I did it!!! I reached this seasons goal of breaking 37 minutes!!! In the popular last race of the year, la Cursa del Nassos, I finished in 36m55!!! Very happy and wondering if I can break 36 minutes too?!
After three weeks of good training and three days of rest because of some muscle soreness in my left thigh, today I had another go for making my goal to break the 37 minutes barrier. The days before had been very busy and I was not feeling optimal, but like always I would give it all. It was a bit colder than the days before, but very good weather, eventhough it soon would be dark since this race starts at 17h30. After a good warm up and the other physical preparations I entered my green box. One of the advantages of breaking the 37 minutes is being able to race in the red (first) box in all races. Just before the start a runner with a "37 minutes" flag entered the red box just in front of us and that could be of great help to have a pacer.
We were shot away and the first meters were slow and chaotic. I tried to stay out of trouble knowing the first kilometer would be slow. Like last year the pace was irregular and trying to find space in between the runners to advance was difficult from time to time, but I took it easy and passed in 3m44. The second kilometer wasn't much better and where normally I would be well below schedule, today I was still above with 7m28. The third and fourth went by with more regular pace but still some seconds behind schedule. In the kilometer leading upto halfway the race there is a sharp U-turn where we lost some more seconds and we passed the 5k mark in 18m40. In the first kilometers I had run some 20 meters behind the pacer slowly closing the gap and now I was running just behind and I knew I had to check times to make sure the pacer kept pace too :) . On the 6th kilometer we gained 5 seconds and then I started to become tired and I just followed the pacer. I missed the 7th and 8th kilometer marks and we passed the 9k in 33m25 so with a good sprint I might be able to make it. When we turned onto the last long straight I passed the pacer and sprinted to the finish stopping my watch at 36:56 and very happy and very tired for a few seconds. Once back home it was great to see the official time confirmed to be 36m55. I really did it :) !!!
Monday 31 December 2012
Sunday 23 December 2012
Jordi - Cursa Viladecans 1k
And another race for Jordi, one week before it is dad's turn again. This time we had to leave Barcelona to Viladecans a town to the west. After an early trainride we walked to the start area and picked up Jordi's Bib Number. Jordi was nervous this morning untill he lined up for the start. There were quite a few young runners out this morning and Jordi managed to position himself more or less up front so he could start well. The pack stretched out quickly after they were shot away and they ran down the first straight to round the first roundabout.
And a well deserved energy drink...
After the first roundabout they headed back to a second roundabout and then crossed the startline again and sprinted for a last few hundred meters to the finish. Jordi finished in 3m03s and afterwards measuring the track it turned out to be some 750 meters, but still much faster than last week on this totally flat course. Well done Jordi!!!!
After the finish they lined up to receive their bag of goodies...
And a well deserved energy drink...
Sunday 16 December 2012
Jordi - Cursa 1k in l'Hospitalet
Today it was my son's turn to run a race. On a beautiful sunday morning we arrived at the start near the athletics training ground in l'Hospitalet some hundred meters away from Nou Camp, the FC Barcelona stadium. Jordi competed in a group of children between one year older and two years younger and participating was the goal. Around 10h20 the were "shot" away and sadly enough two kids tripped only 10 meters out, but they got on their feet and continued. Jordi started easy and after a downhill stretch of some 300 meters they turned back to go uphill. Jordi was doing very well and had passed many children when entering the athletics stadium for the last 300 meters on the track. He ended his 1k race in 4m30 and was very happy.
Sunday 2 December 2012
Cursa de la Sagrera - 10k
A few seconds closer to the 37 minutes mark, but still not there. On a quiet, sunny, but also very cold sunday morning I set off for another 10k with the start near the 10k of three weeks ago. Today a two-laps course in the neighbourhood of la Sagrera. After the regular warmup we huddled at the start line and all of a sudden someone blows a whistle which seems to be start signal today. So after some yells of suprise we get underway with the regular pushing and running around de park where we also just had done our warm up. Next is a long straight up to the first kilometer (3m25) and we continue slightly uphill. It seems the top-runners today take it easy, since they appear to be very close still. The second kilometer I pass in 7m06 and the third I settle for a good pace helped by the slightly downhill. At the third kilometer mark I am still ahead of schedule but not too much (10m54) and I maintain the same pace passing the 4k mark in 14m44. The last kilometer of the 5k lap we will run two times has a rather steep part uphill after turning upto the last straight onto the halfway mark. I passed the 5k mark in 18m30 exactly on schedule, but not sure if I could maintain pace today. On the first kilometer into the second lap I lost four seconds passing in 22m16 but I pushed the uphill and passed the 7k mark in 25m59, 5 seconds behind schedule, but starting to be fatigued. Eventhough I am not as tired as the races before I still lost time and passed the 8k mark in 29m50 and the ninth in 33m40 knowing that I still had an uphill to go, but at least I had strenght this time to hold on and push through and on the last straigth slighlty downhill I sprinted in good form to once again improve my personal best with a few seconds: 37m25!!!
