Cordillera Blanca Trail Race 200km, 10500m of elevation gain, 8 days

After these 3 days of acclimation, it was time to start what we actually came for: "running the cordillera". If felt more like fast packing, hiking up, jogging flat and running down but at least we cover 200km in 8 days and so wonderful scenery and people!

Stage 1- 10 km, Hualcayan (3140m) to Calamina (4400m), 1300m elevation gain

To access the Cordillera Blanca Trail, we took a bus to Hualcayan (3140 m) to get to Calamina ( 4400). Calamina is a small lake with some grounds to put your tents and get fresh water. It is only 10 kilometeres but due to the attitude, it is a good first day. I had taken 1L of water, but that wasn't enough, I ate before the start and that wasn't a good idea. Fruits would have actually been better instead of a carby quinoa salad! But we all made it eventually and settle camp to enjoy our first night under the stars!

Time needed:  2:00 - 3:00 hours

Difficulties: the heat and attitude!

Stage 2- 20 km from Calamina to Ruinas (4000m), 900m of elevation gain

From Calamina, we followed the water pip tand came across this beautiful glacier lake as seen on the center of the collage. We then carry on to go throgh Toropishtanan pass (4800m). It starts flat to warm you up and then starts to climb up gradually. When you reach the pass, you then go down on a nice downhill to go back up to the next pass Vientunan ( 4750m). From there, the hard climbing stops for you to enjoy a nice downhill, reach a long and flat ( 7-8 km) river trail to get to Ruinas (4300m) , where we set camp again.

Time needed: it felt like we spend all day, the flatshish section felt longer than any of the climbs….but it actually took the fasted guy 4 hours and the slowest group 6 hours

Difficulties: to join the Vientunan pass, you really need to look for the trail as it is in between rocks that look the same! If you are going down, you are on the wrong path...

Stage 3- Ruinas  to Huilca (4000 m) - 13km, 750m of elevation gain, 900m descent

After a good night sleep and sharing the makeshif camp ground with a nice bunch of American, we started our day by going through some very wet grassy pass jumping from grass patch to grass patch before reaching a long and sharp mountain pass. The path is not easily identifiable. If you are lucky you find it, if you are not so lucky ( like Mick and I) you will end up making your own way which will take you much longer than the official one...so good luck finding the official one. Not impossible but very difficult. The good thing it is only for 150 m of ascent before reaching the official one no matter what so, I bite my tongue and carried one. When you reach Garagara mountain pass (4800m), you will go down keeping the river onto your right (otherwise it will be boggy and you will waste quite a bit of time and dry socks) before reaching the second pass of the day while looking up for condors ( national Peruvian bird, HUGE but harmless). Huilca is a one hut, where you will have a nice river with fresh water and set camps among the lama fields.

Time needed: 3 hours

Difficulties: the boogy pampas if you don't stay on track  

Stage 4- Huilca (4000m) to Pingospampa (3800m) – 13km 650 elevation gain, - 1400m descent

Another good night of sleep, with some coca tea and banana porridge for breakfast and we are set to do our last short stage ( by then we should be more accustomed to the attitude and push the distance without too much drawbacks)

The trail will be on the right side of the hut towards the Yanayacon pass (4330m), you will cross a wet pampa before reaching a small rocks mountain pass. From there, you go down to a very wet flat pampa, stay on the left of the mountain or you will again enjoy some wet smelly socks and shoes. :)

Enjoy the nice trail to reach the second mountain pass Ventanilla (4350m). It is a sort of a cliff with tunnel looking parts, not long and enjoyable so keep a eye on the trail or you'll find yourself in another cliff and not in Pingospampa. Which would be a shame because where the villagers will be waiting for you with fresh beers and ocras. We set camp on a dry part of flat pampa with again a nice small river ( you could catch a fish for supper, but don't really count on it, we didn't get any…)

Time: 3-5 hours

Difficulties : The wet pampa made if very difficult to get on the right trail. 

Stage 5 - Pingospampa (3800) to Yanama (3400m), 33km, 2000m elevation gain, 2100 of descent. 

From Pinfospampa, we are going to Yanama, a small village where we will be sleeping in a hotel and have our first shower since the start! It was worth the extra kilometres!
We first went up towards the mountain pass of Tupatupa. Quite long first climb to then go down towards a small village full of eucalyptus trees, to go back up another while…Then it's all down towards the river crossing before climbing up to Yanama. It was very hot, and water was very dear. Peruvian are awesome at sharing with you the little they have with a big smile! As you can notice the kilometres are longer, why? the attitude is lower and you should be more accustomed to the attitude. :)
Time: 6 to 9 hours
Difficulties: finding our way after that first downhill and bull chasing!
Alternative: If you are too tired to go to Yanama, when you cross the village just af

Stage 6- Yanama (3400m) to Chacas (3360m), 36 km, 1300m of elevation gain, 1350m of descent

Another long day to enable us to reach another village Chacas, where we will spend another night in a hotel.
The scenery makes up for the fact that for 20km you are on a jeep track, you go up to a Pusha mountain pass (4050m) go down while crossing tiny villages smelling eucalyptus, reach the main road where you can load of powerade or anything you fancy in Acochaca, cross the river to then finally go back up again on a school kids paths who will be walking along with you while chatting (a lot!) and with no effort before reaching the small village of Chacas. There we had time to visit the town centre made of wood and ate a very nice Causa Limena avocado peruvian mash!
Time: 4 to 7 hours
Difficulties: None, it was quite straight forward
Alternative: If you are too tired to go Chacas when you arrive at Acochaca you can take a bus.

