Sky race Comapedrosa
21km 2300m elevation
Photo @skyrunning @albertjorquera
I knew it was going to be hard from the gun but standing there in Arinsal in Andorra I was ready to give my best. The countdown hit zero and the race exploded into life. I was part of a large pack of runners flying up the road and on to the trail winding up through the forest. There was jostling for position, I was switching from a run to a power hike and back again trying to avoid oxygen debt. I would overtake then grind to a halt and be retaken. Sometimes it would stick and I would gain a place.
Onwards and upwards, the trees started to thin as the top of the first mountain Pic de les Fonts 2749m came closer. Just scrambling through a few rocks and I bashed my knee plumb on a sharp rock. I hobbled for a few seconds and struggled to descend the short slope, losing a few places I had just gained. I managed to shake it off and get back into a groove for the rest of the climb.
Over the top and I was trying to control my jelly legs as I hurtled down a steep grassy, rocky mountainside. This became easier as the altitude evaporated. In a blink I was at the refuge coming to a grinding halt as the second climb started.
With virtually 1000m to climb in 2km it was like climbing Yewbarrow in the Lake District. Steep with loose rocks, bilberry as climbing holds, boulder hoping and then the altitude would let me know if I pushed too hard. You don’t get this in the UK. I was happy on this climb only suffering and slowing on the last 200 m to the summit of Comapedrosa 2945m.
The down was great fun and just kept giving. I was pushing hard and trying to let go but I was getting left behind. I did not think I was slow but I was clearly missing another gear. I could not stop concentrating for one moment and before I knew it I had lost 1400m elevation hitting the tarmac and running into Arinsal to a finish. I enjoyed this race immensely.
The competition was fierce, the course was great and all done in less than 3 hours. 😀 I was only 26th place, other than Jura fell race, this was probably my best performance of the year. The joy was in the doing
If thinking of a Skyrunning race next year then this equates well to an AL fell race.
Kim Collison 