Sunday 18 November 2012
Cursa Jean Bouin - 10k
Nearly there!!! Once again a race with an uphill finish on the last 3 km, and in spite of the margin of the first 7k I did not break the 37m barrier yet, but still... very happy with yet another PB: 37m29!!!
This morning the start was at 9 a.m. so we had to get up early. We left nicely on time and around 8h30 I started to warm up. It was once again a very grey sunday morning and earlier it had rained, but with some luck we could run without more rain. In the days before the race I had some soreness at the back of my right knee, so I warmed up carefully and then entered my box. It was very crowded today and when we were shot away we started fast but carefully and in the first turn someone almost tripped, but luckily nothing happened. I missed the first kilometer mark so at the 2k mark I found out I ran rather fast passing just within 7 minutes. I maintained pace and passed the 3k in 10m40. I tried to find a comfortable pace but maybe because of the fast start I could not really settle for one. I was still feeling ok though when passing 4k in 14m20. Up to the half way mark was slightly downhill for a good part and I passed the 5k mark in a very fast time of 18m03, running almost at 36 minutes pace. I started to become tired and I don't remember the 6k time and missed the 7k mark and already on the uphill part of the Avinguda del Paral.lel and struggling I passed the 8k mark in 29m26, but like last week with some difficulty breathing and running at 4 minutes per kilometer pace without strength to push in the uphill to go faster. The 9k passed around 33m30 and I just maintained pace in the last uphill and when passing the Magic Fountain and going down I knew I would improve my PB for sure. When making the last turn I could see we just entered the 37 minutes and pushed to stay just under 37m30 seconds. On a more flat course I might be able to reach my goal of this running season!
This morning the start was at 9 a.m. so we had to get up early. We left nicely on time and around 8h30 I started to warm up. It was once again a very grey sunday morning and earlier it had rained, but with some luck we could run without more rain. In the days before the race I had some soreness at the back of my right knee, so I warmed up carefully and then entered my box. It was very crowded today and when we were shot away we started fast but carefully and in the first turn someone almost tripped, but luckily nothing happened. I missed the first kilometer mark so at the 2k mark I found out I ran rather fast passing just within 7 minutes. I maintained pace and passed the 3k in 10m40. I tried to find a comfortable pace but maybe because of the fast start I could not really settle for one. I was still feeling ok though when passing 4k in 14m20. Up to the half way mark was slightly downhill for a good part and I passed the 5k mark in a very fast time of 18m03, running almost at 36 minutes pace. I started to become tired and I don't remember the 6k time and missed the 7k mark and already on the uphill part of the Avinguda del Paral.lel and struggling I passed the 8k mark in 29m26, but like last week with some difficulty breathing and running at 4 minutes per kilometer pace without strength to push in the uphill to go faster. The 9k passed around 33m30 and I just maintained pace in the last uphill and when passing the Magic Fountain and going down I knew I would improve my PB for sure. When making the last turn I could see we just entered the 37 minutes and pushed to stay just under 37m30 seconds. On a more flat course I might be able to reach my goal of this running season!
Sunday 11 November 2012
Cursa Clot - Camp de l'Arpa - 10k
And we are back in the 37 minutes with a new PB!!! After a good week of training, eventhough the 10 times 500m series went ok but not really fast and easy, and an extra easy mountain run yesterday so less rest than ideal, today another 10k of the Barcelona 10k Challenge in Sant Marti, the fastest neighbourhood of Barcelona during the Correbarri a few weeks ago. This time we had to pick up our T-shirt and BIB number just before the race so I left home early on this very grey sunday morning.
With 45 minutes to go I started my warm up in Carrer de Rogent a street where no cars are allowed, so perfect to run up and down. About 10 minutes before the start I checked out the start area and ran up and down a while more and then entered the red box of the fastest runners of today's race. I talked a while to a runner from near Granollers, judging his T-shirt, Joan Alarcón, we both will run in the Jean Bouin race next week as well. Just before the start it starts to rain a little. Around 9h30 we were shot away with a really loud firecracker. People from behind sprinted away and so does Joan, but I was determined to run as regular as possible and quickly settle for a good pace and taking the curves on the outer side to avoid the crowd.
