My Career in Sports

March 1, 2006

 

Born August 31,1941, married to Brigitta , 2 children (son & daughter), retired schoolteacher, was frequently called into various schoolteams of all different kinds of sports (handball, soccer, basketball, gymnastics....)

·   1958 serious beginning of track and field, 3rd place in shot put at the provincial junior championships

·   1959 3rd place in high jump and shot put and 2nd place triple jump in provincial junior championships

·   1960 prov. championship 1st place triple jump and 4x100m relay, 2nd place high jump; 2nd place triple jump at the senior championships, and as one of the best upcoming athletes invited to the Olympic Games in Rome by  the Austrian Ministry of Education and Sports (not competing)

·   1961 fracture of the heelbone, left foot, end of track and field , focusing on playing hockey and begin of extreme mountaineering

·   1962/63 military service

·   1964 working as official for the NOC at the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck; after the Games 1st attempt of a  winter first ascent of  Mt. Ararat (Turkey, 5165m)(failed)

·   Summer 1964, 1. alpine expedition to Iran  with numerous ascents in the Alburz mountain range and solo ascent of Mt. Ararat

·   Winter 1965, 1st winter ascent of Mt. Ararat (on skis)

·   Summer 1966,  2nd expedition to Iran

.   Winter 1966 first ascent of Mt. Ercias Dagi in Turkey (3916m) on skis plus downskiing the north face

·   1967 - 1969 hockey player in Kapfenberg

·   1968 Hindukush expedition (Pakistan) with first ascents of Daspar Zom (6015m) and Ghainthir Chish (6273m)

·   1969 1st Karakoram expedition

·   X-mas 1969 ski ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895m) and downskiing the glacier on SE-side

1970  2nd Karakoram expedition

1971 - 1972 hockey player in Bruck (neighboring town)

1973 3rd Karakoram expedition

1974 4th Karakoram expedition

1975 3rd Iran expedition

1976 traversing of Mt. McKinley (6193m) on skis

1977 5th Karakoram expedition

·   January 1978 Andes expedition with ascent of Mt. Aconcagua (7014m)  via Polish Glacier route

·   Summer 1978 4th Iran expedition

·   X-mas 1978 traversing of all three Mexican volcanoes (Popocatepetl, 5452m, Ixtaccihuatl,5286m) and

Citlaltlpetl, 5700m) in 5 days only

·   1979 6th Karakoram Expedition to Pakistan to Mt. Nanga Parbat (8125m);

from 1974 - 1985 hockey head referee in the Austrian premiere league with a total of 96 conducts;

since 1971 private pilot lincence;

since 1972 fully certified ski instructor and referee for alpine and nordic skiing;

since 1976 licenced instructor for rescue swimming;

from 1973 – 1977 member of the all Austrian examiner team (ski) for becoming sport teachers at the Federal Teachers Academies

from 1979 - 1989 player and assistant soccer coach at local teams;

from 1976 - 1989 head coach of  the school soccer team (7x county champ, 3x provincial champ, 2x  fourth place and 1x second place in the National championships out of more than 1000 teams);

since 1984 licenced coach for hockey and soccer (highest national level);

since 1989 referee for track and field;

since 1991 licenced coach for track and field (state diploma);

since 1985 back to athletics as a runner (first marathon in fall of  1985 and 158 so far as of end of 2004 season with not a single dnf);

May 1988 to December 1989 head of the track and field section of my hometown’s sports club

participations in the world masters championships  for track and field in Australia (1987), USA (1989) and South Africa (1997) and European Masters in  Italy, 1988

1992 Transamerica footrace from Huntington Beach, CA to New York in 64 days (3100mi)

1992 publishing of the book "Der Transamerikalauf" (The Transamerica Footrace)- sold out

1993 530km run in 4 1/2 days across the Alps from N to S along the NSWW-Trail in Austria

1994 a 355km solo run  along the river Mur in Austria nonstop in 57:51 hours

1995 retired as schoolteacher due to skin cancer

 . same year march thru Austria along mountain trail 01 and running of all pilgrim trails including all alternative routes with 2978km (1860mi)

1998  Badwater run, CA, a 135mi run in July through Death Valley with temperatures up to 127 F,

 .    Leadville Trail 100mi run (CO)

 .   Wasatch Front 100mi run (UT)

