Oktoberfest (Wkd. Sept. 23) and Trail Runs (Oct. 8)

So the two trips included in this post could not be further opposites...

Munich - Oktoberfest - Wkd. Sept. 23rd

As a break from work, I went to Oktoberfest this year for my 4th time (2011, 2015, 2016, 2017) and my 6th time in Munich.

I spent the trip with a few Hastings friends (Paul) and then also some old friends from Royal Oak and Switzerland (Brad, John, Pat) and we had a fun few days in the tents and on the carnival rides of Oktoberfest.  We stayed very close to Oktoberfest and went to the HB, Hacker-Pschorr, and Schottenhanmel tents.  We also had our fill of German food eating in the area; needless to say and consistent with my prior trip, I was excited to see vegetables/fruits when returning home!

Royal Oak Crew

Hastings Crew

Let me know if any of you plan a trip to Europe as I feel like I could be a tour guide after visiting this city more times as a tourist than any other location in Europe.

Vallee de Joux - 8 Oct.

Trail Valle de Joux is a 22km trail race in the Jura mountains, which are about 1 hour by car from Geneva.  A group of friends decided to try a trail race and trained together during the weeks up to the race and then we had a potluck dinner the night with the group the evening before the race.

Before

The style of race is very typical in Switzerland, but something that I had never experienced.  I would compare it to more of a speed hike than a true run given the inclines are at a degree where almost all participants are walking.  The declines were then steep, rocky descents where runners would try to remain on the paths while dodging rocks to avoid a sprained ankle.  Our race was one peak ascent in the middle followed by one descent; however, typically these races are 50-160km and have multiple peaks.

Climb to the top!

Crossing the Top of the Mountain

The day after I was extremely sore consistent with what I would feel following a Marathon.  When training for the race, I did road runs of almost twice the distance of the trail run; it was different set of muscles from what I was accustomed.  The race was very pretty and I would do another.  

After

Of course the Swiss/French give out wheels of cheese and wine to every finisher!