TAR stage 4 - VK

Stage 4 VK

Stage 4

I realised that it rains here sometimes.

Today was the “sprint” day. The VK, vertical kilometre. Which basically means 1000m elevation but ours was also 9.5km long in the process.

We were started off in waves with the leaders off first and basically everyone else chasing, in waves.

It was cooler and wetter than previous days, I decided to go shorts and t-shirt though, and carry a waterproof jacket. I was definitely going to heat up quickly and a wee bit of rain would be welcome.

The effort level was pretty high but given my cold, affected sleep and days of running in my legs I didn’t overdo it. It was pretty much a fast hike with spurts of jogging topped off with a steep summit push. Again, Anya was strong and pushed on.

Saw a few of my new pals, Max, Alex, Barbara, Steffan and Anica.

It got wetter and colder, which should have prompted me to put on a jacket but who wants to stop when it’s only a short lung-buster? It was actually a lung-buster. And it was very cold.

On the last steep push (as I know now) we could all hear loud German metal music playing along with shouting. Yah beauty, nearly there, I thought as my legs began to give up the last of any intention of getting me to the finish. However, some geezer on the mountainside was just trying to cheer us up and motivate. Hmm.

Anyway, made it over the top, chilling breeze and cold rain accompanied me as I gasped my way towards the finish line at the top of the mountainside.

Anne was there to help Anya and I get out of our soaking wet gear and to put something warm and dry on. Not before I wretched like hell (nothing came up). It was way too miserable to hang around, there was food but we were shivering so took the cable car down the mountainside.

After lunch, a glass of wine, shopping for nasal spray and Vicks I know sit poolside in the hotel, writing this and thinking about tomorrow.

Here’s to a good sleep…