The Belgian Ardennes have always represented a good source of trouble for my training schedule. This location was a big deal last year, when I was training for the Ironman and this year as well, when I am adding up some extra mileage for the ultra marathon, next March.
The elevation gain is what makes the Ardennes a very interesting location to spend a weekend or more, in a cottage next to the river, with good food supply and, of course, the road that seems to go only uphill.
This time Gianluca and I spent a weekend in Ocquier, Wallon region, province of Liege. We trained twice in the weekend. The first time in Sart Tilman, on a nice trail track in the forest and the second time on the road from Ocquier to Durbuy.
The course is very technical, formed by some hills that need a quite efficient run in order to keep the pace. Higher-frequency-smaller step is the trick to survive such monsters.
We decided to head to the beautiful city of Durbuy when we were already on the road. We really didn't plan for it.
By running towards the Belvedere we could appreciate the panoramic view of the village. Many tourists could also appreciate the presence of two crazy guys running around in shorts and shirts in running-tourist mood during a winter chilling saturday. Who needs a car when you have legs?
Running on those roads was a bit like travelling without setting any destination and just enjoying the trip. We realised only at the very end that we had been running for 22 km, with a total elevation gain of 700 meters.
Here are some pictures that report the great deed.
The elevation gain is what makes the Ardennes a very interesting location to spend a weekend or more, in a cottage next to the river, with good food supply and, of course, the road that seems to go only uphill.
This time Gianluca and I spent a weekend in Ocquier, Wallon region, province of Liege. We trained twice in the weekend. The first time in Sart Tilman, on a nice trail track in the forest and the second time on the road from Ocquier to Durbuy.
The course is very technical, formed by some hills that need a quite efficient run in order to keep the pace. Higher-frequency-smaller step is the trick to survive such monsters.
We decided to head to the beautiful city of Durbuy when we were already on the road. We really didn't plan for it.
By running towards the Belvedere we could appreciate the panoramic view of the village. Many tourists could also appreciate the presence of two crazy guys running around in shorts and shirts in running-tourist mood during a winter chilling saturday. Who needs a car when you have legs?
Running on those roads was a bit like travelling without setting any destination and just enjoying the trip. We realised only at the very end that we had been running for 22 km, with a total elevation gain of 700 meters.
Here are some pictures that report the great deed.
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