The first kilometer was more down than uphill and passed in 3m26, whereas the second was just the opposite and 7m20 was a very reasonable time. The third kilometer had some downhill and then we entered a long more flat street and I started to try and run as relaxed as possible maintaining pace and passing the 3k mark in 11m00. The fourth kilometer had a bridge in the middle but still went by very quickly in 14m30. At this point I ran together with two other runners and I try to keep up with them. The fifth kilometer also went by very quickly in 18m22 and I was starting to feel a bit tired but nothing compared to last week, so I continued and tried to keep my head clear and upright and maintain good running form.
With 6k in 22m10 I was still running well below the 37m30 schedule, but I knew the last kilometers involved quite some uphill so I could use this margin. I concentrated on maintaining pace while passing runners who struggled here like I did last week. I suppose I passed the 7k mark around 26m00 and soon we enter the finish area and with 8k in 29m50. I have plenty of time to finish under 38 minutes. Up to the nine kilometer mark is mainly uphill and I catchup with Joan, while I struggled with my breathing. During the race it started to rain more and more and between the effort and the humidity I guess something cramped up a bit. Joan has more breath left and pulls away again. With one more kilometer to go,. the ninth was the slowest, passing in 33m50, but I pushed without really sprinting to finish in 37m41!!! Regarding the course of today it seems that breaking the 37 minutes barrier might well be possible. Next week I will try in the Jean Bouin Race!
With 45 minutes to go I started my warm up in Carrer de Rogent a street where no cars are allowed, so perfect to run up and down. About 10 minutes before the start I checked out the start area and ran up and down a while more and then entered the red box of the fastest runners of today's race. I talked a while to a runner from near Granollers, judging his T-shirt, Joan Alarcón, we both will run in the Jean Bouin race next week as well. Just before the start it starts to rain a little. Around 9h30 we were shot away with a really loud firecracker. People from behind sprinted away and so does Joan, but I was determined to run as regular as possible and quickly settle for a good pace and taking the curves on the outer side to avoid the crowd.
on the left just behind the runner in a yellow t-shirt
too fast for the camera
The first kilometer was more down than uphill and passed in 3m26, whereas the second was just the opposite and 7m20 was a very reasonable time. The third kilometer had some downhill and then we entered a long more flat street and I started to try and run as relaxed as possible maintaining pace and passing the 3k mark in 11m00. The fourth kilometer had a bridge in the middle but still went by very quickly in 14m30. At this point I ran together with two other runners and I try to keep up with them. The fifth kilometer also went by very quickly in 18m22 and I was starting to feel a bit tired but nothing compared to last week, so I continued and tried to keep my head clear and upright and maintain good running form.
With 6k in 22m10 I was still running well below the 37m30 schedule, but I knew the last kilometers involved quite some uphill so I could use this margin. I concentrated on maintaining pace while passing runners who struggled here like I did last week. I suppose I passed the 7k mark around 26m00 and soon we enter the finish area and with 8k in 29m50. I have plenty of time to finish under 38 minutes. Up to the nine kilometer mark is mainly uphill and I catchup with Joan, while I struggled with my breathing. During the race it started to rain more and more and between the effort and the humidity I guess something cramped up a bit. Joan has more breath left and pulls away again. With one more kilometer to go,. the ninth was the slowest, passing in 33m50, but I pushed without really sprinting to finish in 37m41!!! Regarding the course of today it seems that breaking the 37 minutes barrier might well be possible. Next week I will try in the Jean Bouin Race!
Sunday 4 November 2012
Cros de Sants - 10k
After a week of rest and only one training sessión we left home on a grey sunday morning for the next 10k in the Barcelona 10k series near the Barcelona Sants Railwaystation. The start was chaotic having to turn after 10 meters but soon we stretched out and around the first kilometer mark I could run at my own pace. I was still feeling tired because of the mountain marathon of last week and passing the first kilometer in 3m40 was quite ok. The second somehow went much too fast and I passed in 7m10 and then I settled for a better pace passing the 3k mark in 10m56. The 4k mark was in the finish area and I was starting to feel really tired already but with 14m46 was still maintaining pace.
