Montseny Marathon - 45k

After training hard up to more or less two weeks ago I catched a cold and I was still far from 100% when arriving in St. Esteve de Palautordera to run the Marató de Montseny, actually a bit more than a marathon. Today, when I write this, I turned 50, which was also a reason to still go out and run a bit.

The profile of Marató de Montseny - 2752 D+

Click the following if you want to see the video I made:

So after waking up very early and doing the regular preparations still in the dark, I waited in the sport complex where you also picked up the bib number until just before 8 o'clock. It was rather cold outside. Shortly after 8 we were shot away and after a quick round through the centre of the village we soon left the asphalt and hit the trails.

The first part of the race is pretty much runnable and in spite of not running for so many days I feel quite ok so I maintain a good pace and soon we pass a first and second aid station that do show in the video, but I don't have pictures of them. The third aid station is a very well know place in this area, Sant Bernat, both an hotel and a restaurant, with beautiful surroundings and views over one of the Montseny valleys. I have about 2h15 of running and 17,5km done now, and next up is the steep climb up the Matagalls, though we will not go all the way to the summit.

 Les Illes Aid station - 14km

 Sant Bernat Aid Station 17,5k with Turó de l'Home in the back

 Capella de Sant Bernat

 About half way climbing up, the trees are making place for bushes and fields of lower vegation, also giving us more and more views to enjoy.

 Turó de l'Home

 Ascent of the Matagalls

 Coll Formic and Pla de la Calma and a sea of clouds behind

Runners walking recovering from the steep parts

The path up winds through a tunnel of bushes alternating with rocky uneven stairs. The inclination is considerable and the footing difficult, but also beautiful all the way up. Ever since Sant Bernat I have muscle cramps, maybe because of the cold of the last days, and it makes moving up quite a challenge. On one hand I need force and agility and on the other hand the less force and sudden movements I make less change I have on some muscle stopping to function correctly. In spite of that I don't stop moving. I take extra salt pills and hope maybe that will ease the cramps and also keep drinking in order to stay hydrated.

Foto by J.M. Montaner, switching of the GoPro

Foto by J.M. Montaner, just before Turó de la Bandera

When I finally reach the highest point of this climb, Turó de la Bandera at 1654m, with the Matagalls towering above us on the left I have a hard time switching to running again. Soon my right knee starts to complain, but not much I can do about that now, so I just try to keep pace and continue. At Coll Pregon I refill water and then continue. At first the path goes only slightly up and down, but the closer we come to Sant Marçal the more steep the path goes down.  To add difficulty the path was at times covered with 15 cm of dead leaves, so each step was slippery and risky since underneath those leaves the loose rocks were no longer visible. 

Just before arriving at Sant Marçal

 Luckily I made it down without incidents and after some 4 hours running and 23k done now I arrived at the Sant Marçal aid station. I took a bit more time here to eat, drink some soup and fill up liquids.

Sant Marçal - 23k

After that we first ran along a broad path that was winding through the forest. I feel really tired now and at some point I trip and fall. Luckily I manage to break my fall rolling martial arts style. I have been practising this mentally since a fall face first some months ago, and it seems like mental training works for this as well. So after a moment of muscle cramps and regaining my wits and checking the damage -only some minor bruises- I continue and soon we hit a very narrow trail that goes up very steep. From time to time we can see where we are going and for a long time it seems always impossible to go there.

Montseny in autumn

After many zigzags through the forest we finally reach Coll de les Agudes at 1647m. Once again the views are amazing. From there to Turó de l'Home is more or less flat along a very rocky path.

Les Agudes Summit

 

Matagalls

The trail in direction of Turó de l'Home

 

 Foto by Olga Bergua - Me with Les Agudes in the back

Soon we have the highest point of the race in sight and we climb all the way up to the highest point at the summit this time.

Turó de l'Home

Turó de l'Home - 1706m

Once again the Matagalls

Les Agudes

 The view east

A group of drummers at the very summit is motivating the runners. You could already hear them from far away. From there on it was downhill all the way back to the finishline. Shortly after reaching the summit, on the way down, I refill at the aid station and leave there at exactly 2 pm. Still 14km to go and 2 and a half hours left for the time limit, so walking, which would be some 5 km per hour is no option.

