The all new training diary.

[Bierzo Baggie]

This was my main “test” before Picos. I’ve described this route at length before and needless to say it’s my favourite event of all.

Same time, same place, a pre-dawn rendez-vous in front of the baroque town hall and a record breaking field of 500. As always there were a lot of familiar faces. I spotted the legendary Domingo mountain goat, El Chepas, the big man from Ozuela, Susana the heroine of Truchillas and many more.

At 6am sharp we were given the off and I walked and ran the first hour or so with Miguel Mushroom who was doing the short route. In the past I’ve often tried to attack the hills and suffered the consequences later on. This year I was more conservative. At any vague semblance of an incline I reverted into fast walking mode, losing some ground to the people around me but then regaining it as they tired or on the descent. This technique worked very well, especially on the more difficult terrain. I struggled most on the wide tracks and trails which I’d classify as ultra-running territory (the route totalled more than 60km). Here I just couldn’t keep running, even downhill. No worries, from what I hear Picos is totally unsuitable for running over most of its course.

In fact by the top of the terrible “Silla de la Yegua” (the mare’s seat) I’d all but given up on even setting off for Picos. The climb comes after 25 sometimes gruelling kilometres and familiarity doesn’t seem to make it any less horrifying than the first time when you clasp eyes on the gruesome 1100m wall of ascent. At times I felt as if I was barely moving and when you look back it’s as if you’re hanging in space. Only when I looked at the split times on my route card later on did I realize that I hadn’t actually done that badly.

Got back for early afternoon and met the tall thin man from La Bañeza. I’d been wanting to talk to him again as he had done Picos last year. He reassured me that a good walking pace and climbing ability is enough to get you round and forget about running. Oh, and there’s no rock climbing involved which came as a relief.

Took a few photos which I’ve uploaded here..
http://picasaweb.google.es/bierzobaggie/Aqilianos2008

finished in 9 hours 39 minutes. For the record the first man home was as fresh as a daisy in 6:48.