One for the ages! Based on the course profile and race briefing I knew in advance that this race was likely to be the most spectacular and technical course I’ve ever raced on, and the first to feature ‘chain sections’! On top of the minor fear of falling to my death, I had the added pressure of it being my first international vest, and the more realistic fear of coming last among a strong start list of international athletes from 29 national teams. So safe to say, the nervous energy was high.
Leading up to the race, I had an additional worry about my performance in the heat, with a track record of things going south very quickly when the temperature rises, especially given the heatwave that has been gripping much of Europe. Thankfully, that fear was quickly allayed by rumours spread during the opening ceremony of an impending storm, and that evening’s race briefing confirmed a delayed start to hopefully miss the worst of the weather.
Race morning came, and as the storm clouds loomed (I still put on my factor 50 sun-cream just to be safe), we set off for a flattish 3-mile loop through the village of Coteno Golgi that lulled us all into a false sense of security. Then reality dawned as we took a sharp detour from the roads and onto the trail to hit the bottom of the first big climb: an ascent roughly 4 miles long with an average gradient of 17%.
I felt good on the first climb, and having long since seen the Italian, Spanish and Austrian athletes disappear ahead, I settled in with a small group including Swedish, Croatian and Slovakian athletes – clearly more my level. The decision to leave the Leki poles at home was playing on my mind, as various athletes power-hiked alongside at the same speed (or faster) as my tippy-tappy running. I tried to reassure myself that revenge would be mine when we hit the much more technical sections
that I knew were to come.
Halfway up the climb the rain came in, and that was it for the next 5 or so hours, with the rain regularly interspersed by thunder and lightning that at times was way too close for comfort – one of my Irish teammates later recounted how lightning had struck a rock just 10ft in front of him, while
several other competitors were eventually airlifted off the mountain. Despite the obvious danger of being struck by one of Zeus’s thunderbolts, I was very happy not having to deal with the heat, and pretty confident the rough conditions would work in my favour and slow down some of the better and faster athletes.
After the first climb, we had a plateau up at c. 7000ft where we ran a technical trail with rocky sections before hitting the second climb, a 2-mile section with an average gradient of over 20% that climbed straight up a rocky ridge to the race high point. It was here, as we scrambled up wet rock, that I knew not bringing poles was the right call after all, as my hands were free to steady myself as I climbed.
Traversing a couple of snow sections, we topped out at 9000ft, my hands now becoming numb from the rain and the rapidly dropping temperature as we climbed in altitude – not helped by a mandatory kit list that was lighter than one for a jaunt round Wendover: no hat, no gloves. Over the
top and after a brief plateau we hit the most technical and spectacular section of the route. First, a sharp descent using the chains set in the rock, essentially abseiling down wet slippy rock, to a knife- edge ridge which held one of the most beautiful single-track trails I have ever run, with sheer drops on either side. This ran for about a mile before I could clamber up the other side of the ridge, again assisted by more chains (although with my hands frozen and the chains wet it was fairly sketchy).
From here we stayed high at over 8000ft for 5 miles on very technical terrain, but my legs felt good – clearly my altitude training on Ivinghoe Beacon was paying off. I found I was able to push the pace and gain a few positions, running hard (or as hard as I felt was acceptable within the safety envelope). Here, having studied the course profile, I knew there were no more major climbs, just smaller ramps and scrambles, so I was happy to go into the red a little, knowing that the really hard work had been done.
The turnoff to the start of the descent was a welcome sight. After 5 hours in the rain and cold I was looking forward to dropping down and getting warm again. And so the switchbacks started: 5.5 miles, all downhill. The legs felt good – my gym work and Steps Hill repeats meant the quads felt able to take a hammering.
A last hit of sugar at the top, and a quick glance down the switchbacks to pick out a few targets to chase to keep the motivation high on the descent. Having successfully picked off a Dutch and Croatian athlete on the more technical downhill section, I finally hit the tarmacked section that led to the finish in the village of Santicolo. While the knees were taking a beating, I pushed hard to get in under the 6-hour mark, having practised winding up a fast finish on recent Wednesday night Tring
runs (thanks to Ross, Fraser et al for the practice!)
Through the village and the cheering crowd, to cross the line in 5.59 and 56 seconds. 30th overall, 24th male. I was very happy to have hit my goal of contributing some points to the overall team score which, after a very strong team performance in the Vertical Kilometer Race on the Thursday, resulted in a highest ever 8th position for the Irish team at the end of the Championships.
Overall an incredible experience, on a wild day, in the high mountains – what more could you ask for from a trail run?!
Mark Shannon