The days after the Matagalls-Montserrat I had a swollen right foot, probably because of tieing my shoelaces too tight. So I did not do any running on monday and tuesday and did some very easy running on wednesday and thursday. On those two runs I ran best running of my forefoot in reactive style and apart from other sore spots had my glutes complaining, so this morning I was curious to see how running a 10k would go.
I arrived nicely on time and warmed up for a long time and the sensations were not bad at all. With about 15 minutes to go I went to my starting box and waited for the countdown for the start. I started relatively slow and the first 2k went by in 7m40. Up to the 5k I could more or less run 3m55 per kilometer but the 6th kilometer was hard and I went up to 4m15. Then I found more rhythm again and I passed 8k just above 32 minutes, so under 40 minutes would be hard with the slight but very noticable uphill of the Paralel still to come. The 9th kilometer I did in exactly 4 minutes, but eventhough I pushed hard and even sprinted a bit in the end I finished just above 40 minutes. Still very happy with that. During the race my left leg and glute was not comfortable and relaxed and in general I was still a bit tired from the long effort of last weekend so this was an excellent time.
Back to the mountains again, and more 10k in november.
Sunday 28 September 2014
Sunday 21 September 2014
Matagalls - Montserrat 85,5k
In 2008 and 2009 this resistance march was my first experience with mountain running. This year it was time to repeat this emblematic event, where some 3000 people sign up for every year, running their 35th anniversary.
For several reasons I did little to none mountain and endurance training since the Emmona so I was curious to see how I would hold out, also pressed to finish to gather 2 more points for the UTMB qualification.
Just after one o'clock in the afternoon we lined up for the coaches that would takes us to the starting point a Coll Formic in the Montseny area.
After an hour and a half we arrived at Coll Formic and I did the regular race preparations while waiting for my time to get underway.
The actual Coll Formic is the pass just above the "Coca Cola Can". When we approach four o`clock it becomes really busy here with 3000 people gathered in this area.
Just before four o´clock the "veterans" are allowed to start and in batches of 30 for 16:00 onward every minute the rest of us is starting. After a relatively short wait the race clock marks 16:12 and off we go!!!
The first part is rather easy, it does go up and down a bit, but it is very runnable, what also allows me to pass most of the people who walk and started before me. Soon me and other runners were out of the pack with space to find a good pace. At some point we can see the Montserrat mountains in the distance, still very far away.
Way too early I arrived at the first checkpoint. As always I started too fast, eventhough I felt like I was going at moderate pace. This is something I will have to train for, to learn and feel what real moderate pace is when you are still fresh.
The first long downhill no longer involved a really steep and tricky part and was just a long rather steep wide path going down to the aidstation in Aïguafreda. At moments the views are spectacular.
In Aïguafreda I took my time to drink and eat, but I should have taken more liquids there.
Soon after leaving the village we go up in the very typical clifflike landscape of this area.
In the uphill another runner who advanced me on the long downhill before comes up from behind and for a while we run and walk along together. Soon we pass Checkpoint 2 and continue a rather easy part with some climbs in it onto Checkpoint 3.
Soon after my fellow runner with nickname "Tete" leaves me behind on the downhill again, with the idea of meeting up at the next aidstation and team up again from there on. I ran out of liquids in the climb to this aidstation and was not feeling very well when I finally arrived there. No sign of Tete. I drink and eat a lot here and also fill up both bottles and my backpack to avoid "going empty" again. Just when I was about to leave Tete comes into the aidstation. He lost his way. I told him I was not feeling very well and that for me it was best to continue at slow pace to see if I recovered, very much expecting him to catch up very soon.
The first few hundred meters I walked and then I tried to run at really slow pace to see if I could at least hold that and so between walking the steeper parts and slowly running the more flat the night set in and I stopped to take my headlamp out of my backpack. By the time I reached Checkpoint 4 at Coll de Matafaluga it was dark and the picture of the volunteers is more for completeness and not so much for quality.
The long downhill to the aidstation in St. Llorenç Savall I can run all the way. It was good to know from the other two times I ran here that this part seems endless. From time to time you can see the lights of the village, but it takes a long time before really turning the last corner and actually arrive at the aidstation. But with the knowledge of other years I just enjoy running along and just before 22h I arrive at the aidstation and take a bit more time to eat and drink and prepare, since the next aidstation is quite some time ahead.
