Run of the year!

After so many rainy days and weekends that forced me to stay close to home, the weather forecast for Sunday was looking very good, although it was a bit hard to believe it after the stormy Saturday afternoon. A good opportunity to venture further on higher mountains than Brasov's home mountain Postavarul.

On Saturday afternoon I phoned all of my runner friends trying to organize a run in the mountains. To my disappointment nobody was available. So it looked like I will have yet another run on the usual paths on Postavarul mountain where I feel comfortable to run alone.

On Sunday morning I reluctantly prepared myself for my usual running tour to Postavarul. Lightweight equipment: a pair of good train running shoes, shorts, t-shirt, my belt with the 600ml bottle, my running cap, my phone and some cache. I quickly eat my usual portion of oats, then hit the trail that starts just behind our house.

Just five minutes later into the run, up the hill I get a first glimpse of the mighty Bucegi Mountains. I see the beautiful and massive rocky peaks shining in the distance under a perfect blue sky. Quickly an idea takes shape... well, it is a beautiful day, with stable and warm weather and I feel full of energy... So why not! Let's run all the way to the Bucegi Mountains and if the weather is good maybe I can reach the top! Actually it is not that far away... so let's do it!

After running and hiking for 36 kilometers, and 2400 meters of elevation gain, 5h30 after leaving my home I reached the Top of Bucegi: the famous Omu peak at 2505m! What a great feeling! I did all this on my own!

Here is the GPS track that I recorded of yesterday:


And a few photos taken with a cheap phone camera.

On the beautiful Malaiesti Valley, climbing towards the Summit of Bucegi 

A look back from Bucegi. That mountain in the distance is Postavarul and behind it, my city Brasov. I ran all the way from there!

Last ascent towards Omu Peak. The meteorological station and the hut are visible 

Now a shot note of caution...

Do not attempt a run like this alone, unless you are well prepared both physically and mentally. Running alone for long distances on high mountains is quite different from running in the park!

In my case, I am well trained for long trail runs in the mountains since I train on hills and mountains almost daily. Very importantly, I also know the area quite well. I can visualize it 3D in my mind, I know the distances and the elevations. In case the weather turned bad I knew my route options. I also did this run on a Sunday with beautiful weather and ran along popular paths where I knew that I will meet many other hikers. So although I ran alone, I wasn't alone in the mountain!

My trail running gadgets

Let's talk about gadgets for trail running. What do I use? Which ones I think that are essential and I use during my trail running sessions?

I keep it Simple and efficient. I am running for the joy of running in the nature. I do not want to be distracted by useless gadgets or to try to break my record every time I go out for a run. I am quite conservative. I do not use any of the new wearable devices. No wrist band, no heart monitor, no steps counter and not even a GPS receiver on my usual trails.

Mobile Phone

This is the only gadget that I always take with me! A simple "dumb-phone" with black and white display. I often run alone on the hills and mountains, and through woods. So it is a good idea to have a reliable phone that I can use in case of an emergency.

Why use a dumb-phone in the smart-phone era? Here is why:

• It does what is supposed to do very well: make calls!
• Very small and light
• Solid and hard to break
• Great battery life - I have no worries, I charge it once a week.
• The black and white display works very well outdoors and in sunshine.
• It has clock function... No need to wear a watch, although I often wear one.
• It has a torch light.
• Very cheap. 

The trouble is that it is harder and harder to find this type of phones. It looks like they are not made anymore. They should last for a long time, however I managed to wreck several of them with my washing machine... Being so small and light, it happened several times that I forgot to take it out of the pocket and washed it with my running clothes. This spring I had difficulties to find a new phone like this.

After this last phone will break I may switch to a smart(er)phone. I just wish I can find something small, light, cheap and reliable, ideally water proof with a display that can be used outdoors in the sunshine... I may wish too much though...

Head Lamp

I tend to avoid running in the dark. My worst ankle twist incident happened on a trail in the dark... However in winter when the day is short, there is not much choice but run through the darkness. If there is snow, then running in the dark is really fun! Even a small head lamp can provide enough light when it is reflected by the snow around. However, if there is no snow, one needs a powerful head-lamp. It took me a while to find a lightweight and powerful headlamp. 