 .    Climbathon in Borneo (the world's most gruelling halfmarathon with more than 15,000ft total elevation!!1)

 .    134km traversing of the Island of La Reunion

since 1998 working as full time ski instructor for Boyne USA at Boyne Highlands, Michigan, USA

2000 TransAlp MegaMarathon, a 1300 miles double crossing of the Austrian Alps from E to W and back,  solo in 40 days along the 2 major mountain trails 01 (E-W) and 02 (W-E),(comparable to the Pacific Crest Trail)

2001 Old Dominion 100mi run (VA)

  .       Vermont 100mi run

  .        Western State 100mi run (CA)

2002 climbing Mt. Elbrus in Russia (5642m/18481ft) on skis in June

.    23 marathons between 04/21 and 11/17 

.    Del Passatore 100km road race, May, Italy

.    17 age group wins, 2 second places, 6 third places out of 37 races in total

2003, April 17 Northpolemarathon

.    July/August climbing/hiking of 21 state highpoints in the USA (all western and some midwestern states)

2004 featured in the March issue of Team Boyne News

2005 32 marathons, visiting all 50 states, completing all 50 state highpoints and making images of all state houses

.           back to back age group wins  in  both the prestiguous Pikes Peak Double (ascent and marathon)

.           Everest Marathon, the highest in the world at 17,200ft, oldest finisher

 

 

 

 

Public decorations, appreciations and commendations so far

 

 

1960 badge of honor for outstanding achievements in track and field

1965 badge of honor of the 8th mountain division of the Turkish army

1966 badge of honor of the Iranian Alpine Club

1984 order of merit in silver by the Austrian Government (dedicated by the State President)

         badge of honor in bronce by my hometown Kapfenberg

         order of merit by the organisation "People to People" (USA)

1969 and 1978 appreciation by the county council of education

1973 and 1989 appreciation by the provincial council of education

1979, 1984, 1989 pro merito medals by the Federal Ministry of Education

1994 badge of honor in gold for outstanding achievements in sports by the  provincial government of Styria

1994 order of merit in gold by the provincial government of Styria

1994 badge of honor in gold by my hometown Kapfenberg

January 2001 employee of the month at Boyne Highlands Snow Sports School

 

 

 

All my Marathons

 

Number  Year        Date        Location                    Time                                    Remarks

 

1          1985        10.26.      Graz, AUT                   3:51:40

............................................................................................................................................................

 

2          1986        05.04.      Munich, GER                 4:12:15

3                        11.02.      New York, USA                  3:25:45                     PB

............................................................................................................................................................

 

4          1987        04.05.      Vienna, AUT                 3:22:17                       PB

5                        05.17.      Munich, GER                 3:11:51                       PB 

7                                      12.06.      Melbourne, AUS                  3:12:05

............................................................................................................................................................

 

8          1988        04.17.      London,GB                   3:10:52                        PB

9                        05.08.      Munich,GER                   3:11:26

10                      06.18.      Klagenfurt, AUT                 4:08:39

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

 11     1989                      04.16.      Rotterdam, NED                  3:19:04

 12                     04.23.      Munich,GER                  3:12:18

 13                     06.17.      Klagenfurt, AUT                 3:23:50

 14                     08.06.      Eugene, USA                3:50:20

 15                     10.01.      Berlin, GER                 3:39:13

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 16     1990                      03.18.      Barcelona, SPA                  4:13:28

 17                     04.16.      Boston,USA                  4:01:10

 18                     04.22.      Meran, ITA                 3:30:43

 19                     04.29.      Madrid,SPA                  3:48:57

 20                     05.06.      Paris, FRA                  4:27:59

 21                     05.20.      Hamburg,GER                 3:37:38

 22                     06.02.      Stockholm, SWE                 3:26:14

 23                     06.17.      Klagenfurt,AUT          3:23:01

 24                     06.30.      Nüremberg, GER                  3:55:59

 25                     07.08.      Prague, CZ                  3:19:30

 26                     08.05.      Arusha, TAN                 3:28:00

 27                     08.19.      Reykjavik, ISL                  3:10:42                     PB

 28                     09.09.      Kainach, AUT                    4:45:15                                 mountain-race

 29                     09.23.      Amstetten, AUT                 3:17:32

 30                     10.07.      Venice, ITA                3:16:53

 31                     10.28.      Frankfurt, GER                 3:04:43                       PB

............................................................................................................................................................

