Amidst the endurance freaks living in the Bow Valley, most target one or two big races for the summer. They build, taper and peak just in time for a top performance.
For 62-year-old Swiss-Canadian Andres Ambuehl, all that gets done in a week.
Ambuehl finished his sixth ultramarathon of the year on Oct. 12 and will wrap up his season on Nov. 2 with the New York City Marathon – his fourth of 2014.
In a span from May to October, he raced 828 kilometres, finishing three 160-kilometre races (Badger Mountain Challenge, Bryce Canyon, Sinister 7), one 80-km race (Fernie), two 50-km races (Calgary Ultramarathon and Canmore Grizzly Ultra), and three 42-km marathons (Death Valley, Vancouver and Red Deer).
In total, that’s nearly the equivalent of running from Canmore to Regina.
“I just had the motivation. I had a good year last year, so I thought I’d try one more. My health is good. I’m really fortunate there,” Ambuehl said.
Sponsored by Jagermeister, Ambuehl won his age category in two of his races (Fernie and Canmore), and landed on the podium on several others. He now has 11 ultra-marathons to his credit, having finished five in 2013 and three in 2012. He got his start at 59 in the Canadian Death Race, but plans to cut back next year.
“Canmore Grizzly Ultra was the crown jewel,” Ambuehl said. “I had lots of friends and family there, and most knew it was my last ultra of the year. My goal was to run the whole thing, and I did that. I never walked. I was lucky I could do that.”
He finished the 50-km Grizzly race in 6:03, good enough for 76th spot overall in a field of 260. Friends from Switzerland thought he was crazy.
“They asked, ‘why do I do this, running so far?’ I told them I forgot we have cars in Canada,” Ambuehl said.
Reflecting upon his season, he said the Sinister 7 was the hardest race he completed, as the heat took out competitors like flies.
Running between 120 and 150 kilometres a week in training, plus cycling, weights and swimming at Elevation Place, Ambuehl said he just tries to stay active every day. He likes to run up Grotto Mountain to keep his hill climbing legs under him, and uses the Legacy Trail to work on his speed.
“I run whenever I have time. Other people go for a beer, I go for a run. I really enjoy it,” he said.
The running community is so friendly and supportive that the social aspect keeps him moving as well. Running in Canmore, he had plenty of well-wishers cheering him on.
“You meet so many nice people running. They always say ‘how are you doing?’ Friendship is one of the key things,” Ambuehl said.
While most runners often plug into GPS devices or smartphones before every run, they don’t work for him.
“I don’t use things like Garmin. I go, then I think I should slow down because of hills, so I slow down. You get to know your body, you know? Everyone straps on their (tech device), but it doesn’t work for me. I have to go on my own, in the feeling.”
Listening to his body has kept him healthy and injury-free through long miles.
“I went to the doctor and Dr. Andy Reed said ‘why are you coming here?’ He told me he knows how I run, and I listen to my body. It’s the other people who don’t listen: that’s how you break your body. My legs, back and systems are not having pain.” Ambuehl said.
That’s not to say he wasn’t sore after his 50-km run on Oct. 12. His legs were stiff, but he got up the next day, went for a bike ride, then went to work as an adventure guide, leading a group up Pigeon Mountain. Even with his clients telling him to take a rest, he insisted on leading them on their hike.
“If you run and have no pain, it means you didn’t give what you have. In running, pain is included,” he said.
For New York, racing alongside 54,000 people on city streets will be extremely different than the Canmore Nordic Centre single track, but Ambuehl simply wanted to soak in the experience. He hopes to complete the run in 3:30.
“It’s a thing just to be there. It will be tough with so many people, but we’ll see what happens.”
While he jokes he’s too stubborn to stop, Ambuehl is extremely motivated. He’d love to see more guys his age on the course, as there are usually only a handful of 60-year-olds entered in each race.
“Motivation is the big thing. You do one well, you try to do the next one better.”
He says his next challenge isn’t on the trails, but on the yoga mat.
“I want to be able to get my leg behind my head. I want to be able to sit in the splits. The flexibility and breathing will help. But it’s not like I’m stopping and driving a car now. I’ll still run.”