And soon we entered the second round and I passed the halfway mark in 18m40. From then on I do my best to maintain pace, but I am too tired already to even remember the times. The last kilometer starts slightly uphill and I try to go faster without really sprinting but I cannot maintain such a high pace, so only when I turned up the last hundred meters to the finish line I sprinted to finish in 38m27s which is a pretty good time considering all circumstances!
And soon we entered the second round and I passed the halfway mark in 18m40. From then on I do my best to maintain pace, but I am too tired already to even remember the times. The last kilometer starts slightly uphill and I try to go faster without really sprinting but I cannot maintain such a high pace, so only when I turned up the last hundred meters to the finish line I sprinted to finish in 38m27s which is a pretty good time considering all circumstances!
Sunday 28 October 2012
I Maratò de Muntanya de Catalunya - 42km
Today I had another mountain marathon on the menu. A famous one here in Catalunya, since it was the first ever organized and today people ran this race for the 18th time. Start and finish take place in a small village called St. Llorenç Savall, north of Sabadell, and a good part of the race involves the climb and descent of an emblematic mountain called "La Mola".
Overnight the weather had changed a lot, from being warm and rainy to being very cold and extremely windy, at some points near the east coast up to windforce eleven and I guess on top of La Mola at least windforce 6. For the first time this year I put on long sleeves, to protect against the cold. It was still dark when I drove through Sabadell and then onto the B124 a small and winding local road that passes through Castellar del Vallés and Sant Llorenç Savall where the race would start. I arrived nicely on time and walked to the sportscomplex where the Bib numbers were handed out. Among the runners that arrived early, I recognized Francesc Viladoms Coma since we met during the Nuria Queralt Berga Ultratrail just before summer. We talked about the run and other ones in the area, since he is an experienced runner living in the area. Around 7am we had a short briefing and then went outside to the starting area to warm up muscles and get freezing thumbs since it was still very cold when the day was breaking.
At 7h15 we started to run and this time I took it more easy in order to warm up more. The first kilometers went up and down on broad paths through the woods and after some 20 minutes we passed the first control. The water and pieces of fruit were freezing cold!!! We continued and soon ran through a creek for quite a while before starting the first steep climb where we slowed down to walking. At the end of the climb control 2 was set up and I passed there in 38 minutes.
Just before completing the hour I arrived at control 3 after another steep climb. The water and fruit was still very cold. In the short downhill afterwards we had a first glimpse of the top of La Mola.
And in general the area has beautiful sights.
In our approach to the bottom of the path up to La Mola we ran through some fields for a while.
But soon we had to go up again, and really steep from time to time
With flat parts in between, but all paths go up slightly.
The trail was very narrow and winding, though from time to time we could see runners in front or just back if the woods would open up a little.
At some point high enough we can see the Vallés valley and the sea under a crystal clear sky.
And up we went
while the terrain became more and more rocky
Near the top the steep climbs took me to the edge of having cramps on the inside of my thighs but I continued to walk on steadily
Untill I saw the chapel on top of La Mola.
The last part up was more runnable and from time to time we could see the chapel again, coming closer and closer.
After 2h45 I reached the top of La Mola. The wind here was indeed very very strong and I had to find shelter before I called home. After some pictures of the magnificent view I started the long downhill.
The view to the north.
The view to the south.
Another emblematic mountain "Montserrat" to the west.
The first part of the downhill is on the side where the wind had been blowing all night and also where the sunlight had not touched the ground yet and at some points the rocks were covered with an icy layer and we had to be carefull in order to avoid slipping and falling.
Up to checkpoint 8 I was going downhill fine, but then we went into a thick forest, where it was darker than it seems on the next picture. The trail down was steep, narrow and wet and full of loose stones and slippery patches and at some point I actually slipped, but luckily I could break the fall enough and I did not hurt myself.
Once we came out of the woods we had a nice view of the typical rocky formations in this area.
Control 9 was set up at a really nice building Marquet de la Roca. I arrived here around about 3h45, rather tired.
The landscape and the paths changed into a much more open terrain with red clay roads. After a while we started the next climb and the path changed into a trail again winding through bushes and crossing rocky patches.
At some point we could see control 10 and also tiny coloured dots of runners upfront going up the hill in the background. In spite of the sun it was still rather cold here and the people at the checkpoint were dressed for winter and if possible hiding from the strong wind. After a short call home I left here around 4h26. One more control left before the finish.
The next part involved steep climbs and downhills on a very narrow trail through waist high bushes. In spite of being tired I enjoyed the landscape a lot. At some points we have to jump down a meter but I had enough strength left to manage.