 

32     1991                      04.14.      Vienna, AUT                  3:08:30

33                       05.05.      Munich, GER                  3:07:08

34                       05.12.      Pressbaum, AUT                 4:13:00                          cross country

35                       06.15.      Klagenfurt, AUT                 3:38:05

36                       06.22.      Leipzig, GER                     3:32:09

37                       07.13.      Moskow, RUS                 3:11:27

38                       07.20.      Nüremberg, GER                  3:25:44

39                       08.04.      Arusha, TAN                  3:19:36

40                       08.18.      Reykjavik, ICE                   3:21:52

41                       09.08.      Kainach , AUT                    5:43:12                         mountain-race

42                       10.13.      Venice, ITA                  3:26:48

............................................................................................................................................................

 

43     1992                       04.26.      Vienna, AUT                  3:32:25

44                       05.03.      Munich,GER                   3:11:15

45                       05.30.      Bratislava, SLK     3:46:48

46                       06.14.      Klagenfurt, AUT                 3:38:35

............................................................................................................................................................

 

47     1993                       04.18.      Vienna, AUT                3:19:41

48                       05.09.      Munich, GER                  3:14:43

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

 49     1994                       04.10.      Vienna, AUT                 3:11:23

 50                      05.15.      Munich, GER                 3:10:28

 51                      05.28.      Radenska, SLO                   3:41:59

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

 52     1995                       05.28.      Pressbaum, AUT                  3:54:11                                 Cross Country

 53                      06.02.      Landwehrhagen, GER  3:49:14                                 Fuldaufer

 54                      06.03.      Landwehrhagen, GER  3:57:01                                 Hügel u. Täler

 55                      06.04.      Landwehrhagen, GER  3:59:46                                 Rechts d. Fulda

 56                      09.09.      Jungfrau, SUI                   4:32:19                                 mountain-race

............................................................................................................................................................

 

57     1996                       02.04.      Valencia, SPA                   3:06:13

58                       02.25.      Sevilla, SPA                   2:59:18                     PB absolut

59                       04.14.      Vienna, AUT                 3:02:52

60                       05.05.      Munich, GER                 3:03:21

61                       10.13.      Graz, AUT                   3:26:31

62                       11.03.      New York, USA                   4:22:49                                 with camera

63                       11.24.      Bangkok, THL                    4:24:15                                 with camera

64                       12.01.      Macau, MAC                  3:54:13

65                       12.08.      Honolulu, USA                   3:57:57                                 with camera

66                       12.15.      Cancun, MEX                 4:20:56

............................................................................................................................................................

 

67     1997                       01.05.      Orlando, USA                    3:26:48

68                       02.23.      Sevilla, SPA                    3:21:35

69                       03.16.      Barcelona, SPA                  3:28:35

70                       04.13.      Antwerp, BEL                    3:38:05

71                       05.04.      Regensburg, GER     3:31:48

72                       07.27.      Durban. RSA                 3:15:50

73                       10.12.      Graz, AUT                   3:22:13

74                       10.26.      Frankfurt, GER                  3:41:10

75                       11.02.      Amsterdam, NED    3:48:43

76                       11.23.      Lissabon, POR                   3:47:34

77                       11.30.      Florenz, ITA                    3:47:56

78                       12.07.      Singapur, SIN                   4:40:01

79                       12.14.      Honolulu, USA                   3:34:56

............................................................................................................................................................

 

80     1998                       01.11.      Orlando, USA                    3:33:47

81                       01.18.      Bermuda, BER                    4:12:33

82                       01.25.      Huntington Beach, USA   3:27:16

83                       02.01.      Las Vegas, USA                  3:25:23

84                       02.07.      Columbia, USA                   3:38:58

85                       02.15.      Kingston, JAM                   3:57:21

86                       03.01.      Malta, MAL                  3:26:59

87                       03.15.      Barcelona, SPA                  3:41:11

88                       03.22.      Graz, AUT                   3:46:36

89                       05.02.      Welschmarathon, AUT 4:29:00                                 Wies-Ehrenhausen

90                       05.10.      Turin, ITA                  4:08:43

91                       05.16.      Radenska, SLO                   3:48:08

92                       06.07.      Enschede, NED                   3:32:56

93                       06.21.      San Diego, USA                  3:40:01

94                       07.12.      San Francisco, USA    3:34:19

95                       07.24.      Salt Lake City, USA    4:00:41

96                       08.08.      Crater Lake, USA                3:45:42

97                       08.16.      Pikes Peak, USA                 6:17:42                                 mountain-race

98                       08.30.      Reno, USA                   3:50:41

99                       09.20.      Wachau, AUT                 3:41:10

100                     10.11.      Graz, AUT                   3:37:02

............................................................................................................................................................

