Cursa dels Nassos 2024 - 10k

After some weeks of less than optimal training today another 10k. This time I wanted to try and go out at 4m30/k pace. I did not think to be in shape for going under 45 minutes yet, but at least I wanted to try and see how long I can maintain that pace. After warming up, with some strange aches in my left knee that luckily dissappeared I lookd for my start box, which with the many runners that were out today was already way back from the real start line. I knew that the first kilometers would be chaotic for the same reason.

At 17h15 we were counted down and it took 2 minutes just to cross over the real start and the first meters were way off the pace I was hoping for and only after some 500 meters I could start running normally and somehow managed to do the first kilometer in exactly 4m30. The second, third and fourth were still very chaotic with people going at very different paces, some falls because of that, but I still managed to maintain pace eventhough the irregular running takes more energy, Just before the 5km mark we make a sharp U-turn and that also made me slow down a bit and I crossed there in 22m39. The next kilometer was not as bad as other times, but I did slow down somewhat. The seventh kilometer was maybe the hardest and the slowest. From the 8km mark it is just straight and very slightly downhill as well as the last 500m so as soon as you make the turn you can see the finish line. I was very tired already and just tried to accelerate a bit and finished in 46m09s, surprisingly one second slower than a few weeks ago, but happy with how it went overall.

I will likely do some other 10k and then pick up training for the mountains again. 

Trail Torrons 2024

 Piera

22km

Entre Cabanes - 20k

 Today a change from the 10k distance and road running. For years I wanted to run this race in Preixana and today I was finally healthy enough to give it a go. The race starts and ends in this small village about 35km away from Lleida so I got up early to drive there from Barcelona. 

It is, among others, organized by Jordi Martínez whom I know from a group of trailrunners that go for a run at least once every year just before Chrismas. He told me it was rather cold in the area so I was warmly dressed since indeed it was freezing. After picking up my bib number and going for an easy warm up run in the fields just outside the village we gathered in the starting area. Between the 3 distances and both have run and walk options we were easily more than 100 people in the end. A young runner walked up to me and asked if I knew how and how well the course was marked. I replied it was my first time, but expected excellent marking. I asked him why he wanted to know, guessing he was in it for winning the 13k distance and he smiled and nodded. 

At 10 o'clock we set off for a run just about all the time on dirt roads, small trails and even at times just crossing fields without any path. Though the total height gain was only 145m the feeling was we were constantly either going up or down apart from a few stretches. As always I started out way too fast, but it is also lots of fun to go as hard as you can and just try and keep pushing until the battery is empty, and over a 20k distance the drama of running on empty is much less. The marking was indeed very good, eventhough at some point I was distracted and went off in the wrong direction, but since I did not see any markers up ahead I only lost like 30 seconds and just when turning around was whistled back by another runner as well. Up to 10k I was more or less running 5m per kilometer pace, but I already knew that I could not sustain that until the finish line. Also around 15k my right knee started to tighten up and be sensitive so I slowed down to 6m/km pace and enjoyed running through the fields. After a last uphill and downhill we enter Preixana again and I finished in 1h52m50s which I was very happy with. It was still cold, but the sandwich (bocata) and drinks were handed out in a huge tent, part of the local fair organized that same weekend, so we could sit down and eat comfortably and warm. I had a brief chat with another Jordi (also of the same group of trail runners) and Jordi Martinez and then headed back to Barcelona.

Next week we will meet again for more trailrunning, but not in race format. And definitely a race to repeat!! Check it out here.

Cursa Jean Bouin - 10k

 Though still not 100% fit, most of all because of some "niggles", but with some 10k style training done over the past weeks today another race to see where I am at at the moment. Today I was at least feeling good enough to arrive early at the race start and do a reasonable warm up before entering my start area. I no longer am in the first group, what means starting well back from the start line since this is a very popular race and also both a 5k and 10k mixed at the start. At 9 am we slowly start to move and the first kilometer is very slow, eventhough still at 4m50 pace, which I thought would be my goal pace, but in the second kilometer I easily went slighty under 4m30 and up to 5k without too much effort I could maintain that pace and passed the halfway point in 23m14s. My watch was measuring the kilometers slightly shorter so I never was really sure about my real pace and just trying to manage my effort to have some reserve for the last kilometers that go somewhat uphill on the Av. Paral.lel. It is still very crowded and the pace is never completely regular because of groups that block the progress and it will would continue like that up to the finish line. Without going into a full sprint mode I picked up the pace slightly in the last kilometer and finished in 46m08. Much faster than expected and without any suspicious aches or pains. In another 2 weeks a somewhat longer event, and continuing with training for 10k, with some speed and some endurance workouts.