Stage 7: Chacas- Huari (3150m), 36km, 1600m of elevation gain, 1400m of descent. 

Another long one to reach the Lake Huari where you'll have a nice little cafe and relax your legs in the lake. You first start nicely in the woods, crossing the river and getting into some wet pampa with waterfalls on your left. You then have to climb at 4650m ( very cold and windy) to be able to join the path for the lake, more went pampa after the rocky downhill to cross a river before arriving on another mountain grassy trails, there it's a rollcoster until you can finally see the lake. From there, it is a long downhill not too technical to arrive at the bottom of the Lake. Enjoy but be careful of the nasty flies when you get into the tent, or you will itch for days!
Difficulties: the long ascent before reaching the mountain pass at 4650m.
Time: 6-9 hours

Stage 8 : Chavin 3140m to Oleros, 42 km 1800m of elevation gain, 1500m of descent

To reach Chavin, we took a day off to get from Huari to Chavin by bus…it took from 6 hours in total but at least we got to visit Chavin and relax at the hotel a bit with a warm shower.
The following day, we started the climb to get on the higher plateaux of Chavin to reach Yanashllash mountain pass ( 4600m, you'll feel it!). When you get to the top, it's a long down hill to the pampa which will then lead you to more pampa until you don't want to see pampa again! climb a little more before reaching Oleros and take a bus to Huaraz.
Difficulty: the long way in the pampa is a mental killer
Time: 6-9 hours

There we go, 9 days, 8 stages. Awesome memories in such a short space of time…I miss it very much but we have so much more to see…and the summits to do! So stay tune on Michael's Blog!

Acclimating for la Cordillera Blanca Trail- Peru

Finally, I am able to put some words and pictures down for our Peruvian adventure.
If you want a blow by blow account you should read Mick's 3 parts blog posts.  It is awesome and give another insight. For me,  I wanted to share how it all came together trough pictures and show you that you can do it too even if you don't speak french, spanish or german ;)

La Cordillera Blanca trail is a 200 km (124 miles) , 10500m (35000feet) in 8 stages, designed by Christophe LeSeaux, a french elite distance runner who loves to show to other runners beautiful places while running and eating well, and Adventures Andines, a small trekking company with the BEST cooks  ( with the attitude and everything, this is the most important!!!) and guides.

Day 1- Lima, its markets and icons

The air there is quite sticky and polluted. The noise is unbelievable…but the food is so nice

Hiking the Cordillera Blanca for non-local people can be tricky…you do less with more effort! So before we started the trail, we had to travel to Hurraz located at 3100m to become acclimated to the attitude. To get there, the only way is via a Bus...

Not your typical British double decker looking bus thou, we were told we could actually sleep. It's a night bus, where you are served some food and watch cartoons on an old fashioned TV. Sounded quite cool! What they don't tell you if that it was designed for Peruvien people (small size) therefore if you are tall like Mick and you have someone in front of you putting their seat down fully, you will have a 8hours journey from hell…luckily we were with other members of the trek and the guys shared the pain! 

Day 2 - Huaraz (3100m) & La casa de Zarela

We arrived in Huaraz at 6 am, took our quarters at Zarela Bed and Breakfast,  we visited a bit while starting an acclimation hike in the surrounding area.

We went up and up to the top, then go back down, by then we were all tired so we recovered…with a local beer! 

Day 3-  Laguna Llaca- 4200m

We took another bus (tiny one) with an awesome driver. Hike to the Laguna, ate (but not too much) and then it was already time to go down…hiking till the bus caught us up :) 

Day 4- Pasturi Glacier 5200

We took another bus for another acclimation hike. This one was going to get us on top of a glacier of 5200m of attitude!!!

We arrived at the top and Christophe tells us we can go higher to have a view on another cordillera.

With that, it was decided that we were ready for the race.

South Downs Way 50: Not such a bad training run

South Downs Way 50: A 50 miler up and down the south downs of England. One I started and not finished last year. One where I learnt 10 lessons and hope I've learnt them well.

Looming in the distance are dark clouds onto the South Downs way  but in my head this time, there is no doubt,  this is “only” a training run to help me with the Barcelona Ultra Trail, so I just need to do as much as I can until I think my training is done.  There is no crazy sub hours pace to follow or a early bus to catch. This time we will run to make it for the 9 pm bus, and Mick says we can run it easy for a 9 hours finish. All seems to be quite manageable so why not?

So I do everything I've learnt from last year from breakfast: eggs, bacon, broccoli and avocado washed down with a cinnamon cocoa coffee to a clif shot 15 min before the start

With that in mind and Mick on my side, we start the SDW race at a slow pace and because it rained the day before, we are a bit like balls in bobsledder track trying to maintain balance while not running over each other. It is a bit exhausting so we give up passing other runners and wait to be in a bigger clearing to get into a comfortable pace.  But to do 9 hours finish Mick tells me we need to run an average of 6.30min/kilometres and I don’t know how a 6.30 min feels like in a long run, so I just nod and follow him

Reaching the clearing it is time for serious running with a clear strategy: run the flat, downs and shallow hills, walk the stepper ones. It works for the first 27 miles and after passing CP4 (last year drop out) I get tired and start to have some cramps... I haven't had cramps for the last 3 years... I forgot how it feels and that makes me moody! I need to slow down I know it but it's so hard I really want to run with Mick. He makes it look so easy and is looking at his watch ...aiaia getting paranoid I ask him how bad it is. It's quite bad the average is off...so I try to accelerate but the cramps are quite violent...I'm pressuring myself in running with Mick...not such a great idea we decide and just before CP5 after much debating that he is going to drop me. Mick goes off to complete it in 8hours33 while I plot along managing the cramps and decide I need to finish this as I'm not doing it again!
Arriving at Alfriston I gorge myself of tea and fruits as I found it eases the cramps. Knowing there is a lemon drizzle to die for at the last CP I find some motivation to go a bit faster but aware I'm no longer following the initial pace and finally finish in 9hours18 min! Which surprises me quite a bit and gets me hyper because we can catch the 6:30 pm bus and go home earlier then predicted! 