 

101     1999                       04.25.      Big Sur, USA                    4:19:18                                 with camera

102                     06.04.      Ötscher, AUT                    4:49:53                         mountain-race

103                     08.14.      Invermere, CAN                  3:49:00

104                     08.22.      Edmonton, CAN                   3:47:38

105                     08.29.      Quebec, CAN                 3:38:51

106                     09.19.      Karlsruhe, GER                  4:17:20

107                     10.17.      Graz, AUT                   3:36:01

............................................................................................................................................................

 

108     2000                       04.30.      Padova, ITA                 3:48:05

109                     05.07.      Trieste, ITA                    3:57:23

....................................................................................................................................................................

 

110     2001                       03.31.      Waukesha, USA                   3:50:54                                 trail

111                     04.29.      Ravenna, ITA                    3:50:53

112                     05.05.      Welschmarathon  , AUT   4:19:00             Ehrenhausen-Wies

113                     05.20.      Wien, AUT                   4:46:26                                     after 160km run up from                                                                                                                 Kapfenberg, my hometown

114                     06.10.      NipMuck Trail, CT       4:59:56                             trail

115                     06.16.      Park City, UT                   3:39:32

116                     07.07.      Winter Park, CO       4:09:45                          trail

117                     08.11.      Crater Lake, OR       3:44:19

118                     09.22.      Logan, UT                   4:12:00

119                     10.14.      Graz, AUT                   3:57:23

120                     10.28.      Ljubliana, SLO                  3:43:06

121                     11.04.      Athens, GR                  3:55:12

............................................................................................................................................................

 

122     2002                       04.21.      Toledo,OH                   3:56:42

123                     04.27.      Nashville,TN                    3:51:09

124                     04.28.      Oklahoma City                  4:28:46

125                     05.04.      Ogden,UT                    3:44:07

126                     05.05.      Wild Wild West,CA               5:45:21                                 trail

127                     05.11.      Eagle River,WI                  3:48:19

128                     06.08.      Park City,UT                    3:55:06

129                     06.09.      Denver, Jesus Run      4:58:15

130                     07.06       Leadville,CO                    5:34:01                                 mountain

131                     07.24.      Salt Lake City,UT               3:46:32

132                     09.01.      Breckenridge Crest,CO   5:28:04                         mountain

133                     09.02.      Am.Disc.Tr. Colo Spgs   4:10:27                         trail

134                     09.15.      Denver,CO                   3:24:56

135                     09.21.      Logan,UT                    3:27:03

136                     09.29.      Boulder,CO                  3:45:1l                                 backroads

137                     10.05.      St.George,UT                    3:22:30

138                     10.06.      Ft. Collins,CO                 4:18:20

139                     10.13.      Chicago,IL                   4:25:38                         pacing

140                     10.19.      Indianapolis,IN            3:29:39

141                     10.20.      Columbus,OH              4:21:27

142                     10.27.      Marine Corps,DC            3:29:48

143                     11.13.      Bhutan, Asia                 3:52:54            

144                     11.17.      Monaco,Europe          3:51:10

............................................................................................................................................................

 

145      2003        04.17       Northpole, 90 N         6:12:08                         on ice/snow

146                      07.05.      Leadville,CO                6:43:19                         mountain

147                      09.14.      Schuetzen, AUT    5:07:07    

148                      09.28.      Woergl, AUT               4:07:22

149                      10.05.       Graz, AUT                   3:57:56

150                      10.12.       Munich, GER            3:59:59

............................................................................................................................................................