Cursa Bombers - 10k

 After Trail de Bisaura I did no real training at all. I went for a treadmill session two days ago, only 3km, just to try what running felt like and it seemed like running was much easier than walking. I think in the end I have a small tear in my cuadriceps and I can still feel it when walking, but not at all when running.

I started in the first wave of under 1 hour 10k, though I wasn't sure if I could run 10k at a decent pace. The treadmill trial over 3k I did at 8k per hour pace, so definitely slower. Once we could settle into some pace after the inicial chaotic start I was passed by the 50-minutes pacers and thought I could at least try and stay with them for some kilometers. The 3rd km, on the Paral.lel is going slightly uphill and only when entering the Gran Via I could run with some ease again, still at the 50-minute pace. As in many 10k's the 6th kilometer was hard. The 7th and 8th I regained rythm, though I could clearly feel the lack of training. The last 10k I just concentrated on breathing and trying not to slow down and surprise surprise I was able to finish under 50 minutes. In 2 weeks another test, hopefully I can start training again.

Unofficial time 49m45s!

Trail Bisaura

 DNF due to injury

Very bad weather and slippery trails

Matagalls Montserrat 2024 - 84k

 My main goals with this resistance march were to get through it all without stomach issues and improve on last years result, if possible running a low 13h march. The fact that you can from one place to another really far apart means I had to park my car at the end location, Montserrat. Last year I had no problem finding a parking spot, but this year well before even getting to the entrance of the large parking there was a very slow moving queue so I decided to turn around and find a place to park which I did soon at Sant Benet, also nicely in the shade the my after run drinks would not get overly hot.

I could walk up to Montserrat and take the "Cremallera" down or see if there was a path down from here to the parking lot from where buses would take us to the starting area. I chose the second option, adding more exercise to the event, but apart from a few rocky sections the downhill was easy and soon I was on my chatting with another runner, Oscar, about Matagalls Montserrat and life in general. Once at the starting area I went to a little road I discovered last year where there was no noise and waited in silence untill about one hour before my start, eating and drinking and doing the last preparations.

At 16h05 is was my time and I quickly settled into an easy 6m/km pace all the way to Aiguafreda where I filled up my water bottles and removed some stones from my running shoes and in about a minute I was on my way again. In hindsight I guess I enjoyed this first easy part too much and should have taken it more easy, as well as the steep climb that comes after it. Since the first part of the whole route has a lot of runnable sections I did not take out my poles and powered my way up on leg strenght and once at the top right away started running again and ran slightly uphill parts as well. Soon after the 3rd climb I started to feel worse and worse and it would stay that way up to the half way Aid Station in Sant Llorenç Savall. I more or less managed to run the downhill leading into there, but I knew I was going slow. I drank some Coca Cola in the aid station, prepared for the night and got under way again. Last year it was hear I started to have serious stomach problems so I was very aware of how my stomach was feeling this year. I continued to run flat and downhill and hold back a bit in the uphills but at least I started to feel better and was moving again. Eventhough I trained this section last year most of the time had no clue where I was and how far it was untill the aid station in Matadepera. Eventually I got there in the same time as last year, but feeling better. I did not spend much time and soon was on my way again. The next section is uphill and after an easy trail going slighly up and down. The uphill was tough and felt slow, the more runnable section was quite ok and after a quick stop at the small aid station in Casa Nova del Obac we had a runnable section on asphalt up to some point where we turned on the trail going downhill. Here I feel mostly ok and make good progress and also the next uphill with sections of natural stone stairs like parts I go somewhat better than previous uphills. When running into Vacarisses I don't see any indication and someone sends me the wrong way, so I loose some time here. The stop here this year was rather short and the next part through the very long and stretched out village is mostly on asphalt and runnable. My running pace is only slightly faster than walking here, but I tried to at least run since it is somewhat more easy on the body than walking for me. After quite some time we leave the village with a short uphill and after a longer downhill with lots of jumps and loose stones. Soon we enter Monistrol de Montserrat, the village at the bottom of the last climb. Here I try to take another gel, but I nearly vomited when the gel entered my mouth, but was able to stop that. So I knew my stomach was at his limit now. After some winding through the streets of the village we start the real climb that consists of many half meter step-ups mixed with short sections of path. Slowly my stomach gets worse and my pace slows a bit, but I manage to keep moving up and after a bit more than an hour I reach the finish after 14h05m41. 

I tried some soup and at least that entered and rested a bit before starting the walk to where I parked the car. I did not really know how long I would take (I later checked and it is about 3km) and it took me quite a while, but eventually I made it to conclude the adventure.

Back to shorter races now and I will try and train for longer races next year.