I'm so glad I did it thou as I got to see so many familiar faces and new ones! What a great community is the ultra running one :) but what a training day! I never ran that much in my life and I'm glad I've completed it! I'm no keen on this running strategy and rather want the run the downs walk the rest haha so I really hope Barcelona Ultra Trail will have less running involve! For sure I'm a mountain runner...

Back in the running game: The joy of ski mountainering and a lesson learnt from not signing up for Trans Gran Canaria

Chasing snow

After the shameful DNF of 3x3000 back in early November where I picked up a nasty ankle sprain, I didn't want to be running anymore...at all or do any sort of exercises. Silly I know but after all of the training and good times we had during our 3 months break, I couldn't bear the thought that all of it was now down the drain thanks to a sprain. What was the point? The season was over, we were back in gloomy England with its little hills and rain sucking the daylight out of you. Nothing to get me out of this dark clouds, not even sorting out our 3 weeks break in the Alps in Mick's hometown.

Mid December, we landed in Geneva for the 3 weeks break barely prepared and drove to St Jean de Maurienne by looking out the car windows and staring at the snowy mountains tops. So ever slowly staring out and picturing our little self in these massive mountains was dissipating some of these dark clouds in my head. Feet getting itchy, I eagerly fell asleep hoping that these mountains could heal me. We were lucky, Smartwool had sent us some winter gear to test during our ski mountaineering break, so the following day, like a kid at Christmas here I was putting on the PHD support bra, baselayer, tights and socks from #Smartwool and pestering Mick to go out in the mountains. But there was not much snow, so we ended up walking up to a snowy top and then painfully going down again.

Dark clouds looming on my horizon, Mick said to not get too flustered yet, my ankle was going to get better with the ski mountaineering, we just need to find some snow. 

So on the second day we do just that, snow hunting. Apparently there is some in Val Frejus. With the same #Smartwool clothing of the day before, we set off to the bottom of the slop. There is barely any snow...We have to walk quite a bit with our ski on our back to get to something decent in order to justify putting the skis on but wow it's worth the wait and the 1h hike.The shoes were as light as running shoes, I was not too warm nor too cold and when we put the skis on, I felt at peace. To get the hand of moving up with the skins on is not too hard but to get the “technique” is another story.

Mick who had been skiing since 3 years old had also read ski mountaineering books, watched videos and researched on how to do things before our arrival so now he was going up like a pro while teaching me the basics :)With every upward steps and trickling sweat, my old happy self dared making an appearance. Mick looked at me and smiled no words were needed. He did tell me how this break was going to be good for our bodies and I wasn't believing it before. But with the ankle nicely tucked in the ski boots not moving sideways or doing funny things and amazing views, there was no sign of my usual dark clouds and I was felling good. For the next 3 days ( until Christmas) all we done was ski mountaineering.Still with the same Smartwhool apparel ( keeping us warm while keeping the moist away) we went up and discovered some trails we had gone during the summer but without the waou white effect and went deeper into the Maurienne valley to reach some peaks and lakes which were magnificent. 

Just writing these lines puts me back into the elation of the moment when we reach the view of Lac du Mont Cenis.

White Velvet

And so we couldn't wait for Christmas Day and its feast to pass to go back deeper in the mountains where I felt whole. For another 6 days we went up and down, climbed Mont Emy more than a few times as the snow was getting rarer everywhere else (apparently Italy got most of it) and slowly got back into some kind of shape. My anger against my powerless body was diminishing with each outing, I was starting to think that maybe I could go back running.

After these 3 weeks ski mountaineering, it was time to return to England, the lack of mountains with enough stress at work and continuous rainy days did the trick for the dark clouds to come back. I did try to run and shake it off but not only had the Brat come back but a shin splint was installed comfortably up my left leg! so no way I was going to sign up to run 125km with this mind and body state! It's so weird how our mind can play vicious games...I should have just sign up and hell with the body/mind state!

But Mick (who has none of my silly issues) signed up for the TGC 125km race and planned to stay 1 week prior to the race to train in the Gran Canaria's mountains.

Trans Gran Canaria 125 Km

Of course, being his beloved wife, I organised our stay (even thou I did wonder how good would it be for him if I cannot run around but can pester him with my dark clouds) and set up camp in Tejeda, Gran Canaria.

 

View from our rental in Tejeda

  It's such a beautiful village tucked in the mountains, quiet and sunny. We ate oranges and lemons on a daily basis and there was this almond cake to die for! 

Roque Nublo and La Palma in the horizon

To get me to come out and run longer, Mick lured me into doing long outing for a piece of cake. 

View from Cruz de Tejeda

Haha it worked fine :) No brat, no shin splint, not once I've twisted the ankle and no dark clouds. 
 After one week in Tejeda, I felt so much better that I was now regretting not signing up. So much so that watching Mick getting ready for the race was heart breaking. So I started making plans on driving Mick to the start, taking my running #smartwool apparel (same gear as the mountainering one, it actually keeps you cool in the warmer weather) and run the first 20 km with everyone else. But Mick tells the organisation won't be too impress...so when he went to register , I asked the organisation if I could run it anyway, surely some people won't start on the day, I could start for them no? But no, for some insurance reason, I can't run the race.