Next is one of the longer and steeper climbs. but before that we have to cross "Les Arenas" a kind of creek with little water and lots of stones and vegetation. Then we go higher up and well above follow the road that leads to St. Llorenç Savall for a while. This part is mostly flat and runnable until the real climb starts. And then I notice that actually I am rather tired. Normally I can push the uphills, but not this time. It took quite a while to get to Checkpoint 6 at Torrent de les Saleras. I was still going just about as fast as 5 years ago, but this climb took a lot out of me.
Just after checkpoint 6 the uphill continues a bit more along a rather stony path and then a short downhill follows with quite difficult footing before easing into a more runnable wide path. Eventhough the next aidstation in Matadepera at Camí Moliner was not so far away it took me longer than I expected to get there. Once again a few minutes of rest while eating and drinking before continuing to the most technical part.
The uphill to the next checkpoint is more easy since it alternates more between going up and going more or less flat. I am able to more or less follow a group of runners that do the same as I do, run the flat part and walk the climbs. Being a shorter climb arriving at Checkpoint 7 at Coll del Queixal does not take too long.
The downhill that follows afterwards is very technical and steep. It is full of parts where you have to jump down and carefully place your feet in order to not twist your ankles. When I get to Checkpoint 8 at Les Vendranes I know that the worst is done, but I am also very tired and have to walk on otherwise runnable parts.
The last big aidstation before the finish is in Vacarisses, since I am tired I fill my bottles and my waterbag in order to not run out of water and after eating a bit, quickly continue.
Most part of this section is on asphalt which is more easy for the feet. I continue to be tired and walk most of the time, from time to time doing 5 minutes of easy pace running. Just before arriving at
Checkpoint 9 Carena Hostal de la Creu there is a sudden change of direction that you really have to know about otherwise you miss it. I was tired, and was lucky another runner warned me, when I already passed that point.
Next is another very technical downhill but shorter this time and soon I am near the bottom of the valley. Shortly after I was entering the village of Monistrol de Montserrat. One more tough uphill left to the finish.
The first part of the uphill consists of a zig-zag more or less straight up the mountain with a lot of scrambling if you were as tired as I was. After a while I arrived at "La pista de l'Aigua" , a broad path that only goes up slightly and soon after I am at Checkpoint 10 a bit less than half way up to the Monastery of Montserrat
The final part is once again scambling up mixed with walking a more or less flat narrow path. Those who arrived with energy left could easily run here, but that was not my case. Finally we arrived at a part where waterpipes come straight downhill and we go up more or less along side climbing stairs or the steep path. When I arrived at the final stairs really near the Monastery I knew this one was in the pocket.
Soon I was at the finish at the main square in front of the church at the Montserrat Monastery. Very tired, most of all in my lower legs, but very happy and feeling good in the head. There is still a lot to be learned and to train in different ways, but that is for the months to come. for now, time to recover!!
It took me 13 hours and 40 minutes this time, which with the correction for being a slightly longer course would mean being some 35 minutes slower than the last two times I did the Matagalls Montserrat. I think lack of specific mountain run training is the main reason for that. Maybe next year I will try again with different training!!!
For several reasons I did little to none mountain and endurance training since the Emmona so I was curious to see how I would hold out, also pressed to finish to gather 2 more points for the UTMB qualification.
Just after one o'clock in the afternoon we lined up for the coaches that would takes us to the starting point a Coll Formic in the Montseny area.
Soon I was inside and waving goodbye to my dearest supporters.
After an hour and a half we arrived at Coll Formic and I did the regular race preparations while waiting for my time to get underway.
Just before four o´clock the "veterans" are allowed to start and in batches of 30 for 16:00 onward every minute the rest of us is starting. After a relatively short wait the race clock marks 16:12 and off we go!!!
The first part is rather easy, it does go up and down a bit, but it is very runnable, what also allows me to pass most of the people who walk and started before me. Soon me and other runners were out of the pack with space to find a good pace. At some point we can see the Montserrat mountains in the distance, still very far away.
The first long downhill no longer involved a really steep and tricky part and was just a long rather steep wide path going down to the aidstation in Aïguafreda. At moments the views are spectacular.