 

151      2004          04.03        Yakima River,WA            4:29:27

152                      04.18           Linz, AUT                    4:27:00

153                      08.14           Kainach, AUT            6:44:36                         mountain

154                      08.29           Galtuer, AUT            5:24:59                         mountain

155                      09.19           Guessing, AUT            4:41:57

156                      11.02           Himalaya, IND            7:38:28                         mountain

157                      11.14           Havana, CUB            4:23:04

158                      12.11           Sondershausen, GER     5:09:32                         potassium mine, 3000ft below

surface

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

159      2005        02.27           New Orleans,LA            4:03:57

160                      03-26           Abilene, TX                  4:20:36

161                      04-03         Fayetteville, AR       4:30:06

162                      04-10            St. Louis, MO            4:36:45

163                      04-16         Charlottesville, VA            4 :08:28

164                      04-24           Pinckney, MI            5 :14:05

165                      04-30        Louisville, KY            3 :56:28

166                      05-01        Lincoln, NE                  4 :38:19

167                      05-14        Brookings, SD            3 :54:40

168                      05-15        Ames, IA                     4 :25:49

169                      05-21        Olathe, KS                   4:16:11

170                      05-28        Craig, AK                    3:56:05

171                      06-04        Helena, MT                  4:02:30

172                      06-05        Casper, WY                 4:38:55

173                      06-18          Deutschlandsberg         4:20:47

174                      06-25          Tirol Speed Marathon4:05:41

175                      07-02        Zermatt                        5:25:42

176                      07-09          Silbertal                        4:43:56

177                       08-21       Pikes Peak marathon            5:43:40             mountain

178                      08-27        Ashton, ID                   3:46:35

179                      09-04          Tupelo, MS                  4:01:20

180                      09-11        Stowe, VT                   3:43:50

181                      09-17        Walker, MN                3:59:50

182                      09-25           Gilsum-Keene, NH      3:44:20

183                      10-02         Portland, ME            3:52:57

184                      10-09         Scranton, PA            3:37:25

185                      10-15         Baltimore, MD            4:22:40

186                      10-16           Atlantic City, NJ        5:29:56

187                      10-22         Newport, RI                 3:58:14

188                      11-21         Mt. Everest, Nepal            7:31:38             highest marathon in the world (17,200ft)

189                      12-10        Huntsville, AL            4:29:01

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

190      2006        01-14        Warner Robins,GA            3:57:27

191                      01-15            Phoenix,AZ            4:31:49

 

My Ultras so far

 

Nr        Year        Date                    Location                    Distance(km).             Time                    Remarks

 

1          1991        06.30 - 07.06               Genf - Basel, CH                    310             38:40:05          7 stages

2                                           07.27                   Swiss Alpine,CH                        74                  8:27:10

3                                    09.06                   Marc Aurel,AUT                       60                  6:23:00

............................................................................................................................................................

 

4          1992        05.16                   Rennsteig,GER                           67                  7:21:58

5                                    06.20- 08.22     Transamerica Footrace     4265,7               528:46:13        64 stages

...........................................................................................................................................................

 

 

6          1993        05.27 - 06.01   NSWW,AUT                      530     80:35:00              5 stages (pr)

7                                    06.04 - 06.05   Biel,CH                        100     10:57:21

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

8          1994        04.30                   Basel, 24h-race,CH                144,37   24:00:00

9                                    05.21 - 05.23    Tour de Mur,AUT                 355                57:51:00          nonstop

10                                   06.19                   Deutschlandsberg,AUT      50         6:21:00

..............................................................................................................................................................................

11        1995        04.29                   Wernigerode,GER         51          4:47:05

12                                   05.06                   Basel, 24h-race,CH                  137,35   24:00:00

13                                   05.20                   Rennsteig,GER                66,5       6:38:18

14                                   06.09                   Biel,CH                                   100       11:21:28

15                                   06.25                   Veitscher Grenzstaffellauf    47         5:15:23

16                                   07.29                   Swiss Alpine,CH                          74         8:11:26

17                                  09.16 - 09.17   Rennsteig entire length,GER  171       27:54:00               private

18                                   10.08                   Böhmweglauf,GER                        58         5:30:59

............................................................................................................................................................

 

19        1996         06.16                   Deutschlandsberg,AUT           50         5:19:28

20                                      08.19 - 08.25   Stmk-charity run for cure of children cancer 290km   no timing

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

21        1997         06.16                   Comrades,SA                   89,7     10:35:48

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

22        1998          06.16                   Comrades,SA                   87,3      10:03:16

23                                    07.16 - 07.18   Badwater,USA                               210        58:57:00

24                                    08.22 - 08.23   Leadville Trail,USA                          160        28:56:52

25                                    09.12 - 09.13   Wasatch FrontUSA                   160       33:42:00

26                                    11.06 - 11.08   Le Grand Raid, La Reunion       134       48:48:19

..............................................................................................................................................................................

