Ultra Pirineu 2021

 After a busy week I have finally time to share my story of the Ultra Pirineu 2021 with you. As said in previous posts, the preparation for this 100k - 6600D+ race was far from perfect and though I had no pain or serious doubts about my right achilles tendon, I was in it for just running through the mountains for as long as I could without compromising the tendon.

After a short night sleeping at the Bagà Balsareny Campsite I woke up just before 4am, ate some breakfast, and got ready for the 15 minute walk to the start area. I arrived nice and early eventhough there were quite a few runners there already and soon the small square in the center of Bagà, la Plaça Porxada, was full, music was started and at 5h30 am we were shot away. In spite of being in the second starter group we started moving quickly and after some minutes of walking through the narrow main street we entered a bigger square and after a wider street where we could easily run. Ofcourse my goal was to go easy without having too many runners pass me either, since I suspected that at some point some narrow path would create a traffic jam. For at least 30 minutes though we moved with a lot of room and alternated running and walking fast depending on the slope. At some point indeed we made a left turn onto a narrow path and also steep up on a very rocky section and here the whole pack slowed down considerably, but passing was impossible, so it was just a matter of following the run in front of you. It was still pitch dark, though the many headtorches made finding your way easy. The path passes a road twice and in spite of the early hour there is people cheering the runners on and somewhat sooner than expected I arrived at the first aid station, Refugi de Rebost, 10k and 1100 D+ done. The stop here ofcourse was minimal and just after there was a pretty steep section. By now we had spread out more and each runner could move at his own pace. Also at times we can see the horizon now where the black is turning into shades of dark blue. After the steep section the path still goes up but we can walk at a very good pace and enjoy the early morning and the sun slowly coming out just in front of us. About 2km before reaching the highest point of the race all of a sudden we are much more exposed and the temperature drops quickly with the combination of an at times strong breeze and the cold at altitude. We no longer need our headlamps and after not too long we can see the next aid station Niu d'Aguila in the distance. 

Refugi Niu d'Aliga - 2520m

When I get there I eat and drink and fill up my bottles, but decide not to stay long because of the cold. Standing still is you cool down very quickly and also we would go downhill and be once again protected against the wind. 3 hours and 20 minutes have passed since the start and in the downhill I start to have my first low energy moment. This is quite normal for me, around 3 and 8 hours into a race that happens to me, so I just bear with it and run downhill as fast as I can. I expected this part to be harder, but also the next section that goes through a rather dense forest to be more runnable, for me at least, but it is too irregular and inclined most of the times in order for me to run. I guess this is also because of lack of training, I clearly feel I don't have the same strength, but I do enjoy the experience. Slowly we are approaching a intermediate summit, Penyes Altes de Moixeró, both the uphill before and the downhill after are very rocky and technical, and as such also very slow. At one point we even rappel down a big rocky section. After quite some time of jumping rocks we enter a first mountain meadow and we can run again, but here I start to feel tired already. After another forest section a long meadow section follows and I try to run as much as I can, but also feel I am not advancing very fast. After the meadow we turn onto a wide path until we take a right turn and go steep down into the forest again for some 2km. We end up on a winding path through the low part of a valley and at the end cross a small creek and climb up a few hundred meters to where the third aid station is, Refugi el Serrat de les Esposes. I arrive here on schedule, though it felt like having lost a lot of time. 

It is mid day now, and I take somewhat more time to eat and drink. I also take off my second layer since it is quite sunny and the next uphill is right in front of us and looking very hot. The next section should be easy apart from the first steep climb, but that very uphill takes a long long time. And after I have not too much energy to run at good pace and what should be a less than 1 hour section turns into 1h30 hours. When I arrive at Refugi Cortals de l'Ingla there is not much that I would like to eat, they offer many things, but just nothing seems to be right for me at that moment, so I decide to concentrate on swallowing down gels over the coming hours to get some energy in. The pace up to hear has been slow and the only good thing is that I am at least in good company with a few other runners that go at about the same pace. After the quick stop a long and steep section follows, up to Coll de Pendis. Arriving at the pass is not the highest point and the next section along a mountain ridge is very nice, but slow. It is around 2 p.m. now and both my feet are painful, my left foot hurts below the bump that is the end of the Tibia and my right foot hurts at my big toe and somewhere in the Tallus area on the right. I am running in rather new shoes and also my feet maybe just aren't much used to running long after all the injuries since last year december. Slowly we reach the highest point of the ridge and the downhill at parts is runnable. We are a group of about 6 now and stay together untill just before the next aid station, Refugi de Prat d'Aguiló. This is the last aid station before meeting up with my family in Gosol. 