After checkpoint 11 we still went up and down and we continued on trails right upto the edge of Sant Llorenç Savall. The last meters the runners were cheered on and applauded and soon I crossed the finish line. Happy, but sore and tired.
My final time was 5h33m34s. With the arrival at La Mola around 2h45 the second half somewhat shorter and more downhill took me 2h48m. I guess that for such a real mountain marathon more specialized mountain training is necessary in order to perform well! Thanks to the organization and the volunteers for making this race possible and withstand the wind and cold.
Overnight the weather had changed a lot, from being warm and rainy to being very cold and extremely windy, at some points near the east coast up to windforce eleven and I guess on top of La Mola at least windforce 6. For the first time this year I put on long sleeves, to protect against the cold. It was still dark when I drove through Sabadell and then onto the B124 a small and winding local road that passes through Castellar del Vallés and Sant Llorenç Savall where the race would start. I arrived nicely on time and walked to the sportscomplex where the Bib numbers were handed out. Among the runners that arrived early, I recognized Francesc Viladoms Coma since we met during the Nuria Queralt Berga Ultratrail just before summer. We talked about the run and other ones in the area, since he is an experienced runner living in the area. Around 7am we had a short briefing and then went outside to the starting area to warm up muscles and get freezing thumbs since it was still very cold when the day was breaking.
At 7h15 we started to run and this time I took it more easy in order to warm up more. The first kilometers went up and down on broad paths through the woods and after some 20 minutes we passed the first control. The water and pieces of fruit were freezing cold!!! We continued and soon ran through a creek for quite a while before starting the first steep climb where we slowed down to walking. At the end of the climb control 2 was set up and I passed there in 38 minutes.
Just before completing the hour I arrived at control 3 after another steep climb. The water and fruit was still very cold. In the short downhill afterwards we had a first glimpse of the top of La Mola.
And in general the area has beautiful sights.
In our approach to the bottom of the path up to La Mola we ran through some fields for a while.
But soon we had to go up again, and really steep from time to time
With flat parts in between, but all paths go up slightly.
The trail was very narrow and winding, though from time to time we could see runners in front or just back if the woods would open up a little.
At some point high enough we can see the Vallés valley and the sea under a crystal clear sky.
And up we went
while the terrain became more and more rocky
Near the top the steep climbs took me to the edge of having cramps on the inside of my thighs but I continued to walk on steadily
Untill I saw the chapel on top of La Mola.
The last part up was more runnable and from time to time we could see the chapel again, coming closer and closer.
After 2h45 I reached the top of La Mola. The wind here was indeed very very strong and I had to find shelter before I called home. After some pictures of the magnificent view I started the long downhill.
The view to the north.
The view to the south.
Another emblematic mountain "Montserrat" to the west.
The first part of the downhill is on the side where the wind had been blowing all night and also where the sunlight had not touched the ground yet and at some points the rocks were covered with an icy layer and we had to be carefull in order to avoid slipping and falling.
Up to checkpoint 8 I was going downhill fine, but then we went into a thick forest, where it was darker than it seems on the next picture. The trail down was steep, narrow and wet and full of loose stones and slippery patches and at some point I actually slipped, but luckily I could break the fall enough and I did not hurt myself.
Once we came out of the woods we had a nice view of the typical rocky formations in this area.
Control 9 was set up at a really nice building Marquet de la Roca. I arrived here around about 3h45, rather tired.
The landscape and the paths changed into a much more open terrain with red clay roads. After a while we started the next climb and the path changed into a trail again winding through bushes and crossing rocky patches.
At some point we could see control 10 and also tiny coloured dots of runners upfront going up the hill in the background. In spite of the sun it was still rather cold here and the people at the checkpoint were dressed for winter and if possible hiding from the strong wind. After a short call home I left here around 4h26. One more control left before the finish.
The next part involved steep climbs and downhills on a very narrow trail through waist high bushes. In spite of being tired I enjoyed the landscape a lot. At some points we have to jump down a meter but I had enough strength left to manage.
After checkpoint 11 we still went up and down and we continued on trails right upto the edge of Sant Llorenç Savall. The last meters the runners were cheered on and applauded and soon I crossed the finish line. Happy, but sore and tired.
My final time was 5h33m34s. With the arrival at La Mola around 2h45 the second half somewhat shorter and more downhill took me 2h48m. I guess that for such a real mountain marathon more specialized mountain training is necessary in order to perform well! Thanks to the organization and the volunteers for making this race possible and withstand the wind and cold.
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