Last week…

Last week, cycling in Briançonnais. The Mistress of Frimousse, Kerrian, joined by Steph and her parents. Galibier, Isoard, col de l’Échelle, Granon. Galibier and Isoard are no longer presented. The Granon is less known but more formidable than the two pre-mentioned. As for the Col de l’Échelle… TV reports, in winter, «migrants» trying to pass from Italy to France, and many find death there.

For my part, I was content to climb by walking the Galibier from Plan Lachat (North side) and from Lautaret (South side). I also made the round trip between the valley of Névache and the top of the Col de l’Échelle.

If you pass by there, three interesting addresses for lunch (the Auberge de Plan-Lachat and the pizzeria Da Gianka in Oulx (Piedmont) or stay (La Ferme de Belline).

https://www.facebook.com/Auberge-Plan-lachat-375823629783864/

https://www.facebook.com/Pizzeria-Brasserie-Da-Gianka-105159907641005

Training

The Mistress of Frimousse was on her bike this morning. She has ridden 421 km (263 M) and 6620 m (21700 ft) D+ in a fortnight, taking advantage of the long evenings. She will be trained for the week planned in July around Briançon – Galibier, Isoard and perhaps Agnel or Le Granon. Kerrian agreed to ride with her. As for Elouan he uses for the first time his driving license, downloaded on the Internet on the day he was 18, that is June 17th. He is in Ardèche, waiting for the operation of his second ankle on July 9. I walk/jog every day, maintaining a daily distance of 6 km (3.8 M) since January 1st.

Sh’s got the virus!

Jade Tuff, from Philadelphia, writes :

I’ve trained for 13 full marathons and many other race distances. I run with my very intelligent, fun, selfless and beautiful co-worker, and I feel safer. She is white. When I run with her, it’s for companionship. I adore her. I also feel safer with her around. When people do the “South Philly slide” past stop signs, they see her. They stop and apologise profusely for rolling through a stop sign. When it’s just me, I get cussed out, or, in worse situations, called a [epithet]. Those words really hurt, so I block it out. I run with music so that if it happens more often, I won’t be able to hear it because I have a music blanket for protection when my running buddy is not around.

The worst of it came as we all went into shelter in place in Pennsylvania. All of our local running groups remind us to run early or late to avoid crowds. I unfortunately listened to that advice one morning and went for a three-mile run. Halfway through, as I turned around, there was a hunter green pickup truck stopped in the middle of the road. I found it bizarre and slowed my run to a trot. As I got closer, I noticed the truck was decorated with Trump/Pence 2020 stickers, along with a Confederate flag. My stomach dropped and I felt panic run through my body as they revved their engine several times in the middle of the road. I looked for escape routes in case they tried to jump the curb to hit me. I decided to be brave and pretend they were not there.

As I passed them, they turned a corner down the street. We all peered at each other, until turning the corner broke their gaze. It was so uncomfortable and so confusing. Did anyone else see that? (No – I was alone and the streets were empty.) What just happened? What was that? I told my boyfriend about it and haven’t shared that experience with anyone else since. I now choose to run during peak hours with my BFF, with enough people around – just in case.

Read more: http://running.frimousseblog.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/061420_blackjogger.pdf

Frimousse’s Mistress has just got the virus ! The cycling virus ! 11 miles on Saturday and 20 on Sunday. But D+ 3200 ft in two days !

As for me, I have completed 1000 km (625miles) jog/walk since January 1s. And my knees still « carry » me.

Before…

Before his operation, and knowing that he could do nothing before the end of August, Elouan made the most of the mild weather of the past few weeks. I will not talk about the daily outings of 50 (30M) or 70 km (40M). But on 19 May 163 km (100M) with 3577 m (11700ft) D+ (Col des Glières, Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis, Col de la Croix Fry, Col de Bluffy, for those who know). And on 27 May, 163 km (100M) 4107 m (13500) D+ (with the Revard, the Col de Plainpalais, the Col de Leschaux, the Col de la Forclaz by Montmin, the Semnoz.)

As for the Mistress of Frimousse, there are ups and downs, in spite of her strict diet. She will see the doctor again. My knees haven’t gotten any younger and my sciatica keeps me company.

News

No, he didn’t have an accident. He had his first surgery yesterday to stop his chronic tendinitis. After a first rehabilitation, a second operation is planned at the other ankle, then a second rehabilitation. No sport before the end of August…. Many kilometers and passes with his friends the previous days, on their bikes, you can imagine! The Mistress of Frimousse is better. It seems to be a problem of gastric reflux. No fat, no alcohol, no chocolate… You have to choose! For my part, sciatica, knee pain, back pain, but I persist in walking at least 5 km a day, with climbing and descent, so as not to be forced to take the car to go to the shore of the Lake – but I may go tomorrow to try to jog a little.

Sunday May 17th

Yesterday the Mistress of Frimousse ran almost 9 km (5.6M) in an hour, without having the impression of suffocating. It seems that the treatment is starting to take effect. So this morning she went for a bike ride with her favorite physical therapist. And it went well. While she was cycling I decided to go for a walk in the mountains. Almost 600 m + (2000 ft +). I was very afraid of the descent but thanks to my HOKA speedgoat 5 and my super sticks everything went well. Tomorrow? Tomorrow is another day.

News

With the end of the drastic restrictions, the athletes have re-attacked. Elouan can’t run much right now. He needs surgery with both feet – planing a small bone that ignites his tendons. Operation scheduled for late May and no sport until the end of August… He cycles with his friends. Yesterday Semnoz. A nice fall for Tristan, no? It seems that we finally know the origin of the shortness of breath of the Mistress of Frimousse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease

In addition to medication, no alcohol, no chocolate, no coffee nor tea, no fat… for a month to begin with. After two days there seems to be an improvement. She ran 7 km this morning at a slow pace, without having to walk. After a day without sports, I had a very sore back this morning. But the back pain quickly faded, replaced by a «good» pain in both knees. Fortunately, I had chosen to keep it short. Maybe I’ll try again later today.

What will change?

What will change for me? I won’t have to fill up those damn documents and no longer have to walk or jog here, less than a kilometre from home. I will be able to try to run on the flat again near the Lake. Otherwise, in terms of kilometers, 5.6 km (3.5M)/day since January 1st. And my knee is holding up for now, despite the steep descents. To boost my motivation I’ve bought modern poles and new trail running shoes. ‘Cause I’m gonna try to do some mountain trails above our place.