by Axel Rittershaus | 18 May 2017 | Training Session
Due to popular demand, here are the recipes for different types of date balls I use to take with me for long runs and races. I received so many individual requests that a dedicated post with recipes seems to make sense 😉 Usually, I prepare 2 batches, each with a...
by Axel Rittershaus | 15 May 2017 | Race Review, Ultra Marathon
Being able to run my beloved Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56 km) for the 9th consecutive time is nothing I take for granted. I’m grateful to my stellar physio Iain Sykes. He gave me the confidence after my UTCT injury in December, that I could recover for Two...
by Axel Rittershaus | 9 Apr 2017 | Inspiration, Ultra Marathon
My Top 10 Race Day Essentials Get to the start in time. Waking up 15 minutes earlier to get to the start without being stressed will save you valuable energy – because mental stress has a similar effect to running a couple of 100m sprints. Write a positive (!)...
by Axel Rittershaus | 12 Mar 2017 | Marathon, Race Review
Two years ago I met two strange guys from the Netherlands at the International Friendship Run of the Two Oceans Marathon. They were all over the place and were swopping T-Shirts they brought with them, donated by other Dutch runners, with us local runners. Little did...
by Axel Rittershaus | 16 Jan 2017 | Training tips, Ultra Marathon
There are so many stories told about the two major hills at the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon. For both, novices and runners trying to improve their time, they are always a concern. The following article focuses on novices and includes some tips if you can’t train...
by Axel Rittershaus | 23 Dec 2016 | Race Review, Top, Trail, Ultra Marathon
Welcome to part 2 of my UTCT 2016 Ultra Trail Cape Town 100 km race report. You can find part number 1 of my UTCT 100 km report here… From Constantia Nek to Llandudno Beach (Aid Station #4, 37.5 km) I was looking forward to a rather downhill part of the route...
by Axel Rittershaus | 21 Dec 2016 | Race Review, Top, Trail, Ultra Marathon
67 km into my first 100 km trail race I called it quits. 11 hours of running along and across Table Mountain came to an end when I reached Groot Constantia, the official Aid Station Number 7. And I felt relieved. But let’s start at the beginning. What is it all about?...
by Axel Rittershaus | 30 Oct 2016 | Inspiration, Trail, Training Session, Ultra Marathon
I don’t exactly why, but a while ago I entered the 100 km UltraTrail Cape Town, a trail race which is already iconic, even if it’s only 3 years old. And it’s a tough one, 4200 m elevation gain and a cut off time of 17 hours. The only serious trail...
by Axel Rittershaus | 6 Jun 2016 | Race Review
After my decision of not running Comrades this year due to the cold I suffered from 2 weeks before the race, I was overwhelmed by the positive reactions from runners and non-runners alike. I also did not expect to hear so many stories from athletes who did non listen...
by Axel Rittershaus | 25 May 2016 | Inspiration, Ultra Marathon
Sunday a week ago (2 weeks before Comrades) I got a sore throat, a few days later it was almost gone, when a dry cough caught me. With medication that’s also almost gone. All the time I believed, I could run Comrades. I took it easy, no exhausting training sessions....