Fine! Lesson learnt! Next time, just sign up for the race and take the cancellation fee. Who knows what might come along and undo all of the dark matter in you?

As for now, I've signed up for SDW 50, Ultratrail Barcelona, Lakes District Extreme 100, Ultra Trail des Belledones and Grand Raid de la Reunion with no cancellation fee ;) Life's too short right?

Don't miss out on Mick's TGC 125 km 2015 race report, I'm sure it will make you want to come along next year ;) 

10 Peaks Brecon Beacons: Perception is a killer

I've must have rewritten this blog entry  20 times. Even thou we've completed this race at the beginning of september ( the 06th), my dark mood kept staining the beautiful route and organised race of the 10 peaks: Brecon Bacons. So my apologies for taking so long, I hope it won't be too disappointing to read ;)

The 10 peaks Brecon Beacons was our first race in the UK after spending 3 months running up and down high mountains...

Mick thought this race would be a good transition as it was in the Black Mountains and it seemed to have enough elevation for me not to moan about being too flat. At the time of registering, I agreed with everything he said, I was hyper from the finishing of the Andorra Ultra Trail and so I thought I could do ANYTHING…even running!

What I had forgotten thou is 

a) I can't sleep the night before the race

b) This is NOT Andorra type of terrain

c) Open lands, miles of it

So the night before the race, it was with no surprise that after turning and tossing for 8 hours, I was ready to fall asleep when the alarm rang instead of getting ready, and my mood was not as great as when I had registered for the race.

But, the start was as quiet as the day slowly awakening and passing the Talybont Reservoir Bridge, to the road and up our first climb, I was glad to feel the ground we had reece and picture the lavender field passing by to reach our first beacon ( but not the official one)

Passing the first beacon, we attempt to follow the trail made out of sticky mud and big gaps, come to a junction and get confused with Michael GPS watch directions (the finish track is coming down, while the start track is on the left) but as the day awaken, the familiar reece track come to light so we juggle between rocks towards Trig 642 without getting lost again.  By then, I had twisted my ankle (surprise!) but still attempting to follow Mick's relaxed pace to not get lost. Reaching another reservoir, looming in front of us in a gloomy daylight  is a short but sharp vertical climb allowing us to view the next part of the race, a long run on a dragon's spine (the ridge) before going down on a paved looking trail to our first man checkpoint.


At the first feed station, we are welcomed by the race director as well as a nice table full of bananas, cliff bar products and encouraging smiley volunteers, not much time is spend there as we know our first official PEAK Fan Fawr (734m) is straight up.

This one is very mean! The top of it looks very close  but actually it is just an illusion as no matter what we do ( run or walk) it just doesn't seems like we are getting there fast enough! After reaching the top and bip the beacon we run down to cross the river and go up to Peak 2: Fan Llia (632m)

It is nice and smooth, no high grass, no funny holes, just nice. The climb to Peak 2 is quite entertaining as there is no official path, high grass, no straightforward top so you need to pick a track and stick to it, hopefully it will lead you to the top. Having runners from both side of our track, I wonder who is going to get to the top first as we all seemed to think that our respective line is shorter/faster or more straightforward. But at the top, I smiled as we all arrived at the same time, some more frustrated than others perception is very deceptive…especially with mud holes and high grass. Reaching the beacon of Peak 2, it’s now downhill to reach CP2. That’s when Mick twists quite badly his ankle, he think it sucks as apparently we are doing great with time, I think it's great giving me a reason to slow down. 






We reach Feed Station 2 which as the same food option as FS1 with the addition of sticky cake, really sticky cake! No time to unstuck the cake thou, we already have to go! I feel rushed, so much so that I start to get moody very bad at Mick and the volunteers. Lack of sleep? After apologising, we make our way to CP3, I guess the fact that we have to run for a flatish 10 km before being able to justify walking is not helping my mood to get better. 

Descending toward Feed Station 2

Luckily the drastic changes of scenery helps and after some fuffing and puffing away (from me) feedstation 3 with its Pirate theme appears and what I thought was a 2 hours gruelling run between the two FS takes actually less than an hour (I should get a watch)! I stuffed my face with cake, oranges and more cake before Mick said we had to go to reach peak 3 and 4… We follow a cool dude before climbing up quite nicely until a ridge. A ridge means running, ridge with shallow climb still means running. Yup, that's definitively a lot of running involve compare to what I am used to and at this point, I'm struggling in my little bubble, and make Michael and his companion in crime cringes from my moody comments and "run away" from me. I am sooooo not happy but we reach peak 3 and peak 4 is just an down-up-down-up business, right? So with still a crappy mood, I start the down...until I see a lady ascending... it's lady 1!!! I'm so excited she looks so fresh, oh and here is lady 2, looking good too! OK so it must not be that bad to go up and down and up again then! Seeing them cheer me up and so here I am going up to Peak 4, down to go back up to peak 3 and down to CP4. It's a long descent and quite shallow but challenging with hidden potholes, little wind and loads of sun, mood is back in my socks and I start imagine how cool it would be to just stop and enjoy the sun! 

Arriving at the feedstation 4, my daydream is still playing in my head. Mick is waiting for me thou, he is looking fresh and enjoying himself so much, why can't I do the same? 

I decide not to stop just yet as I'm told there is this big climb right behind the FS. After 25m of straight grass vertical, we are all on our knees and hands...arrh I'm about to moan when Mick (having enough of my dark mood) tells me straight "give up now, or shut up and carry on" so...what do I do? I shut up and carry on, till the  top, then down, twist my ankle, cry a bit still reach Peak 5 Fan Gyhirych (725m) and down, up again to Peak 6 Fan Nedd (663), and down, curse at the Roman road track, and finally reach another big long climb to peak 7. After having fun for 10 mins,  I feel tummy sick, throw up a bit but Mick hasn't slow down so I need to carry on as there is no place to quit and get a ride.  I feel quite bad that Mick has to endure all of this....