In Aïguafreda I took my time to drink and eat, but I should have taken more liquids there.
Soon after leaving the village we go up in the very typical clifflike landscape of this area.
In the uphill another runner who advanced me on the long downhill before comes up from behind and for a while we run and walk along together. Soon we pass Checkpoint 2 and continue a rather easy part with some climbs in it onto Checkpoint 3.
Soon after my fellow runner with nickname "Tete" leaves me behind on the downhill again, with the idea of meeting up at the next aidstation and team up again from there on. I ran out of liquids in the climb to this aidstation and was not feeling very well when I finally arrived there. No sign of Tete. I drink and eat a lot here and also fill up both bottles and my backpack to avoid "going empty" again. Just when I was about to leave Tete comes into the aidstation. He lost his way. I told him I was not feeling very well and that for me it was best to continue at slow pace to see if I recovered, very much expecting him to catch up very soon.
The first few hundred meters I walked and then I tried to run at really slow pace to see if I could at least hold that and so between walking the steeper parts and slowly running the more flat the night set in and I stopped to take my headlamp out of my backpack. By the time I reached Checkpoint 4 at Coll de Matafaluga it was dark and the picture of the volunteers is more for completeness and not so much for quality.
The long downhill to the aidstation in St. Llorenç Savall I can run all the way. It was good to know from the other two times I ran here that this part seems endless. From time to time you can see the lights of the village, but it takes a long time before really turning the last corner and actually arrive at the aidstation. But with the knowledge of other years I just enjoy running along and just before 22h I arrive at the aidstation and take a bit more time to eat and drink and prepare, since the next aidstation is quite some time ahead.
The first two times Checkpoint 5 at Pista del Dalmau would take ages to get to. Not this time, I left St. Llorenç Savall feeling tired but furthermore quite ok and I ran every flat and downhill part with an easy shuffle and this time get to the checkpoint just when I think it was about time to get there.
Just after checkpoint 6 the uphill continues a bit more along a rather stony path and then a short downhill follows with quite difficult footing before easing into a more runnable wide path. Eventhough the next aidstation in Matadepera at Camí Moliner was not so far away it took me longer than I expected to get there. Once again a few minutes of rest while eating and drinking before continuing to the most technical part.
The uphill to the next checkpoint is more easy since it alternates more between going up and going more or less flat. I am able to more or less follow a group of runners that do the same as I do, run the flat part and walk the climbs. Being a shorter climb arriving at Checkpoint 7 at Coll del Queixal does not take too long.
The downhill that follows afterwards is very technical and steep. It is full of parts where you have to jump down and carefully place your feet in order to not twist your ankles. When I get to Checkpoint 8 at Les Vendranes I know that the worst is done, but I am also very tired and have to walk on otherwise runnable parts.
The last big aidstation before the finish is in Vacarisses, since I am tired I fill my bottles and my waterbag in order to not run out of water and after eating a bit, quickly continue.
Most part of this section is on asphalt which is more easy for the feet. I continue to be tired and walk most of the time, from time to time doing 5 minutes of easy pace running. Just before arriving at
Checkpoint 9 Carena Hostal de la Creu there is a sudden change of direction that you really have to know about otherwise you miss it. I was tired, and was lucky another runner warned me, when I already passed that point.
Next is another very technical downhill but shorter this time and soon I am near the bottom of the valley. Shortly after I was entering the village of Monistrol de Montserrat. One more tough uphill left to the finish.
The final part is once again scambling up mixed with walking a more or less flat narrow path. Those who arrived with energy left could easily run here, but that was not my case. Finally we arrived at a part where waterpipes come straight downhill and we go up more or less along side climbing stairs or the steep path. When I arrived at the final stairs really near the Monastery I knew this one was in the pocket.
Soon I was at the finish at the main square in front of the church at the Montserrat Monastery. Very tired, most of all in my lower legs, but very happy and feeling good in the head. There is still a lot to be learned and to train in different ways, but that is for the months to come. for now, time to recover!!
It took me 13 hours and 40 minutes this time, which with the correction for being a slightly longer course would mean being some 35 minutes slower than the last two times I did the Matagalls Montserrat. I think lack of specific mountain run training is the main reason for that. Maybe next year I will try again with different training!!!
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