27        1999           06.04 - 06.06   Ötschersupermarathon,AUT    96        12:20:24

28                                         06.27                 Veitscher Grenzstaffellauf,AUT        54        6:15:12

29                                         07.03                  Traunseemarathon,AUT          70       14:55:00

30                                         07.31                  Swiss Alpine,CH                      78       11:05:51 

............................................................................................................................................................

 

.

31        2000           04.25                  Castelbolognese,IT            50        4:51:23

32                                         05.21 - 05.26     Spreelauf,GER                 427      57:01:45   6 stages

33                                         06.10                  Oetschersupermarathon,AUT                  71     10:11:32    2 stages

34                                        06.16 - 06.17     Biel,CH                                          100      11:58:06

35                                         06.25 - 08.03     Transalp Mega Marathon,AUT   2000      no timing   40 stages (pr)

............................................................................................................................................................

 

.

36        2001            04.25                   Castelbolognese,ITA                50       4:30:58

37                                           05.07 - 05.11     Alpentour,AUT                    ca  320          no timing  5 stages, (pr)

38                          05.19 – 05.20       K,berg-Vienna + Vienna M  ca 210      24:46:26                       (pr)

39                                           06.02 - 06.03     Old Dominion,USA                             160     27:00:02

40                                           06.23 - 06.24     Western States,USA                            160     29:38:45

41                                           07.21 - 07.22      Vermont 100,USA                                160     27:32:26

42                                            12.08                   Huntsville, TX                                      80     10:43:15

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

43        2002            05.25 - 05.26       Del Passatore, ITA                 100       16:18:27  

44                                           06.15 - 06.16       Oetschersupermarathon,AUT   71      10:16:07      2 stages

.............................................................................................................................................................

 

45        2003          04.25          Castelbolognese, ITA              50     5:28:44

46                          12.13          Huntsville,TX                50     5:49:46

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

47        2004          10.31 – 11.04         Himalaya 100mi Stage Race,IND  160            23:45

................................................................................................................................................................       

48        2005          07.17           Leadville,CO                50            7:27:05

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

49        2006          04-15           Stillwater,OK               50

50                          04-22           St. Louis, MO              50

 

My year of 2005

 

As usual Brigitta and I spent the winter in Michigan working as ski instructors at Boyne Highlands at the northwestern tip of the Lower Peninsula. As I had spent most of the time of the last years here in the States, when the idea came up I could do something special in every state. I joined the 50 States Marathon Club as well as the 50 States and DC Marathon Group and the Highpointers Club. But I wanted to do a little bit more than run a marathon in every state or climb all state highpoints. I also included the ascent of all 57 Fourteeners (summits higher than 14.000ft in CO), a climb of every volcanoe inthe Cascades Range and wanted to make pictures of all the 50 State Houses. I did not realize how much work there would be to put everything together let alone how much traveltime it would take. I was enthusiastic and thrilled. I had already run marathons in about 20 different states, had climbed 3 or 4 Fourteeners, had reached a couple of the Highpoints including Mt. McKinley and also climbed a few of the volcanoes of the Cascades Range.

