Half-Marathon in Ferlach

After my big Round-Table-activities mainly have been over (June this year) I found more and more time for my "sport-life" and I did really a lot of running, cycling, mountainbiking and hiking the last 3 months. - Pretty soon I got back my "old shape" - and therefore I felt I have to participate at least in one half-marathon before the end of the year 2008!!!.

In Internet I found this small running-event in the city of Ferlach (about 50 km from my place) and I did register 5 days ago (but already knowing abou maybe taking part since 5 weeks.....).

The weather-forecast has been perfect: dry conditions and temperatures of 8 - 10 ° C (46 - 50 ° F) - and it came like this!

The run itself has been quite difficult: only 10 % of the distance on concrete roads - the rest on gravel roads and dirt-roads (and a couple of small hills along the track.....).

But I felt good - and although I had to run about two thirds of the distance only for my own - I could finish in 1,28:53! My best half-marathon-time since more than 5 years!

And my ranking surprised me as well: 16th in the overall (out of 112) and 5th in my age-group - which even brought me to the podium-picture (the top 5 have been named and have got a medal.....).

I´ve been a bit tired after finishing - but very, very satiesfied and very happy!