The weather in a short period of time has changed from rather sunny to very cloudy and it is freezing cold at the next aid station. The people there urge us to put on clothes and after drinking and eating and preparing for the steepest climb of the race I put my self in motion again. The first steps are the hardest and with the strong wind blowing here it is rather cold. After some minutes I start to feel much better and decide to not take out my gloves and other even more warm clothing. The first half of the climb I go alone. Tired, but knowing that I will arrive much later than planned in Gosol I try to keep good pace up. The energy low is not as strong anymore and actually this steep part is very entertaining to do. The views are also amazing. Near the end I am once again in a group of several runners and soon I arrive at the second highest point of the race around 2400m altitude. After a quick moment of enjoying the views I continue. Most people can run here, but for me that is harder and harder, so I alternate running and walking as much as I can. The first part here is almost flat and after while a very long downhill starts. Here I force my self to run, it is slow, but faster than walking. Meanwhile I enjoy de scenery of this valley behind a very well know mountain in this area, el Pedraforca. After what seem an eternity I arrive at the lower part of the valley, but have no idea how long I need to arrive in Gosol, but keep contact with my family and try to give them hints of my progress. After still quite a while some indications say 2km what at my pace could be 30 minutes still, I try to run as much as possible on a very rocky path that leads downhill through the woods straight to the village of Gosol. I arrive there just before 20h, 2 hours behind schedule and only 1 hour before the time limit. Montse is waiting for me at the edge of the village and together we walk to where her brother and parents are waiting for me as well. I sit down a minute on a bench and we talk a bit. Then I enter the aid station, and after a while inside I decide not to continue. All in all I was very happy already with being able to do what I had done so far, with 60km of high mountains and with the night starting and under time pressure the risk of injury for me was just too high, but still very happy and certainly to be repeated some day, though before I will do shorter races until I feel fully ready for such a long run.

As always many thanks to the organization, the volunteers in all the aid stations and to my family for supporting me up to the race and during the race.

Click here to see a video of moments throughout the race.

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!!!

Trepitja Garrotxa - 110k

And once again Finisher!!!! The third and final part of my Ultra Trilogy. For starters I am very happy to have pulled it off. Running 3 ultras in two months is crazy. So why do it?

In May earlier this year I could not even walk normal and without pain. Physiotherapy from Pol Soria got me running again and soon after I decided I wanted to have a third try at completing the Ultra trail du Mont Blanc. The first step to get there is gathering qualifying points by completing Ultratrail races. After going through the list of available races that still allowed for subscription, juggling with dates to allow for at least some training if the progress of my injury would allow me to do so, I also decided that my way of training would not get me there and that I would need help. So somewhere mid July I receive my first training schedule from TecniRunner. They pushed me to my limits and into different directions of training and though hard, it really paid off, though I also know I still have many things to work on.

All three races were held at considerable distance from Barcelona, so Montse suggested we would go there the day before. Many thanks for making all the arrangements and for making the "trilogy" a very much shared experience!!!

So here we are. Third Ultra, and still the "must finish" tagged to it. Training went well but in the last week I had a cold and didn't do much training and didn't feel well. We stayed at a hotel in Oix that has the start of the race literally at its doorstep. After a good night's sleep I go down and have a good breakfast at 6am. Apparently the clean air in this remote area has good effects on my cold, since the symptoms were a lot less this morning. There is still lots of time untill the start at 8 o'clock. Around 7am I pick up my bibnumber, 45, and then go back to our room and start to get ready for the race. It is rather chilly outside so I put on my windstopper. The raceplan today is to go fast in the beginning to get as far as possible with daylight, because I expected the second half to have a lot of difficult stony paths which are a lot more easy to run/walk by daylight. Also I wanted to try and take my homemade gel every 45 minutes to learn how my stomach takes that. So far I only took some every 90 minutes or even less.

