What a great experience this first day of the Pirineosfit Jaca Trailweek brought. The day started fresh, with the start at 0800 in the shades of the mountains surrounding the small (ski) village Panticosa. Cheered by a few people sixty runners started the ‘Endurance’ six day trailrun, of which twenty choose to go for the marathon distance.
I started at a relaxed pace, warming up whilst winding uphill along a stream. I did not bother warming up before the start, it is a six days endurance so … no hurry, no worries!
Soon I left Panticosa behind and climbed steadily through meadows where cows, goats and (wild) horses were grazing, their bells cheering us on going up the hill.
The first 12km I really enjoyed the views, magnificent high mountains, still covered with some snow, the sun warming me up, great!
After the first top I wondered where we would go next …
… not that snow field and scree slope … you are kidding me … no really that’s where the markings were heading me …
I could have known because this was a mountain marathon in the Pyrenees! The MudSweatTrails Black Diamond Trailpoles really were of great use up hill and especially on the scree slope. Finally at the top I understood we had to go back down the same scree and snow slope … I am from the flat earth part of the world, called ‘The Netherlands’, so uphill is already a challenge but downhill even more with all the loose scree and boulders
… Stay Calm, Do not Panic and Carry On! …
… these thoughts brought me down safely.
What followed was a nice downhill winding path ending near a lake and a secluded forest track back to Panticosa.
31km on the Garmin, ten more to go … however? I hear the speaker in the village already and finish in 4.29 hours with 1900 meters elevation and an average of 8.34 minutes / kilometre. What happened? …
Later I understood that some markings were taken away by people and in order not to get all marathon runners confused and lost in the mountains they changed the track. All right, still five to go so who cares about 10 kilometres and and 440 meters less height. I certainly do not and enjoy the cold pasta salad at the finish.
I the car towards Panticosa we made up team: FIT 4 FANTASTICOS with Pedro Sanchez Bruno from Portugal, James Poole from the UK and Ana Trivino Ramos from Spain. Quit an international group of trailrunners. That is besides the running what I really enjoy, meeting all these other trailrunners with their own amazing stories of long ultra’s and other crazy stories!
I am already looking forward to Day Two, it is a real treat to be able run in this beautiful area .. I would like to thank the Pirineosfit organisation, my sponsors and my family (!) for allowing me to do this …
THANKS!!!
Now time to recover … shower, foam-roll massage, TriSportPharma RECUPRO for a ‘mountain’ of proteins, and …
Huge Ice-cream Time!