The toughest challenge actually was the logistic work in regard of figuring out how to connect marathons, highpoints and state capitals in the most effective way. It all began in February when Brigitta and I took a couple days off and made it down to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras marathon. Right after the end of the ski season we left Michigan and spent the following weeks with a mixture of skiing and running marathons on the weekends. End of April Brigitta returned to Austria while I stayed in he country and ran marathons every weekend until the beginning of June, always trying to visit also during my drives as many highpoints and state capitals as possible. In that period of time I had to put in 2 flight adventures: a 5 day trip to Hawaii from May 8 to 12 to make my pictures of the state house in Honolulu and a trip to Alaska to Juneau (state capital) and the Prince George Island (Craig marathon) from May 25 to June 2. When my visa expired I finally went back to Austria only to pick up Brigitta for a journey thru Austria and Switzerland in order to run there 4 more marathons. I then returned to USA on July 11 and spent the next 7 weeks in CO to climb as many Fourteeners as possible. Gigi, a young Austrian who had climbed with me several highpoints the year before was my partner for the first 4 weeks. We had perfect conditions and could reel in a great number of peaks. By the weekend of August 20/21 I returned to running participating in the so called Pikes Peak Double (a HM on the first day, followed by a full one the next day). I managed to win my age group in both events and sure was more than proud of it. The following week I summited another two 14ers before I finally focused on more marathons. All remaining highpoints and state capitals were rather easy to complete and the last marathon was run on October 22. In September I was “forced” to leave the country because this time I was here on a 90 days visa waiver visit and would have exceeded my stay by October 11th. Reentry turned into a nightmare as Canada does not count as leaving the country for what immigration calls a “meaningful leaving” (whatever that may mean). Anyway, it took me almost 4 hours and countless phone calls by immigration officers that I finally could reenter the USA.

I returned to Austria on Oct. 23 and five days later Brigitta and I left for Nepal to run the Everest Marathon there on November 21 (the highest marathon in the world starting from Gorak Shep at 17.200ft just below the base camp). I took it really easy, carried my camera with me, made pictures along the way and still managed to finish as the oldest runner ranked 47th  out of 82 runners with a respectable time of 7:31:38. We returned to Austria, picked up our work visa for Boyne and came back to the States  on December 7 only to run the Huntsville, AL marathon on the 10th before we made it up to Michigan to start this year’s ski season.

As of now I have 5 states left to complete the 50 states plus DC, I have finished all highpoints and state capitals and I have left 18 Fourteeners and about 15 volcanoes and I hope to finish everything by beginning of August this year.The big issue is to finish my “USA Mission” before I turn 65 which will be on August 31 this year.

 

Please look up below all my marathons and climbs of  2005 (Fourteeners and Hihgpoints) as well as the state capitals I visited to make photos of the State Houses, listed by dates:

 

Marathons:

02-27   New Orleans, LA                 4:03:57

03-26            Abilene, TX                             4:20:36

04-03            Fayetteville, AR                       4:30:06

04-10   St. Louis, MO                               4:36:45

04-16            Charlottesville, VA                   4 :08:28

04-24            Pinckney, MI                            5 :14:05

04-30            Louisville, KY              3 :56 :28

05-01   Lincoln, NE                               4 :38 :19

05-14            Brookings, SD                        3 :54 :40

05-15   Ames, IA                                4 :25 :49

05-21   Olathe, KS                               4:16:11

05-28   Craig, AK                              3:56:05

06-04   Helena, MT                              4:02:30

06-05   Casper, WY                              4:38:55

 

06-18            Deutschlandsberg                    4:20:47

06-25   Tirol Speed Marathon                     4:05:41

07-02   Zermatt                                    5:25:42

07-09            Silbertal                                   4:43:56

 

07-15            Leadville, CO 50km                 7:27:05

07-24   Vail, CO halfmarathon            2:20:54

08-14            Leadville, CO 10km                    51:57

08-20   Pikes Peak ascent (13,32mi)            3:26:19

08-21   Pikes Peak marathon             5:43:40

08-27   Ashton, ID                                3:46:35

09-04   Tupelo, MS                              4:01:20

09-11   Stowe, VT                               3:43:50

09-17            Walker, MN                            3:59:50

09-25   Gilsum-Keene, NH                  3:44:20

10-02            Portland, ME                          3:52:57

10-09            Scranton, PA                           3:37:25

10-15            Baltimore, MD             4:22:40

10-16   Atlantic City, NJ                       5:29:56

10-22            Newport, RI                            3:58:14

 

11-21   Mt. Everest, Nepal              7:31:38

12-10            Huntsville, AL               4:29:01

 

Fourteeners:

 

