Training Log Archive: andyhillIn the 7 days ending Jul 8, 2012:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | |||||||
Saturday Jul 7, 2012 #
9 AM
Run race (Andorra Trail) 5:27:21 [5] 35.0 km (9:21 / km) +2500m 6:53 / km
ahr:155 max:176 shoes: Brooks Trance 10
Started at Coll de la Botella and was straight into the climbs. The first starting at 2,075m climbing to 2,562m in 5km crossing the border into Spain then a downhill descend back into Andorra till 7km into Refugi Coma-Pedrosa where Prong and I came in about 10th place a few minutes behind but he pulled out then. The next climb was brutal. It was 3km to the peak of Coma-Pedrosa at 2,942m. A total climb of 675m at 23% gradient. There wasn’t really a trail to follow, it was more of a rock scramble to the peak with patches of snow to traverse. You could not see the peak because it was up in the clouds but strangely I could hear a band playing from the peak. I was feeling dizzy at times because of the altitude and was getting cold but finally completed the first tough 10km in 1hr39. This was going to be a long race.
The downhill loop consisted of more of a slide taking half the rocky mountainside with me. It was so steep and I got overtaken by 10 or so people dropping back to about 25th. There were a few snow traverses, one of which I slipped and started to slide towards an icey lake. If I went in I have no idea how I would have gotten out. I finally got back to Refugi Coma-Pedrosa at 13km in 2hr10, a 3km downhill section done in 30min.
Prong had waited for me at Refugi Coma-Pedrosa eating salami and fruit as that was the race food provided and he lead me for the next 3km downhill where he was going to get a lift back. That was no 16km in 2hr34 and then a loooong 4km ascend to Pla Estary and Bourdes Prats Nous and then a 3km steep pinch up Clot Cavall Peak at 2,620m. It felt like it took forever and it was really hot. I was getting very dehydrated and stopped a couple times in the creeks for a drink. I had by now used all my 4 gels plus ate and drank at the 3 aid stations. I got to the peak at 23km in 3hrs29 overtaking quite a few people on the way to be about 15th.
Next came the steep downhill. All the way to Llorts at 29km, a 1,300m decent and then flatting out to a slight downhill for the last 6km to Ordino where I finished strongly and picking up a couple more places. A total of 2,500m climb and 3,300m descent. Finished in 13th place.
Next time I do one of these, I'd ideally liked to have trained a whole season which couldn't be helped this year because of my hand injury. I don't think I'll attempt to run another without having a solid base. It's just too much of a struggle. Anyway happy I did it, the views were amazing and another epic race which I've ticked off the list and never likely do again.
The downhill loop consisted of more of a slide taking half the rocky mountainside with me. It was so steep and I got overtaken by 10 or so people dropping back to about 25th. There were a few snow traverses, one of which I slipped and started to slide towards an icey lake. If I went in I have no idea how I would have gotten out. I finally got back to Refugi Coma-Pedrosa at 13km in 2hr10, a 3km downhill section done in 30min.
Prong had waited for me at Refugi Coma-Pedrosa eating salami and fruit as that was the race food provided and he lead me for the next 3km downhill where he was going to get a lift back. That was no 16km in 2hr34 and then a loooong 4km ascend to Pla Estary and Bourdes Prats Nous and then a 3km steep pinch up Clot Cavall Peak at 2,620m. It felt like it took forever and it was really hot. I was getting very dehydrated and stopped a couple times in the creeks for a drink. I had by now used all my 4 gels plus ate and drank at the 3 aid stations. I got to the peak at 23km in 3hrs29 overtaking quite a few people on the way to be about 15th.
Next came the steep downhill. All the way to Llorts at 29km, a 1,300m decent and then flatting out to a slight downhill for the last 6km to Ordino where I finished strongly and picking up a couple more places. A total of 2,500m climb and 3,300m descent. Finished in 13th place.
Next time I do one of these, I'd ideally liked to have trained a whole season which couldn't be helped this year because of my hand injury. I don't think I'll attempt to run another without having a solid base. It's just too much of a struggle. Anyway happy I did it, the views were amazing and another epic race which I've ticked off the list and never likely do again.