anlu247 Wrote:Best of luck in the race that you already dare mention, BB. It must be a tough but wonderful experience.
Saludos desde Almería
Thanks Antonio. Maybe we could do that race in Ronda one day... now there's an idea
About the Picos event..
For the first couple of years this was a low key race that only attracted local athletes and mountaineers. Last year the 140 entry limit was reached in a few days and people started showing an interest from other parts of Spain. Internet is partly to blame but it’s also been described as one of the most spectacular events of its kind anywhere. This year they’ve changed the entry requirements and supposedly were going to introduce a ballot. And you must be “federado” which means paying subs and insurance that covers you for mountain-based sports (including skiing). Luckily I’d already “federated myself” in January (for the first time) as I was already thinking of doing a few long mountain hikes this year and after the
Villamanín experience it seemed the right thing to do.
As for the ballot they ended up accepting everybody who had signed up and so we’ll be closer to 200 than 140.
The time limit has been tightened up as well. Last year it was 18 hours and now it’s 16 and a half.
It is an astonishing route. Picos is in the north of Spain and the range rises abruptly almost from sea level. This means that the height gain over relatively short distances is spectacular, possibly the biggest anywhere in Europe outside the Alps. Its limestone rock faces (none of which we’ll have to scale..I hope) are extremely popular with serious climbers. You’ll also find a lot of English walkers here as well, many taking the Plymouth-Santander ferry or the Easyjet flight to Oviedo.
Did the new Peñalba-Montes-Manzanedo race this morning and came through it quite well although there were a couple of falls and a twisted ankle...nothing serious I hope. I’ll try and write it up during the week.
The all new training diary.