Aid station just past Turó de l'Home - 31km

The first kilometers are very steep along a narrow path with loose rocks. I manage to stay on my feet and make it down to the slightly more comfortable paths. Tired and with my right knee still in pain, but determined to finish on time I keep running along, not fast at all, and more runners pass me than I pass others, but I just keep moving, eating and drinking. When passing through the two aidstations before reaching the finish line I know that if I keep running at the same pace I will very surely make it, and after 7h57m56s I cross the finish line. More than an hour later then I hoped for, since 7 hours was my goal time, but under circumstances I am happy to have run this race and the amazing surroundings and great atmosphere make me forget the suffering instantly. After eating and drinking it is time to head back home. Thanks to the organization and the volunteers!!! Great job and I hope to repeat some day!!!

 Tired but still smiling

Training in Montserrat

Preparing for the marathon of Montseny last sunday (29/10) my training assignment for today was running 6 hours, goal distance 45km and do at least a full Vertical Kilometer close to race speed. Near Barcelona running a VK means either go to Montserrat or Montseny, or much further away to the Pyrenees, and Montserrat is by far the nearest place to go to and also has pretty good access by car. I also wanted to explore more in that area so I spent quite some time looking at maps and routes on the internet, having in the back of my mind that I might get lost, since maps and reality not always are easy to bring together. So there I was, somewhat after 6 in the morning. It was still dark and cold enough to decide and put on my jacket. Since I asked other runners about ways to drink water on my route and they all told me to bring water since some had had stomach issues with the water of the few fountains out there I started with a heavy backpack filled with water bottles and Powerade and some food. The first part was very easy, dark, but on a wide path slightly downhill from Vinya Nova where I parked my car to Collbató the nearest village. In Collbató I took a path that was unknown to me down the valley following a tiny stream. During the first kilometers that path was quite hard to run, with lots of small jumps, loose stones and bushes and other vegatation barring my way. It was starting to dawn now and slowly the path was becoming wider and more runnable and in the end was very comfortable up to the point where it ended at a small road. After a few hundred meters along that road and some exploring I found the next path that was almost fully overgrown which would take me to the Llobregat river.  Since it had not rained in many days the small dam was dry and I could cross without any problem.

At the other side of the dam I quickly took of my jacket and continued to run. The path  here is very easy and soon I have the Montserrat Monastery in my sight well above, with the first still reddish rays of sunlight making for spectacular views.

Soon I arrived at the Aeri of Montserrat where I have to climb up to the bridge to cross the Llobregat again to start my Vertical Kilometer. Just before I drank and ate since I didn't want to stop again untill reaching the summit of St. Jeroni. This part was more know to me so I concentrated on keeping the pace as high as possible without burning myself out. In half an hour I was at the Monastery still feeling strong and I continued for the second part of the climb that is not as steep as the first part having more almost horizontal stretches, but still the climbing parts are mostly steep stairs up and it was good mental training to keep running all the runnable parts. The last part up is quite unique, since this a very touristic area and without it the St. Jeroni summit would dangerous you climb up a very long concrete stairs to a small balcony with incredible views on all sides. Total time of the climb was 1h20. I think I can go a bit faster, but I still have many hours of running to go, so this should do for the VK training goal. Time to drink and eat and then go back down again.

On the downhill I continued the exploration following a path that was new to me, called el Cami dels Francesos. I was hoping to find a crossing with another path that would lead me to the far east part of the area, but I could not find where I had to change direction, so after stopping quite a few times and checking the map, I decided to go all the way down first and try to find the path from the other end. Between the Monastery and the St. Jeroni summit I had met quite a few people, running and walking, but in this area I was the first one to break the silence and after a few times of hearing mountain goats running way, suddenly I had 3 goats right in front of me. One was still very young and jumped away making screamy noises, but then the mother stopped after a few jumps and turned around and so did the other goat and the young goat and they stood still watching me. With gently moves I dug out my mobile phone and took a picture and then said goodbye to continue the way down along a very narrow path with loose stones, so I was happy when I finally arrived down.

 I am in a bit over three hours and have some 20k done now. I am near the place where I parked my car now, but I think I am still carrying enough water so I continue my way directly to Can Massana. The way up to this parking lot and picknick area is very runnable, always going up slightly, but along very easy paths.

