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