We still haven't found the beacon of Peak 7, we think we are lost. My bad! I thought it would be a good idea to just cut a straight line to the top ignoring the gps track...(lesson from Peak 2 that perception is a killer hadn't sank in yet) Mick curses and for some reason it makes me feel better haha! We finally reach the peak and the pretty single track downhill to Feed Station 5. I know where we are now, we've reece this part, and I can feel the end.  

Rigde of Fan Frynych towards FeedStation 5
Arriving there, I'm surprised to see Lady 2, she is looking good with a warm smile which makes me forget the bad time I am having. The cherry on top is when the nice marshal tell us we only have 14 km left to do, and 3 more peaks to bag ( so much less running, more walking)! 

Not such a happy bunny

It also means that the finish is not as far as I thought (really need a watch) and that we could be there before night time!!! I'm so excited about this that I'm all pump up to fly, looking at Mick I tell him let’s go! poor sod, I wasn't even giving him the time to fill his water bottle...Oops, waiting "patiently" we thank everyone and start our climb up towards Peak 8, it’s long thou, quite shallow, I feel so slow as walking is not eating enough metres but running is taking a lot of energy.

Going Up to Pen Y Fan, can you see Mick?

I wonder where Lady 2 is, as I can't see her in the distance. Mick is so far ahead and waits at the top for me,…I'm such a turtle!

 Finally reaching the top and Mick, he wonders where Lady 2 is as he hasn't seen her and her pacer. She is such a speedy! Hoping to catch her, I forget about the past dark 12 hours and go faster than I previously did. So we go down and up to Peak 9 Crybin and 10 the famous Fan Y Big (719m ) which are the best ones out of the whole race because it's quite vertical with beautiful views from all sides. We reach another dragon spine ( still not in love with those) but as it is close to the finish I just let it go…to the finish. We are now back to where it all started, nothing not even the last bad descent doesn't slow me down ( ok well until we get to the road...) Arriving at the finish, we are 8^th and 9^th overall, and 2^nd lady for me. What happen to Lady 2?!

So happy to be finished

Going to the YMCA café, we meet others runners from the short race and the cool dude who ran with us until he couldn't stand me anymore ;) he finished well too :) 

I'm eager to take the car back to London and sleep. But even the finish is not kicking me out off that funny mood I've been all day, thinking that talking to people would help while eating, we talked to a couple who are saying they tried to caught us up. I wonder why, I thought they were the winning pair, so why would they want to catch us?! Maybe they think we are the winning pair, I tell them we are not, they are looking at me very confused...I'm very confused but then I haven't been thinking straight from the start so, after saying our goodbye I happily take the wheel back to London hope to get some good sleep. 

So there it is even thou the mood was not there, I'm glad we made this trip. The race was so well organised and the marshals and runners so nice, that it would have been ashamed not to start because of some dark mood. I just hope for my own sake, I will kick it out soon as we need to get ready for the 3 x3000 80km Ultra in the Lakes District and if I make Mick suffer he will never want to pace me again! 

Oh and the couple at the finish! Well they were not a couple, it turned out to be Lady  number 2 ( well 3) ! She had taken another way to reach Peak 8 which was even longer than the one we took and I didn't recognise her!...what a food I've made of myself!

Andorra Ultra Trail Mitic: a race of wonders

Andorra a tiny country lost inbetween France and Spain. The shopping lover would describe it as a shopping paradise for cheap cigarettes and alchohol. But for the nature lover it is simply A paradise. Full of mountains, waterfalls and quietness where time stops to let you enjoy the moment.

Andorra Ultra Trail: 4 races across the mountains of Andorra where elevation gain; technical terrain; beautiful views, ups and downs  are on the menu. therefore you would conclude a paradisiac race?

While La Celestrial with its 83km and 5000m of ascent and the Marato with its 42.5km and 3000m sounded too "flat" therefore too "fast" for my little feet. La Ronda del Cims with its 170 km and 13000m of elevation gain not only sounded way too long but also looked just too much, La Mitic sounded like a nice long hike with its 9700m of positive elevation for 112km. 

Turns out, my description of the race was spot on, it was a" long up and down- let me see if you can go up again...and down" hike (not run) with superbe views (with the full moon and all that!) and technical like you never knew it was possible type of technical! But oh so lovely for the eyes and fulfilling for the heart as you meet awesome humain being in each of the runner you cross (even the grumpy one) and the most wonderful volunteers you ever and will never again encounter ( I am now certain the organisation has handpicked each of the 300 volunteers and medical team for their caring, generous and did I say caring? nature).  During the race, the how long do you think you'll take question becomes obsolete and is replaced by how much did you get to see? it's is a race of wonders and I'm glad I got to experience every single step it took to complete it. 

Have I convinced you yet to sign up for next year? If not, I'm sure below will!

In paradise

It's 5 am, yes the race starts at 10 pm and yes I woke up at 5am. Not a good race strategy but one where I can make sure Mick has a good breakfast before heading towards the start of La Ronda del Cims, so why not?

It's 7 am, Mick has started la Ronda while I'm heading back to the motorhome hoping to get some rest....but who am I kidding?! with the noises from outside, the sun poking through the windows and me wondering how Mick is doing, I'm back out to get some Wifi... Mick is doing great so I'm back in the motorhome...think about Mick...so go back out for wifi...this I will do for the next 12 hours, until I'm so tired that I wonder how I will make it to the start of La Mitic or even finish these 112km with 9700m of elevation route!