That same day from Collbató they organised a local walking event so here I meet many people walking in the contrary direction following white plastic straps marking their route. Near Can Massana I literally run into one of the organizers who was checking those markers since someone had dedicated herself to removing them, so we had a chat will running up to Can Massana and the aid station they had set up there he invited me to some fruit and then it was time for good bye and heading for what I felt could be a difficult part. After going up a very wide and more easy path I found an indication for the PR-78, a much more narrow path, but at least very defined at that point. From the words I catch of conversations of the people I pass here, I understand that somewhere up ahead there was a mountain hut. But before reaching that hut suddenly the path goes up very steep in between rocks for maybe some 20 meters and half way people are stuck with two dogs. When reaching them climbing up I am not sure if I can help them, but then when climbing up I think that maybe I can, and soon after the dog that was resisting the climb is encouraged and after a fun moment of thank yous and happy dogs expressing their joy to be out in the mountains I continue my way to the mountain hut where I arrived very soon afterwards. From then onwards I learned that the east part of Montserrat is a whole different story. Following the route was hard, the paths where tough sometimes leading us over huge rocks with an impressive incline and at points all route markers disappeared and I stopped many many times to check my map and even went the wrong way at some point until I got the feeling that I was climbing too much and luckily found the path again after having turned back. I stay with other people that follow the same path here. I guessed I might loose more time loosing my way again, than when going at walking speed but having more eyes looking for the right direction. Finally I am back at el Camí dels Francesos, and understand why I couldn't find the PR-78 before, the marks on the rock that indicate the path are so much faded that it is impossible to know that you have to change direction at that point. Still the path itself has impressed me. It shows the more savage Montserrat and at many points has beautiful views.

The last part I run down at easy pace and after some 7h40m I am back at the car. My mobile was almost out of battery. I stopped the tracking app and somehow lost the part I did, but I have redrawn the route in wikilocs so for those interested here is the route, split up in four segments so they can be reused easily.

Vinya Nova - Aeri Montserrat
Aeri Montserrat - St. Jeroni - Vertical Kilometer
St. Jeroni - Can Jorba by Camí dels Francesos
Can Jorba - Can Massana - Camell de St. Jeroni

Vinya Nova - Aeri Montserrat
http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=20661917


Aeri Montserrat - St. Jeroni - Vertical Kilometer
http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=20663379


St. Jeroni - Can Jorba by Camí dels Francesos
http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=20664716


Can Jorba - Can Massana - Camell de St. Jeroni
http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=20666275

Nit del Mussol - 21k

My trainers at Tecnirunner are collaborating in organizing a trail run in Vallirana, near Barcelona, and handed out two free bibs to their trainees. I was one of the lucky ones. Running half a marathon through the mountains so soon after the Rialp Matxicots ofcourse had me in doubt about whether I would be fine all the way through, but in the training sessions I felt quite ok so I wanted to go out and enjoy. The special thing about this run lies in the fact that, as its name already suggests "Night of the owl", it is a run in the dark.

When I left Barcelona, more or less heading west, it was raining heavily. When arriving in Vallirana the rain was just about stopping and after a while I found a place to park the car and searched for the start area.

Start area in the sportcomplex of Vallirana

Hot sausages after the race!!!!

After picking up my bib number I started my warmup thinking that we would start at 19h00. But when that hour passed without any visible activity I asked, to learn they postponed the start for half an hour, which in the end turned out to be almost 40 minutes. So finally after a long wait we were shot counted down and started, with dawn setting in already. Luckily I already had put on my headlamp so I was prepared for the dark to set in.

The first kilometer leaving the village was along some streets of asphalt and then running along the edge on terrain that seemed not to be a regular path, more like a clearing in the bushes and we had to be very careful to not trip on trunks and roots. Then after a few more meters of asphalt we hit the regular trails. I went out fast to avoid any congestion so I could go at my own pace all the time. The first uphill is fairly steep with some almost flat parts in between. Near the top we have a first point of incertainty about where to go and the indications of the volunteer did not help much either, but we assumed we went the right way. After reaching the top a long and winding downhill followed along a very narrow trail. At a certain point when stepping aside to let some faster runners pass I slip and fall. Luckily the fall only produces some scratches and tiny wounds, but "the running parts" are intact and I continue at pretty high pace and soon make it to the first aid station. A quick drink of some isotonic and on we go. Soon I miss a direction marker at a part where the course makes a loop and I meetup with people at a much slower pace. I asked them if they passed any checkpoint and since they said no I understood I went off course and headed back. Since I was running alone and it was very dark from then on this would be the continuous doubt, since not at all points it was clear where to go.

 The course itself is very demanding, along narrow rather technical trails and I fall a second time bruising my knees and almost a third time nearly cramping up in the movements I made to recover my balance. After passing the second and last aid station and loosing my way again I slowed down.

