dimanche 24 juin 2012

ULTRA TRAIL DE L'EMMONA 16th of JUNE 2012 - 106K/8300D+

This is the report of a wonderful trip to Catalonia from 11th untill 20th of June, where I ran the Ultra Trail de L'Emmona. We first set of for Barcelona. Wondering around the old harbour and Barcelonetta, having souper in one of the many fish restaurants.  We threw our selfs into the labyrinth of narrow streets in the old city center, visited it's parks were parrots get noisy in the palm trees and enjoyed a good glass of wine and tapas on the crowdy squares. It took us a day admiring the modernist architecture of Gaudi in Eixample and taking a breath in the popular neighborhood of Gracia and the fantasy world of Parc Guëlle. Finaly I went for a run every morning, climbing up the stairs of Montjuïc, passing by the 1992 Olympic stadium and then downhill towards the harbor, from were I slalomed through the crowd on la Rambla towards our apartment.

After four days it was time to leave the city and head for Sant Joan de les abadesses in the Oriental Pyrenees. Starting place of an enduring race which I saw as an ultimate test for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in late august. I felt rather unsure about this race, because I had suffered from an injury over the last two months and training had been very minimal. The amount of kilometers (106km) and the huge Climbing overall (8300D+) taking you up to six times over 2800m, promised a race that was going to be very demanding on either a physical and mental level.



At six o clock in the morning I had a quick start with the first group of runners. I ran easily, until we reached the first steep climb up to 2100m. The terrain forced me to slow down and follow my own rhythm. As the sun came up, the temperature rised considerably. But on the high mountaintops of puig Estella, tres pics, pic infern, pic freser, Guigmal, all somewhere between 2600 and 3000 meter, I was glad to put on my windstopper as the wind seemed to blow right through me. The day passed very well and I had some hopes arriving before midnight at Sant Joan. But fatigue and darkness soon made me realise that I was going to run the whole night. The last 24 kilometers seemed endless, and only rational thinking helped me moving forward. On my way through the night, I picked up another runner, who was struggling mentally to go on. Suggesting him to follow me, we finally reached the finish line after 23hours and 49 minutes of running. Exausted, but happier than ever with my accomplishment. The race director told me I was 51st on a total amount of 287 runners. Over a hundred had to give up during the race. I'm very proud about this result and knowing that I've had so little training before, I'm sure now that the UTMB will not only be just running that queen of all Ultra trails, but also will be done properly. That of course  if I stay without injury.

After one more day in the mountains we went for a relaxing visit of Cap de Creus, in a superb hotel near Cadaques. The nature, the villages, hidden bays and good food, helped me recover better than ever. This region has all we love. Mountains, seaside and a great city, concentrated in a perimeter of 150Km. Definitely a place were we could live and grow old.