Andorra Ultra Trail

It's 9:30 pm, in the starting zone, very nervous I'm distracted by the facebook updates from Mick's tracker and millions of  thoughts . Some runners are quite chatty; others are as quiet as myself. It's weird to be by myself at the start line, but 10 pm comes along with the music and firework and we...Go

From the ascent to Clo del Cavalls with daylight

For the night section the organizers had prepared a nice little menu: 

6 km road/trail to Llorts to warm up and say goodbye to artificial lighting
6.5 km 1200m of ascent to Clot del Cavalls to stay warm in attitude
5 km 600m of descent to the first aid Station: Pla d'Estany to ensure your knees are not jealous and your ankles stay flexible
3km 880m of ascent to Peak of Comapedrosa to have fun in the big rocks and get scared with their shadows and a full moon - droit dans la pente = straight up the climb
3.5 km 600m of descent of the 2nd aid Station: Refuge de Comapedrosa to pee your pants with the glacier lake and snow trails where you can kiss goodbye to finish if you take a wrong step and fall in the lake!

6 km 300m of ascent and 400m of descent to Coll de la Botella to show off the ski slopes of Arinsal and high grass and another 4km of Andorran "flat" and 1.5 km with 400 to Bony la Pica- just because!

The "please don't fall and slide" part of La Comapedrosa descent (it's scarier at night thou)

Ascending towards la Comapedrosa during our reece

 If you are "fast" you could still be doing the next section long before the sunrise but I was glad to arrive at Bony la Pica with the first sign of daylight because the famous descent to la Margineda was already so challenging with fresh legs, I couldn't see myself doing this part "by night" (well done to the superstars who've done it thou!

I "ate" the first 20 km, played "night guide" to whoever was listening and had fun sliding on the snow trail of la Comapedrosa because we had reece the first 40km of the route. The slowly but safe "running tactic" did enable me to not be out of breath while still plodding along other runners. I was having so much fun and was happy to be early from our previsions...that I've lost focus so  700m before arriving at the Refuge de la Comapedrosa aid station; I hear a snap, I feel my whole body crumble and Sebastien (a runner who ran with me til now) says "Shit Dude that looked bad, are you alright? ( in French). 

Yup you guessed right; my "flying" up and down suddenly came to a halt from a snappy right ankle incident. Sebastien puts me back on my feet and ask if I need a helicopter, I'm laughing while fighting tears, load of emotions are turmoiling but one sticks out: frustration! I didn't even get to the half marathon point! Arrrrhhhh, leaving me there Sebastien carries on to the refuge, I'm limping to the refuge watching other runners passing by and unable to stop thinking about how good I felt 10 minutes earlier. 

Arriving at the refuge, of course everyone looks at me with pity in their eyes, they "know" that it's over for me, barely looking at them and with a soup in my hand ( I did come for the soup :P) I go see the Red Cross volunteer asking him if he can do something for this little snappy ankle. Taking off sock I hear some weird sounds coming out of his mouth; I don't understand Catalan but it doesn't sound good. He tells me in French it looks bad, very bad, I should stop as there is some more steep ups and downs coming our way. I tell him I can't stop, I haven't done a marathon (is that even a sane reason?!) he chuckles and say I'm crazy so I sweet talk to him into wrapping the ankle for me to get to Coll de la Botella and catch a ride with a car ( the helicopter wasn't planning on coming here anytime soon)

Portilla del Sanfons before the descent to Col de la Botella

So with a wrapped up ankle, another bowl of soup and 45 precious minutes "wasted" (I was only supposed to stay 10min) I'm heading towards the Col with my head down, heavy heart and pissed off. Kicking rocks with my good foot and slicing grass with my walking poles, I can't stand myself and nothing seems to taking me out of this. But an older runner pats me in the back and enjoy the moment as soon we will be reaching the road and road is bad for the knees. For no reason this makes me smile; seems like true mountain runner loathe the road, I join him in the final descent and encourage him to keep going; he says to not wait for him that he is a grandad with back problems; I say I'm a youngster with a sprained ankle so together we are a winning team; laughing at my joke he makes me forget that I'm soon to the place where I'm supposed to give up...

Arriving at the Col I see ALL of the runners who had passed me during my little accident, they all looked messed up, they are surprised to see me there; and even more surprised to see me carry on; because with my other bowl of soup I want to see the sunrise at Bony la Pica; I want to forget that my ankle is stupid and remember that I had a great first 20km ( it had NEVER happened before) and that I could get some more great kilometers.

Bony la Pica Ridge

With a mixture of running and walking limping and swearing Bony La Pica shows its ridge and I'm happy! The view is amazing; just below the volunteers have put a small welcoming fire and well I'm "almost" a la Margineda. So taking my bad ankle and determination; I start the challenging descent to la Margineda, half way I meet one of the volunteer we had met during a reece; he gives me this massive hug; I can't give up after that right?! he tells me I have 2 hours to Margineda; I laugh and tell him not with this one; looking at the "egg" he make this face which tells me how crazy this situation must be looking: True I do have 70km left to do! but if I go one step at the time, maybe...just maybe the finish line could come along. He tells me to be careful and to use the chains...really? Unless you want to go down on your butt he says, you should use the chains and just be careful, no point of turning the other ankle or worse make the egg bigger...alala ok! With his warm encouragements I carry on first to Aixas an one house "village" then up to Coll Jovell to carry down to Margineda School; the first bag dropping area. It's very early in the morning and the lighting is very soft on the tree lines and making the mountain cliffs looking less mean!