Around 7:30 I wake up Emma who said she wanted to make pictures when I left and then went down to pass the material check and then waited for the start while talking with Emma and having shot some photo's in the start area. At the sound of the church bells we get underway at 8 o'clock.

We are only 67 runners and the path in the beginning was wide so no queues and no pace problems at all today. After a while of more or less flat countryside running the first climb starts, though until kilometer 40 the climbs are short and easy.

In just a bit more than an hour I reach the first checkpoint.

Soon after we go higher up and the landscape and views are amazing.

45 minutes later I arrive at the second checkpoint. Since it is still cloudy and cold the stops are short, since I don't have to drink as much as when it is warm and sunny, so much less refilling and only quickly eating fruit, bread and biscuits and continue.

Amazing views of la Garrotxa

Autumn colours

After 3 hours and some minutes I arrive at the third checkpoint.

Sometimes feeling strong and going fast has its drawbacks too. Luckily doing 3 ultras in a row made me very keen on checking the last track marker and at some point I know that I lost my way and inmediately go back, having done only 200 meters extra. Others runners didn't see the change in direction either and indeed it is not the most clearly marked point, but soon we are on the right path and continue down. Soon after there is a second point with a sudden change of direction, but this time we notice it even faster and after no more doubts upto Checkpoint 4, Bolós. In spite of going down hill I am not going as fast as I thought I could. The paths are complicated and full of loose stones at stretches and that breaks the fast running pace.

 Arriving at Beget, 40km

Clearly enjoying the run

I reach the checkpoint in Beget, 40km into the race, after some 5 hourse and 40 minutes. My family is waiting for me here and it is time to eat more and have a little break before continuing. Ofcourse I feel I have done 40km, but I am not tired and only when getting up I notice my muscle are a bit stiff during the first steps. I say goodbye to my family and head out for a 1000m climb.

 

Material check at the Control post in Beget

Bye, bye Beget, the last village for many many hours

Next up is a long climb to the highest peak of the race, the Comanegra. From here on until kilometer 83 the landscape is much more mountainous and steeper, and the paths are narrow and often covered with loose stones, a type of terrain I no longer worry about, but it does slow me down, most of all on the downhills.

 Climbing up to Comanegra - Foto by Josep Maria Montaner

After 90 minutes of climbing I arrive at the next Checkpoint Coll del Boix. Most of the climb is done now, only as you can see in the pictures, the weather up there is very very foggy.

 Arriving at Coll del Boix, it is getting foggy up here

The people at the checkpoint and some minutes later another person that comes walking downhill warn us that at the top it is rather chilly and also very slippery, so we have to be carefull and cautious up there. Soon I am surrounded by a thick fog and the higher up we go the stronger the wind and indeed it is time to put back on my windstopper that I had taken off hours ago.

The experience of walking and running here for me is very enjoyable, not easy, since it is indeed very slippery at some parts, but still, it is nature in its raw form and somehow that is something I can appreciate a lot.

The ridge we follow without any visual reference makes me think I reach the summit before we actually get there. So I made more pictures than necesarry, but it gives a good impression of the area. On one side a rather steep rocky part and on the other a sloping forest of enormous beech trees, that trapped the mist with their leaves and more or less caused rain underneath and a very very wet and slippery soil.

A "selfie" at the top of the Comanegra

The downhill was also long, steep and at points slippery, so all in all rather slow. When I finally get to the next checkpoint, 3 and a half hours after Beget I know that at most I would get to the highest point of the next climb with daylight. The long uphill and downhill make me feel tired, but still I don't stay too long here.

Talaixa, one of the many hermitages in the area

After eating, drinking and refilling I am quickly on my way again

At somepoint in the downhill we pass a house that is under construction. Here a group of runners passes me and one of them, Samuel, tells me their pace was just too fast and we start the next climb to Coll de Bassegoda together. We already shared the downhill to Beget earlier in the race so I knew he was a bit stronger than me in the downhill and he said I was better in uphill, so we started to alternate leading our pace according to that, meanwhile talking about running, family, life and from time to time just breathing in silence while the night was slowly creeping up on us changing the foggy forest into a place of scary fairytales.It is time to start using our headlamps. The fog takes away part of the visibility, but at least we can better see where we put down our feet. During this climb we start using Samuel's watch to measure how much longer it will take until the next checkpoint. Clearly a sign of fatigue, but we keep pushing and finally make our way up to the Checkpoint at Coll de Bassegoda. It is somewhat passed eight o'clock now and already completely dark. Since at the next point we will have our "life bags" we quickly continue after refilling.