Trying to finish in a good time with bad indications is pretty frustrating. Finally I arrived back in the village and picked up pace a bit to finish in 2h43h20 in 24th place. Not bad knowing about all the time I lost to find my way. All in all I have to say that, as the organizers state in the publicity, a race for experts, very demanding and technical where you have to be 100% attentive all the time, but also very beautiful. Knowing this was the first time they did the longer run I think it is very recomendable.

Rialp Matxicots 57k + 23k

After months of specific trail training with emphasis on improving running form in order to reduce the chance on injury it was Race Day again. Or on this occasion two race days in a row. "La Combinada" de Rialp Matxicots has split the longer ultra trail of 80k in two parts this year. The first part on saturday, 57km, has been made tougher, and the second part on sunday, 23km, has a more runnable course. I arrived in Rialp friday evening, and it was cold. From the village, far away in the distance, one could see the highest mountain the Montsent de Pallars we would climb tomorrow. It was almost completely covered with snow. Luckily the organization decided it was safe enough to maintain the original course. At least on saturday morning the weather would be good, cold, sunny and not too much wind. After the briefing it is time for a quick dinner, and going to bed early.

After a slightly restless night I wake up at 4am in the morning, to have breakfast, do the last preparations and leave the hostal in Sort to drive to Rialp and walk to the start area after parking the car. It is cold. We are all moving to stay warm until we are counted down to get underway. Without overdoing the pace I try to stay up front a bit in order to not get cought in the traffic. After some 30 minutes we pass through Altron and start to climb up to the village with the first aid station, Seurí, where I arrive after 1h14m. From there we have a very steep climb of some 1200m up. Luckily I dressed warmly and already was wearing gloves from the start, because the higher we go the colder it becomes. On this first climb I never really feel comfortable. I maintain rather good pace, but my legs are complaining already. Once we get to the top the views are really amazing and there is hardly any wind. I made a few photos quickly and without my gloves my hands freeze up in no time. So I put them on again quickly and continue with the short downhill to the next aid station at Coll del Triador where they have put up a big tent to give some shelter. I arrive here after 3h36m. Time for some hot soup and eating and refilling fluids, without taking too long.

Montsent de Pallars in full glory

Next up is the spectacular climb to the highest peak of the race, Montsent de Pallars, 2883 m. As soon as the steep part of the climb starts I feel like being out of breath. From the latest training sessions I learned that controlling my breath was key to controlling my hartrate so I try to figure out a way to maintain pace but also control my breathing. After a while I am moving up better, enjoying the spectacular surroundings. Near the top we have to pass a short stretch where we have to scramble up using our hands and soon after I make it to the top with breathtaking views all around of snowcovered mountains. With 4h57 in the legs the steepest climb with parts of 40% incline is done.

As always the volunteers were cheering us on and clearly enjoying as much as we did

Next up is a tricky part. A steep downhill with slippery snow. After some slips and nearly falling a few times I decide to approach the snow part in a more unorthodox way, lowering my bum to the path and sliding down pushing with my hands on the ground while still holding my walking poles. They call that "kulembachen" here what sounds german to me, but still is the local word to describe this technique. That way I advance a lot quicker and avoid injury. Soon after when I thought the path was becoming better I did slip and though I could break my fall without problems I slowed down untill the snowy patches really were gone. And then it was up again to climb the Montorroio. This climb is not too long and soon we reach the top.

 

 Thanks Olga Bergua for those 2 nice pictures arriving at the Montorroio

On the downhill to the next aid station it is time to face my first time of running a "tartera". It turns out to be actually quite funny. You more or less go jumping down a river of small stones and have to balance each time you hit the rocks since you slide down continuously. Apart from some tiny stones in my shoes that part went smooth. At the bottom, when I sit down to quickly empty my shoes, I have near cramps in my adductors, but I manage to avoid them and luckily don't notice anything when I am on my feet again. It doesn't take to long to get to the next aid station at Pas de Mainera. Outside a younger runner is lying on a stretcher covered in blankets and a few others abandon here. I feel lucky to have survived this part without problems and after quickly eating and drinking and refilling liquids I am on my way again for the last long steep climb to "les Picardes".

moving through the snow brings out huge smiles for most runners

Once again I focus on keeping my breath under control and steadily advance upwards. After getting to the highest point we run through the snow along a wide ridge. After a while we reach the part where the second "tartera" downhill starts. A volunteer explains us that the race organization decided to close the regular path because it was to slippery, but after having done the first "tartera", doing the second one was even more fun. Once again I empty my shoes at the bottom, no more signals of cramps this time and on we go. After a while of running a nice single track path that slopes down rather easy we arrive at the ski area of Espot Esqui. The last part to the aid station there is down a ski piste. Halfway down I run into Pau Vidal, a mountain runner from Barcelona who is waiting there to cheer for a friend.