The Chains

The descent is a mixture of straight down a grassy cliff, then straight down "let's sky" in the loose rocks part (wish I had taken a pic of that!) to a "relaxing" single track to la Margineda school. I arrive there at 7h30am. So 10hours for 42km, not bad considering that with Mick we had planned for 11h45 to get there; ah that means maybe I could go on a little? check out the part we didn't reece to Claror? It takes 45min to debate with the doctor and Thomas ( a runner I've been going up and down with on and off depending on his mood) about the ankle. I'm not too impressed that since the "incident" it's been 90 minutes of talking about something that hurts just thinking about it. I could have used these 90 minutes to climb up and see some cliffs instead of standing in a building...so with that I take my bag, take some salty biscuits and chocolate ( yup together they are a hit in my mouth hehe) and walk away from the blabla.Thomas takes his stuff and run after me convinced that he shouldn't leave some "crazy little one" go alone to tackle the next BIG bit: the ascent to Col du Bou Mort 8.5 km with 1600 m of ascent!!!!!!!! I'm glad to be with someone! The trail starts with some road bits to join a forest path, under the trees the small breeze washes the frustration but replace it with sleepiness. Oops! I think i'm starting to feel the effects of yesterday and the demanding course...but I can't stop; not now; don't want to give Thomas any reason to say "I told you so"  (he did say he wanted to slap me; so checky!)...looking at him he is also not looking too good but he doesn't say anything about it, so I don't either and we slowly carry go...up and up and up; arriving at Cortals de Manyat; he tells me he is taking a break; I tell him I'll carry on because he will catch me. what I don't tell him is that I desesperately want to sleep...

Are we there yet? Prat Primer Refuge

One foot after the other; I catch another runner and he likes to chat going uphill; I smile out of all of the places; this guy can't stop talking which helps me forget to zzzzzzzzzzzzz he stopped talking and backtracked while my eyes are closing themselves...micro nap? My feet are not lifting high enough and I'm stumbling, not good for the ankle but zzzzzzz I need to stop zzzzzzzzzzzzz the trail looks so soft and comfy; I could take a little nap...but I see huge ants, red and scary eeewww I got bitten once and don't want that same experience again so I look for a rock but there are none, I'm in the only place when there is no rock to lay on!!! Till I reach the refuge Prat Primer not an aid station but a control point; I ask if I can sleep; they say yes and put me in this room where another runner is fast asleep. I try to do what he does, but there is a horse with a big bell that keeps knocking at the door....arrrrhhh I can't sleep!!! after 10 minutes I want to strangle the horse (sorry) so instead I take my stuff and carry on. 

Can you see Claror Refuge and the path? 

Just 1km with 250m of ascent left to the Col. While I turn to thanks the volunteers, I see...a girl!!! the first one after more than 12 hours of race!!! Nice, I welcome her with a big smile but she stays a bit at the refuge, so climb up slowly and then descent slowly to Claror and sit there for another 15 minutes eating and talking away trying to forget that I want to sleep and that the ankle didn't like that part. I wait for the girl; chat a bit, and found out that she is the third lady...which means I'm 2nd!!! wooh ok I get up, thank the volunteers and make my way to the next aid station 12km away because right now I feel...good well for the next 15 min and then the sleepiness comes back and I'm alone; no one to distract me...I want to give up, I want to stop, I reach a control point (Perarfina Refuge)  and ask where I can stop (my feel good moment didn't last long, did it?) they tell me here but I'll need to make my way back down to the valley; how long is that I ask, they say 20km, what?!! the next drop bag is in 20km I said. The lady said yup it would make more sense to get there you can even get a diploma saying "completed" 72km! Ok I said (how sad heh? I'm chassing a bit of paper) so I go up to Collada del Maiana the view is beautiful and there is a runner coming my way, I stop at on a rock (with no ants) take  a brownie and wait for him, at least I could have some company; doesn’t matter if I don't speak his language! But wait! it's Drew!!! a runner from the Centurion Running team UK who's doing la Ronda del Cims, he looks good even thou he's done more than 100km, I ask him if he saw Mick; he tells me no but not to worry too much. We end up doing the crossing of the Madriu Valley together; we are looking for the Illa Refuge this 10 km stretch is long but the refuge finally appears and the volunteers are the best; taking the bag off, filling the water; feeding you, massaging you; giving you some more strength to tackle the next climb la Collada del Pessons 1.5km with 350m of ascent, doesn't sound much but all of these little climbs are straight up the hill; no zig zag (well you can make your own but good luck!) but what an amazing view you get when you are at the top, small lakes spread across, spain to the right and left; France to the right and left, and just mountain tops after mountain tops.

