Of the first part I made a short video, during the second part I only took some pictures.
After picking up my control card we had to stamp underway and receiving a T-shirt we gathered around the Town Hall of the neighbourhood Gràcia in Barcelona to wait for 5 o'clock in the afternoon, meanwhile looking up to the dark sky. Minutes before the start it actually started to rain and many people took out their raincoats to put them on. I judged from the colour of the sky in the direction we would be heading that it wasn't going to be that bad and left my raincoat in my backpack.
At 5 o'clock we where "shot" away with a noisy firecracker, picked up our green plastic drinking cup and after fumbling it into my backpack I was underway. Contrary to the ultra-race starts only few people were running, after all it is a resistance march. A few were setting a very high pace, but I was determined to take it easy in order to save strength for the later stages of the course. It was strange to run through all the familiar streets, under the light rain, and making way to the edge of the city to enter the natural park Collserola.
Once across Ronda de Dalt we have a first short but steep uphill and I walk up. After a minute I start running again when the trail flattens and soon I am on the Carretera de les Aïgues where I do a lot of my training. It has stopped to rain by now. After about a kilometer of running flat we go up really steep and soon hit the stairs of la Font del Mont. From what I have seen at this moment there is only one person before me and one just behind. I expected to have more runners on the course. I kept nice pace going up the stairs and shortly after reaching the top we have the first checkpoint. Here I went the wrong way, but the runner behind called me back and we enter Collserola passing el Font de la Budellera heading towards Vil.la Joana.
When we pass there people are still setting up what will be the first aid station, but having plenty of water we both continue on to a short downhill. A long uphill follows, starting with a really narrow trail that later becomes wider, no sign anymore of any runners, what suprises me. I keep an easy pace and once at the top following the crest started running again. Just behind a landhouse called "Can Pascual" we start a very narrow trail. This part is new to me. It is a very nice dense and humid forest and is harder than I thought going up and down and after the rain being very slippery so I once again take it easy untill we come out of the forest already very near the next Checkpoint near another landhouse "Can Calopa". At some point in the forest a runner passes me, going way faster than me. He was before me at the first checkpoint, but told me he lost his way at some point. At the next checkpoint he already left, but the runner that warned me before was still resting a bit here. I refuel and eat some watermelon and soon after I am on my way again. Only 50 meters out I have a few minutes of confusion since the path is barred with some plastic bands and I am not sure whether to continue or not. After a few minutes another runner comes down the same path and he tells me has done the Gràcia-Montserrat several times and he is pretty sure that we have to cross the bands. This runner, Sergi, goes more or less at the same pace as me and we stay together and talk from time to time.
The trail to the third checkpoint is wider at most points and we walk the uphill at good pace and run the downhill. From time to time we can see Montserrat still far away. Soon we arrive at checkpoint Can Maimó and refill all "liquids" and eat some banana and on we go. We crossed underneath the highway to pass through a less beautifull part winding through an industrial area "Rubi Sud" for a few kilometers but soon we are back on a path again for some time. The asphalt stretch in Castellbisbal is even shorter and after a right turn leaving the town we meet some people that are setting up and aidstation for the shorter course (about 40km instead of 62) coming from "el Papiol", and after exchanging a few words we continue with more views of Montserrat from time to time.
Near Ca n'Olivero we have a good sight of Montserrat
Somewhere at an open place, people are preparing a Pasta Party for those who walk this course and will arrive here around midnight. We continue running and just before nine o'clock we arrived at the 4th checkpoint "Ca n'Oliveró".
Checkpoint Ca n'Olivero after almost 35km
Once again we drink and refill bottles and eat some watermelon and continue onto "Ullastrell". At some point here we come to a big landhouse and we can go left or right, but without indication. Sergi and I both feel we have to go right, but only many kilometers further we find indications of being still on the right course. Slowly the sun is setting giving us great views of Montserrat backlit by the sun.
Sunset over Montserrat near Ullastrell
Entering Ullastrell we are about two thirds in, but with the more difficult part starting from there on. I phone home and prepare for the night putting on my windstopper and headlamp. It is not really cold, but surely at the higher points wearing only a T-shirt will not be enough. I eat some bread with hazelnut-chocolate spreading, happy to feel my stomach is perfectly ok with that. Drinking a lot seems to guarantee my stomach accepts food and gels without problem.
Checkpoint Ullasterell time to prepare for the night
In the steep downhill along a very narrow and stony trail it is clear that Sergi is going stronger than I do. He keeps slowly pullling ahead from me but seems fine with letting me catch up from time to time. Once down it is almost fully dark and we cross a part through a creek. We jump from dry patch to dry patch though from time to time dip into water or mud. After a while we start to climb and after crossing some local roads twice we arrive at the 5th checkpoint "Coll d'Olesa". We only stopped very briefly here and soon start the for me most difficult part of this course. First a long uphill with loose stones winding through dense bushes untill we pass the top marked by a huge cross that stands black against the starry night. And then a really steep very technical downhill where we had to concentrate a lot to have the right balance between running down and have time to place our feet at the right spot.
The checkpoint here is unmanned and we stamp our controlcard ourselves and continue downhill. Some kilometers after there is an aidstation but we hardly stop here. Soon a runner passes us, going much faster downhill than we do and another group seems to catch up with us too. We continue and slowly the path becomes more easy until finally we are running almost level again into the valley below Montserrat. Since leaving Ullastrell from time to time we could see the monastery's brightly lit windows against the black silhouette of the Montserrat mountains and it was coming closer and closer now. The group we saw behind us earlier passed us, though shortly after we all coincide at the aidstation and checkpoint at the parking of "Aeri de Montserrat". Here I only get more water and eat some banana and then we cross the bridge over the river Llobregat to start the most steep uphill of the course. I tell Sergi to go at his own pace and meet up at the finish. He slowly dissappears into the night though from time to time his and other runner's headlamps flare up higher up the mountain. The trail is narrow and very steep, but I feel very well and keep pushing at good pace. Half way there is a flatter part, before starting the so called Wall, a part that is mainly stairs going up very steep. Just after two o'clock I arrive at the Monastery of Montserrat a few minutes behind Sergi and a few other runners.
I was tired, but with good sensations in general and happy with having done this well known resistance march from Gràcia to Montserrat. I still could eat without difficulty and enjoy two chocolate croissants and drink more water already thinking of my recovery.
At the finish 62km and tired but certainly not exhausted
The Monastery of Montserrat at night, quiet without the regular tourist crowd
Thanks to the organization and all the volunteers and also once again many thanks to Sergi! A very recommandable course, going through different landscapes and offering great views!!!
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