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The Ultrapirineu 2016 from Gresolet: the body to the limit
This past weekend I had the opportunity to follow the Ultrapirineu 2016 from one of its checkpoints: the Refugi Gresolet (Parc Natural del Moixeró, Pirinees Mountains, Catalunya, Europe). It is located at Kilometer 86 of 110 km. A point at which no longer reach more than 30% of the participants. Remember that we are talking about the fifth and final round of the Sky Runner World Series with a vertical drop of +6800 and where the winner has not yet managed below 12 hours. Kilian Jornet 12:03:05 hours keeps the record since 2015. This year the last classified runners had a time over 29 hours: 29:07:40. Of the 870 runners who started the race they abandoned 320 (36.78%).
At this point there is neither strategies, just you and your legs, your preparation, your strength, your physical abilities and your mindset. Miguel Heras (12:05:51, shoes Salomon Wings Slab soft, 3rd victory in the race) and Gemma Arenas (15:20:34) ran with a spectacular superiority, and behind them the best catalan, spanish and international ultrarunners that can fit this test in their demanding schedule. Impressive step Jessed Hernandez where is his second home, encouraged by his public and motivated by Gresolet guard. Suso whispered in his ear that still did not have a second place in their windows (yes the first and third), you can see the moment in my Twitter (@drperemir) and Instagram (@drpmir). Jessed had failed to release their heels Pizarro. Living Gresolet he flew out of there and nobody would get him to the finish in Bagà (second place, 12:40:15). I was surprised with Jessed feeding (water and gels), nor fruit, nor sports drinks, nor bars, nor sugared. Jessed fears especially dehydration. Gels in endurance races require different types of carbohydrates, vitamin B1 and B6. It’s a different runner, even in that. He recognized at the end of the race that is a rather long for him and his cadence distance workouts.
Gemma Arenas was the only runner who did not stop at Gresolet and that allowed her to get two minutes to its American pursuer Hillary Allen (15:37:47) and kill the World Championship. Two hours later I saw, at night, go to a quiet Judith Franch way to her seventh place (17:44:03). Many stories behind each dorsal and many hours of effort and reflected on the faces at this stage of the race training. Also to highlight the animation team drivers Gresolet (great cracks !!) and Ivan Camps tracking team (the most numerous and active, 13:21:40) that allowed him to cut down 48 minutes and get his best among the top 10 in the final standings. The strong presence of runners from Mountain Runners Berguedà (Carles Sanchez, Pep Ito, …) gives more relevance to a club that is establishing itself as one of the quarries with more future of the country.
I have a friend who for the second consecutive year has had to withdraw in Gósol (73.4km, +4733 m, 14:54:40). He explained that it is no longer a problem of physical or mental fatigue is because the whole body hurts, every joint, every muscle, stumble, lose your balance, you question a thousand times if you can continue, you see a very long night just before crossing forests Moixeró. You can not over, you say enough. Listen these testimonies gives more value to our ultrarunners they offer their effort and training to sports, nature and entertainment.
Finally I want to recommend Gresolet meals (open all holidays of the year): exquisite vegetable soup and grilled meat of the highest quality, surrounded by a thousand stories from the Refugi, from the Sanctuary and from that mountains. A day to remember, to admire and to share.
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