Finally I found one that I really like (the Fenix HL 30) and here is why:

• Powerful light that is nicely distributed
• It works with a pair of AA batteries. Most chargers charge batteries in pairs; I hate all those headlamps that use 3 batteries!
• Lightweight
• Waterproof
• It has 4 light intensity steps.
• It also has a red light LED. Useful to signal my presence when running along roads used by cars.

I use Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries. They work great and have no issues in the cold!

Proper outdoors GPS receiver

I carry a GPS receiver only when I am running on new trails and on mountains where I do not go too often. In that cases I am carrying a small back-pack anyway so I have room for the GPS device. I carry it for two reasons:

• To record the track. I really love to load new tracks in Google Earth and analyse them in detail.
• For safety. For example, in foggy conditions above the treeline, it can be very useful to help finding the way.

I use a proper GPS device, an older Garmin 60CSx device. I really love this device and here is why:

• Very good reception. I lost the signal only in deep and narrow canyons.
• Very accurate position. I compared it with an "outdoor" smart-phone or GPS watches. The 60CSx works way better!
• I have free maps for it, with altitude contour lines - very useful on the mountains
• Works with two AA batteries that last at least for a whole day - I use Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries. They work great!
• Transreflective display - works great in the sunshine. It may not have vibrant colors and the best contrast, but it works great in all conditions.
• Waterproof. I can use it in the rain without any worries.
• Records tracks on a micro SD card.
• I can load new tracks and routes on it

Photo Camera

Another gadget that I carry sometimes with me is a photo camera. Like with the GPS, I carry it especially when I am running on new trails and in places where I do not get too often.

After some researching I found a good camera that I really like. A waterproof Nikon AW 110. It makes quite good photos, clearly better than any smart phone can take. It has a larger sensor and optical zoom, something no smart phone has. Moreover, it is cheaper than a top of the line smartphone with good image quality.

Here is why I like it:

• Small and light
• Waterproof, shockproof and even freeze-proof
• Good image quality for its class
• Good battery life - especially that I turned off the GPS feature.
• Has a neck strap
• Thin - I can keep it under the clothes whil erunning to avoid it dangling on each step
• Cheaper, tougher and more ergonomic than a smartphone with a good camera
• No lens cap, no external moving parts

Here are some photos taken with this camera:

• Winter run in October
• Running with a view: Bratocea Ridge in Ciucas Mountain
• Semimaraton Intersport, Brasov, April 5, 2014

Gadgets that I do not use:

Steps counter, Wrist band, Foot-pod

I find them useless. I wear a proper watch if I need/want. Why should I count my steps... Anyway, Most days I do more than the recommended 10,000 steps...

Heart Monitor. 

I do not use one anymore, but a heart mnitor can be very useful. I used one at the beginning, when I became more serious about running. In the meanwhile I learned more about my body and I feel that I do not need one anymore. I also find the chest heart belt uncomfortable.

There is a new generation of heart-monitor watches that have the heart rate sensor on the wrist - these watches do not need a chest heart belt. I may consider getting one of these when this technology gets more mature and becomes more mainstream.

GPS Watch

As I said, I use a proper GPS device when I really need it. I have never owned a GPS watch, although I was close to buying one.  I know well the trails where I do my daily runs and I use this simple map to calculate the distances. I also find annoying the fact that one has to wait for about one minute to get the initial satellite fix before to start running.

iPod, music players

I never feel any need to listen to music when I run. I run only in nature and I find it so enjoyable to listen to the surrounding sounds: bird songs, wind and water streams and so on. It is also safer not to listen to music, especially when running in the city or along roads used by cars. Also in the forest, I would rather hear in time if there is a bear or other big animal making noise around...

Action video camera

I can see why one would want to record fast action sports, but I think that it is silly to use them when running. First of all there is no way to wear it so it would not vibrate and shake like mad with each step. Secondly, who would want to watch the boring and shaky footage? I just take photos along the way if there is something interesting.

I had such a camera, a GoPro Hero. I used it a couple of times when skiing. It was OK, but then it takes so much time to edit the footage. So I got rid of it... there are better ways to use my time. Not to mention that these cameras are not cool anymore: Every second skier or biker has one... ;-)

The Essence of Cycling

Last month I was talking about the Simplicity of running. I mentioned there my bicycles. So now it is time to talk a bit about the simplicity of cycling... cycling reduced to the essence... at least from my point of view.