Coll de Bassegoda

After another loose stone path downhill we reach a normal road that leads almost upto the next checkpoint. We could have run this part, but since we have one more climb to go and a long steep downhill afterwards we just walk at high pace to save some energy. At the next Checkpoint , Casalot, it is time for eating pasta and putting on a long sleeve shirt. They say it will be cold when we get to the next checkpoint. Samuel tries to make a phone call here, but just as my Whatsup messages are not being sent, he is not able to establish connection. Probably at the next checkpoint that will improve.

Casalot

The climb to Mare de Deu del Mont is a matter of stamina. We are both tired, so we talk less and just breath and push our bodies uphill. After reaching an intermediate highest point we can see the lights of where we have to go way up, but not too far. After a short downhill we reach the path that zig-zags uphill. Steep but doable and soon we are at this landmark that is worthwhile a visit if you are ever in the area. People from the organization indicate us we have to go around the main building and enter from the other side, in order to keep ingoing and outgoing runners separated. The Checkpoint is set up inside, so for a change we can warm up a bit, though it is not as cold as people told us it would be.

Here Samuel can make his phone call and I take some time for Whatsup messages. When leaving we are warned for the first part of the downhill, which is steep and wet and as such slippery. 

Mare de Deu del Mont

Actually this is only a very short stretch and the rest of the downhill is much better doable than I expected. From time to time we cross the regular road and walk a few hundred meters on asphalt before continuing on narrow paths again. We both arrive at Checkpoint Beuda with sore feet, in my case most of all my right foot. It is just past one o'clock now and we still have quite a while to go. We take some time to take care of our feet and the prepare for the last stretch of the race. Two more checkpoints to go before arriving at Oix, and some 26 kilometers. At the end one more hill to conquer and that's it.

Beuda

When leaving Beuda, a group of 4 runners passes us jogging and soon after I suggest Samuel to try and jog a bit too. Actually this goes well for both, only very soon after we have to do a short climb and go back to walking again. From there on we will run at easy pace most of the downhill parts. Also because most of the paths are good to run on. Just before reaching the next Checkpoint at Tortellá we are back on asphalt again. Flat but also very hard surface, but certainly runnable. We hoped to have some bread with tomatoe, catalan style, here, but they tell us we have to run to the next aidstation for that. Since we are only 16km away now we soon leave and continue.

Tortellá

At some points we have doubts whether there is a village up ahead. The night is utterly silent, and no light of civilization is seen anywhere. Only a million stars overhead and half a moon and some owl that breaks the silence from time to time.

At the next checkpoint we find people sleeping next to a campfire while others attend us with whatever we need to make it to Oix. Indeed they have bread with tomatoe and we eat a view pieces and fill up liquids for the last time. And off we go, for the final 9km, with a not too steep climb and downhill between us and the finish. We still have the group of four runners just ahead of us, which helps us knowing where we go, since there headlamps clearly light up in the dark forest ahead of us. When we reach the highest point we catch up with 2 of the group of 4, one of them a woman, who is sitting on the ground and clearly not feeling to well. Stomach problems she says, mad and much wanting it all to be over. Somehow the exchange of words we have there makes here get up on her feet again and of we go. Samuel feels like running and down we go at good pace. At some point we have a first glimpse of Oix, clearly visible. Also, the headlamps of other runners indicate we are not going there straight away but around a valley in a long curve down. We alternate walking and running and reach Oix after 23h13m13s.

Montse and Jordi are there for pictures and sharing the moment of completing the first part of the quest for finishing UTMB, getting my qualifying points. Thanks a lot for being there!!

Thanks Samuel for running along the second part of the race. Good recovery and who knows we will meet again at some other ultra in the future!!!

The final aidstation serves us a delicous hamburger and more pasta!! We take time to eat and then say goodbye.. time to rest a bit.

Many thanks to the organization!! I very much enjoyed the race and the good atmosphere in all the aidstations.