After a quick chat and some pictures I continue and soon run into the aid station and have my second surprise encounter with Silvia Mora who is crewing her husband, so some more chatting and pictures before I go in and quickly go through all the bigger aid station moves. I change into lighter clothes here, since it was getting warmer. When we leave we have a material check and when coming outside the weather has suddenly changed and I quickly put on a windstopper and the say goodbye to Silvia and run down to where the next climb will start. Everywhere I look, clouds are gathering and the wind is picking up quite a bit.

Last year this climb and also the long downhill afterwards were very hard for me but not so this time. When climbing up it starts hail, but the soft kind the people here call "aigüa-neu". It is not really persistant so for now I continue with only wearing the windstopper. The uphill goes pretty fast and the downhill I go running all the time. Along this stretch I meet the same people back and forth since I go somewhat slower but very steady and others stop from time to time. Since I knew this part would feel endless I just focused on moving forward not thinking too much and drink and eat and then the hermitage Mare de Deu de la Muntanya shows up way below and soon before getting there the path becomes wide and easy. Here I meet Amaia, a female runner, again and I cheer her on to at least keep running. Soon after another runner, Toni, is resting at the side of the path and I asked him to join us. He said he was tired and so we continued, but some time later looking back it seemed that at least he was up and running again. Soon we arrived at Caregue. After having fun talking with the volunteers here we quickly continued. For a while we heard thunder in the air and from time to time it slightly hailed but the real thunderstorm had not reached us yet. A quick downhill follows, and then an uphill following a creek, that takes longer than expected, but finally we reach the highest point. From there we can look into the Rialp valley to see dark clouds everywhere and rain falling down in a dense curtain up ahead. The next village, Surp, is not too far away and just when we get there it starts to rain more seriously. There is a small aidstation here so under the cover I change into my waterproof jacket and on we go to the last climb. Once again this takes longer than expected, also because we don't see where we have to go. Finally we reach the highest point where we have a time checkpoint and then go down. The last downhill. The first part is easy, zigzagging down a wide easy path, but at some point we change onto a narrow path that goes much more steeper. We run to Rodés and continue downhill. Both Amaia and Toni are really tired now and after a while we decided to walk down untill we came onto a better path. And soon we were arriving at the edge of Rialp and then crossed the line the three of us together. Me knowing that I still had to do 23 more kilometers tomorrow. So I ate and drank and then went quickly back to the hostal to rest and get ready for tomorrow, but very happy with how the first part was for me. I finished in 13h27m52s.

The next day I stepped out of bed around 6h45. Outside the dark black of the sky was slightly turning to darkblue already and when I was done with breakfast and the preparation, the sun, though still hiding behind the mountains is already anouncing herself. Once again I drive to Rialp and huddle up with the runners in the start area untill we are shot away. With some muscle stiffness I decide to take it easy the first kilometers. Maybe that was not very smart.

in the middle "hiding" with the yellow headband

 After running along the paved road that leads into Rialp for a while we take a turn left crossing a bridge and soon after we enter a path that still allows for 2 people running next to each other, but some hundred meters after there is a short steep downhill causing us to jam up. And the single track afterwards is the same. We slowly climb up and my pace is higher than the people in front of me but passing is difficult. Only shortly before arriving in Sort around the 6km mark I feel like running at my own pace finally. Next up is a somewhat steeper climb and another time checkpoint very soon after the one in Sort. The next part alternates climbs with horizontal and downhill running through the woods and fields, which is really a great feeling. And soon I arrive in Altron with only 7 km of 23km left. One more uphill, which we already did yesterday and then a steep downhill and I am back in Rialp crossing the finishline in 3:54:08 and a total time of part 1 and 2 of 17:22:00. 56th in the overall ranking and 21st of the veterans.

 Near the highest point of the last climb

Thanks to the organization and volunteers for making it happen again!! And thanks to all the runners I shared the experience with. I enjoyed the experience from the first to the last second!!!