Over the years I used almost a dozen of bicycles. In time I realized that some of the most amazing tours in the mountains I ever did, were done with my first mountain bike. It was a really cheap and basic one. It was all that I could afford back then. But it was more about the energy and the enthusiasm of being in the nature rather than equipment. Later I could afford better and better bikes but I had less and less time to use them...

So does the bike matters? Of course, but...

One has to know the limitations of the bike he uses. As long as you know it and stay within the safety limits, then you are fine. If one feels that the bike is holding him/her back from what he/she wants to achieve, then it is probably time to look for something else. In most cases we look for something fancier, more advanced, more performant.

Over the years I had better and better mountain bikes. They offered me more safety at higher speed and more performance. I was obsessed with average speed, kilometers, gears and so on. Indeed, I could do my tours faster, I would have more control on downhills, I had gears combinations for every situation and so on.

And yet, the performance is not everything and I think that we should not become obsessed with it.

I am cycling for leisure, not to win a competition. While being obsessed with kilometers, speed and gear shifting, bent forward over my handle-bar, I was often missing the landscape - the main reason I was outdoors!

A couple of years ago I was looking for a bike to use in the city. Something simple and solid and easy to maintain. I got an Kona Africabike. A solid no frills bike that just does the job. It has a solid steel frame, a single speed and coaster brake... I started to use it more and more and realized that I really enjoy riding it! 

My position on this bike is more relaxed, more upright so I can enjoy more the landscape; it also feels safer as my posture is more relaxed with my head higher so I can better observe the road. I do not have to worry about shifting gears. I can climb slopes up to about 10% inclination. Steeper than 10%... well I just push it as it is anyway not too efficient to paddle uphill on steep slopes. On downhills... the gravity is pulling me down regardless of the bike I ride. On flat terrain... yes I am slower here, but this means that I can enjoy the ride and the landscapes.

On the hills with my Africabike

I now use the Africabike on the hills around the city where I was using a mountain-bike before. I cycle mostly on wide paths and forest roads where I do not really need a mountain bike. On more difficult terrain I prefer running anyway.

This bike may be a strange choice, but on the other hand it is all that I need... the essence of a bike. 

In the end, the best equipment is the one that distracts one less. In my case I want to simply enjoy the ride and this simple bike gives me just that!

Simplicity

"Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity"
Charles Mingus 

Simplicity: For me it is probably the best reason for trail running.
When running I am just using my feet for what they are supposed to be used for. My feet can take me anywhere on any trail. So I follow them wandering to the depths of the forest, to the mountain tops, along water streams, across meadows. I enjoy the simplicity of trail running, of being in the nature, observing and trying to understand it. I often wonder about how many things we humans try before (re)discovering the simple and the most natural things.

I used to cycle a lot, but the more technical trails in my area were off-limits, at least with my cycling skills. I also got bored cleaning my bike after each trip through the forest. If it was wet, then I would have to clean the mud. When dry, I would have to clean the dust from the chain. And sometimes I would not go out at all because it would be to wet or too cold to cycle and I would freeze when going downhill. I also got tired of the technical stuff: gears, brakes, frames, rims, pedals, tires...

When running there are no technical things to distract me. I also discovered that I actually enjoy running on any type of weather. When I run I observe and enjoy  the nature with all of my senses. Every day brings something different, something new. The changing lights and shadows as the sun is following a new path on each day of the year. The freshness of the nature when it is raining. The quietness of the snow covered landscape in winter and the foot-prints left by the animals on the snow. The rise and the descent of the seasons on the mountains in the spring and autumn when I often enjoy two or three seasons in the same day when running up and down the mountains. The joy of being on a mountain top in full sunshine above a sea of clouds.

Sometimes we just have to go back to the basics, leave out all the extra and often unnecessary stuff that the technological civilization overwhelms us with. Sometimes we should simply just go out and enjoy the nature and understand it. Realize that we are a part of it, and understand that our well being depends so much on the health of our fragile planet and that the health of the planet is in our hands.

Sometimes just try to leave the office, the car, the gym, the mall, the computer, the TV. Turn everything off and simply go out and enjoy a simple day in nature. Just put on your running shoes and hit the trails!

Simply go out and experience the real world around you!