07-12   Mt of the Holy Cross             14,005

07-16   Mt. Wilson                          14,246

07-20   El Diente Pk                                 14,159

07-21   Wilson Pk                                14,017

07-25            Quandary Pk                            14,265

07-27            Humboldt Pk                            14,064

07-28            Crestone Needle                      14,197

07-29   Mt. Lindsey                                    14,042

07-31   Blanca Pk                                14,345

            Ellingwood Pk             14,042

08-01   Little Bear Pk                                    14,037

08-05   Mt Bierstadt                                   14,060

            Mt Grays                           14,270

            Mt Torreys                                    14,267

08-06   Mt Democrat                                 14,148

            Mt Cameron                                  14,238

            Mt Lincoln                         14,286

            Mt Bross                           14,172

08-07            Challenger Pt                           14,081

            Kit Caeson Pk                               14,165

08-09            Crestone Pk                             14,294

08-10   Culebra Pk                                14,047

08-12   San Luis Pk                         14,014

08-13            Uncompahgre Pk                     14,309

            (Matterhorn Pk                        13,590)

            Wetterhorn Pk                                    14,015

08-15            Redcloud Pk                           14,034

            Sunshine Pk                             14,001

Handies Pk                                14,048

08-16   Mt Sneffels                                    14,150

08-17            Conundrum Pk             14,060

            Castle Pk                                14,265

08-18   La Plata Pk                                   14,336

08-20   Pikes Pk                                14,110

08-21   Pikes Pk                                14,110

08-24   Huron Pk                                14,005

08-25   Mt Yale                             14,196

 

Highpoints:

 

 03-22            Brasstown Bald, GA                4784ft / 1458m

03-23   Cheaha Mtn, AL                       2407ft /   734m

            Britton Hill, FL                345ft /  105m

04-03            Magazine Mtn, AR                  2753ft /   839m

04-16   Fort Reno, Washington DC          410ft /   131m

04-20   Charles Mound, IL                    1235ft /   376m

            Timms Hill, WI                        1951ft /   595m

04-21   Mt. Arvon, MI                    1979ft /   603m

04-27   Mt. Rogers, VA                  5729ft /  1746m

            Black Mtn, KY                      4145ft /  1263m

05-04   White Butte, ND                    3506ft /  1069m

05-06   Eagle Mtn, MN                     2301ft /    701m

08-29   Driskill, LA                                 535ft /     163m   shaken by Hurricane Katrina !

            Woodall Mtn, MS                      806ft /     246m                           -“-

08-30            Sassafras Mtn, SC                   3560ft /   1085m

08-31   Mt. Mitchell, NC                6684ft /   2037m                     my birthday

            Clingmans Dome, TN  6643ft /   2025m

09-05   Spruce Knob, WV                   4863ft /   1482m

            Backbone Mtn, MD                 3360ft /   1024m

            Mt. Davis, PA                                 3213ft /     979m

09-06            Highpoint, NJ                           1803ft /     550m

09-07            Jerimoth Hill, RI                           812 /     247m

09-09   Mt. Marcy, NY                  5344ft /   1629m

09-10   Mt. Mansfield, VT              4393ft /   1339m

09-12   Mt. Washington, NH                  6288ft /   1917m

09-13   Mt. Katahdin, ME               5268ft /   1606m

09-21   Mt. Frissell, CT                   2380ft /    725m

            Mt. Greylock, MA              3491ft /   1063m

10-03   Ebright Azimuth, DE                 448ft /      137m   all 50 Highpoints plus DC done

 

Images of State Capitols:

 

03-21            Frankfort, KY

03-22   Atlanta, GA

03-23            Montgomery, AL

            Tallahassee, FL

03-24   Baton Rouge, LA

03-25   Austin, TX

03-27   Santa Fe, AZ

04-04   Little Rock, AR

04-17            Washington DC

04-19   Des Moines, IA

04-20            Madison, WI

04-26            Charleston, WV

05-03   Salt Lake City, UT

05-04   Helena, MT

05-05            Bismarck, ND

05-09            Honolulu, HI

05-16   Pierre, SD

05-18   Topeka, KS

05-23            Sacramento, CA

            Salem, OR

05-24            Olympia, WA

05-26   Juneau, AK

08-28            Oklahoma City, OK

08-29   Jackson MS                 shaken by  Katrina !

09-01   Raleigh, NC

            Columbia, SC

09-06            Harrisburg, PA

09-10            Montpellier, VT

09-13            Concord, NH

09-14   Boston. MA

09-21   Albany, NY

10-03            Annapolis, MD images of all 50 state capitols plus DC finished

 

Have fun following all my travels across the nation, there was more than 36,000 miles driving by car and a bunch of flights (Hawaii, Alaska....)

 

 

 

 

Helmut Linzbichler

Austria / Europe

MI / USA