Andorra a
tiny country lost inbetween France Spain
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| Andorra Ultra
Trail: 4 races across the
mountains of |
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!
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| 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!
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| 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
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| 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 lighting6.5 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
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| The "please don't fall and slide" part of La Comapedrosa descent (it's scarier at night thou) |
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| 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)
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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...
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| 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.
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| Can you see Claror Refuge and the path? |
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| 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 2nd 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 2nd 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 2nd 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
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| Descent to Siscaro Lake and Refuge |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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!
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