Like next year I was some points short for qualifying for the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc and the best way to gain them was repeating the Ultra Trail Serra de Montsant.
For several reasons I hardly trained after the last race, so I knew I just had to just hang in there and make the best of it. After the early morning trip from Barcelona to Cornudella de Montsant I picked up my bib number and went back to the car to rest a while. I entered the start area a bit later than normal and soon we counted down to the start and were shot away with a traditional firecracker around 9h05 am.
I started even more easy than the last races and accepted the cues for the first short 10 meter climbs that came with it. We all knew it was going to be a very warm day more like summer than autumn and hydration was going to be a key factor throughout the day.Untill the second control in Ulldemolins I went only a bit slower than last year and even the long and, at least for me, hard part through the valley to Margalef I arrived only some 15 minutes later than last year and still in rather good shape. To the next control went by rather quickly but after La Bisbal de Falset the route had been changed and it was longer, at some points more technical and at other parts way more steeper than last year. Also more beautiful regarding scenery and overall experience!!! I arrived at the bigger aidstation and control in Cabacés more than one hour later then last year, so any dreams of improving that time I let go there. I took my time to recover and eat and drink and half an hour later was on my way again, with the night slowly falling in. When I arrived at the next control in La Figuera it was already completely dark and shortly after I teamed up with Victor to start the long and technical downhill to Vilella Baixa. Last year I had severe stomach problems here, but this year I was feeling ok. We rested I short while and continued to Vilella Alta and then Escaldei where we took a much longer rest to prepare for the last long and at some points very steep climb. During the climb I was feeling ok and Victor had to take short breaks from time to time. Once at the top a long and very gradually climb on very irregular terrain started and here I started to be really tired and Victor was leading from there on to the finish. Just before the finish he left to meet friends that had been waiting for him while I continued to walk the last meters to finish in 21h03m04s. The goal of the day was accomplished and today, Monday, I already can run again, so all in all I managed my effort, nutrition and hydration quite well. This week a recovery week and then it is back to 10k training.