From Collada del Pessons top

I'm so thankful to be there and I can wait ( yes I can) to go down to Bordes d'Envilara. I wish I could just stay there; lift my ankle and just stop the time! But it's getting cold and well...I want to get closer to the lakes. That descent is technical, it has zig zags but with loose rocks and man, it is vertiginous; I take ages to get down; my ankle is throbbing and I have enough, this is sooooo long and even the lakes are not distracting me enough. I think about Mick, thinking by then he must be in the dreaded Pas de la Casa's part...maybe I could find out how's he is doing and if he has finished or dnf I could just...dnf? yeah that's a good plan! So with this "new" motivation I go a bit faster to the lakes,  I reach them and the tourists and then this long stretch of shallow ascent ski slope,arrrh soo long it sucks! Lots of cow poo, and sloppy grass, I'm getting frustrated not to see the end of it, but wait it's descending so.... there is it!!! Bordes d'Envilara, I take off my shoes; and ask to sleep; what am I doing?! The red cross looks at my ankle put ice on it; and just tell me to close my eyes and try not so hard to sleep; I'm so exhausted, that for once I do listen and just close my eyes. But sleep still doesn't come and after 15min I get up and go eat, Thomas is here and I'm happy to see him. He asks me if I'm carry on, red cross dude tells me that I'm still 2^nd one; of course I'm carrying on, I laugh and ask him if it is reasonable with the ankle; with this massive smile he says he has faith and that this 2^nd place is mine. what about Mick? who's Mick...don't worry about him, ask at Val d'Incles, red cross dude is really trying!....hum....Val d'Incles...10km ok I can do that! or....this mental debate go on until RedCross dure stop  listening to me,  fills my water; put the powerade like some drug, shovel food in my hands and takes me to the next...climb 53,7 km with 375m ascent. I soon catch Myriam,  the 2nd lady she is awesome! With my broken Spanish we talk until the serious climb to Pas les Vasques, no words can help, it's hard; straight through the cliff. I'm back at the 2^nd spot but for how long! But here is the top and I'm happy because hehe we have reece the next 20km so in other words, well I'm prepared! So here comes the descent to the Siscaro Lake:

Descent to Siscaro Lake and Refuge

I feel good, the ankle is still hurting but the end is so close that it doesn't matter; I'm just praying at every descent and flat that I don't twist it again! But here is Val d'Incles brings the two next climbs la Cresta de Cabana Sorda and Collada del Meners.

Climbing doesn't hurt so here we go; 800m of ascent to la Cresta; then down to the before last refuge Coms de Jan; I'm happy it is still day time and the rain doesn't bother me (yet) Albert, a funny guy from Andorra has decided to take me to the finish or at least try! So after we pass one of the control point, he takes the lead and start to push, but I don't. I know what's coming and I need my energy for the last 300m! They are steep and Albert is struggling now. I encourage him and we go down to Coms de Jan; here is the last ascent; 500m of ascent on loose rocks and snow and oh rain, wind and the nightfall. 

Not problem, jacket and lamp will do...after an hour; washing up gloves (they are waterproof) are taken from the bag and I try to warm my fingers; it's freezing cold and I lost Albert; he was climbing so fast; here is the top, aaahhhhhh this was the final climb; no time to contemplate thou because the wind is not welcoming and well there is still 16km to descent to Ordino. I go down; pass a few runners, the Nao is dying; I hope to get to the last aid station with it but after being scared 3 times by it flashing; I take out my old shitty black diamond (very grateful to have it thou hehe) mid way to the refuge de Sorteny.

Going Up to Collada del Meners- the last one

Not problem, jacket and lamp will do...after an hour; washing up gloves are taken from the bag and I try to warm my fingers; it's freezing cold and I lost Albert; he was climbing so fast; here is the top, aaahhhhhh this was the final climb; no time to contemplate thou because the wind is not welcoming and well there is still 16km to descent to Ordino. I go down; pass a few runners, the Nao is dying; I hope to get to the last aid station with it but after being scared 3 times by it flashing; I take out my old shitty black diamond (very grateful to have it thou hehe) mid way to the refuge de Sorteny.

Going down to Sorteny Refuge

But even with crappy light, I know where I am and I carry on mixing running and walking as the ground is now so slippery with vicious rocks. Twice the ankle twists. Twice I tell myself to be careful but I want to go to Ordino and find out where Mick is. The small bridge, the path by the river the crossing of small nasty torrents and then here the refuge. I don't want to stop but apparently we don't have 10 but 13km left. Crap will I have enough energy? I don't want to eat (that was stupid!!! I paid for it later on) so I fill my flask with powerade and carry on. I have this crazy idea to finish in 27h30. Mick thought I could finish between 28-30 hours. How cool would it be to finish earlier with a sprained ankle? So there I am going down to El Serrat, swearing at the path as it is slippery and well I have enough of trails at this point haha. I reach the road and another runner; we run together until he slows down. We are almost at Llorts I tell him; 6,5km to the finish. He doesn't listen so I carry on; run Laureda; run; here are some hills; the golf course; and then what is that? I don't know this part and this throw me off! So I stop running and walk, slowly where am I?! Shit I won't make it to 27h30! Ok what about 27h45? Ah here is Borda Asalonga Camping; ok so that's 1,5 km to the finish. So I start running again. A runner passes me, oh well as long as I make it to 27h45!

Here the finish line and...Mick!!! has he finished or did he give up? Awww I'm estatic to see him. He tells me he finished la Ronda in 38h50! How cool is that?!!! I'm more than happy to see him, I'm so impressed with his achievement that I forget my own: I didn't give up I tell him! The nice volunteers give me a beer and tell me where the shower, the masseuse and the food are...I smile and ask them "and the bed?"

There is no one really at the arrival beside hehe Albert... with a cigarette (can't believe he is smoking after this!)!!! we congratulate each other, he finished in 27h30 (should have stick to his butt...)

I''m out of it so many emotions are passing by with extreme speed that I can't speak or realise where I am! I'm feel overwhelmed with gratitude; thinking about the organisation who created this crazy event to share their love and pride of their mountains. I think about the awesome volunteers who made us feel like VIP's all the way to the finish line, to all the runners I've met who helped me sooo much along the way to not DNF and believe in me even thou I was a stranger...I think of Mick's training and dedication who brought us to the finish line and I think about the other runners still on the course: hat off to them for trying to get there no matter the time, the tiredness the sore feets; I think about what we have accomplished and what's still to come, and for now nothing else matter: we've done it!