.
Last week, I ran and powerhiked from Olten (CH) over the wonderful Jura mountains to the Unterbaselbiet (CH). I reached the 50 km mark after 8:17 (I am an honest guy and recalculated the route using our official fantastic state issued topography app), and after 2‘600 meters of d+.
Entire route was 56k and ca 2‘680 meters of d+.
I ran almost all the downhills and the (rather sparse) flats. I exclusively powerhiked the uphills.
Trail was a mixture of forest service roads, few short tarmac sections and most of the time essy to moderately technical single trail.
Route ended at my house. I brushed the outskirts of only three villages on my way. My family arrived by car at the same time and my two daughters met me 100 meters before my house and „pulled“ me over the finish line, which to me was a priceless experience.