Old Men Running

[Bierzo Baggie]

Dragoman 2018 (Villafranca to Dragonte) 

Dragonte revisited 4 years after the last time. But it’s always a pleasure to be here and it’s a very special occasion for so many reasons.

Maybe you remember it. It’s the uphill only road race organized by the Ultra running butcher who several years ago somehow persuaded one of Spain’s most illustrious 20th century composers to open up his castle to a bunch of sweaty runners, some of them in bizarre fancy dress. The unlikely composer-butcher double act has created something unique,  “The Dragoman”.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crist%C3%B3bal_Halffter

Sadly, Halffter’s wife, a renowned concert pianist herself, passed away a few weeks after last year’s race and a memorial plaque is revealed just before the start.

There was a slightly smaller turnout than usual, maybe because an off-road Dragoman had been organized the day before. But with many familiar faces it almost felt like some big family get-together.

The Old Men Running team was out in full force, this time accompanied by Manny the Canadian moose who set off half an hour earlier with the walkers. Manny had promised to take photos of us as we toiled and grimaced our way up the slopes.
 
The first 3k sent us through the village of Villafranca del Bierzo and then through a section of tunnel which passes directly under the enormous hill we have to climb. 5km of constant ascent followed with the gradient almost always above 10%. This year I’d practiced my run-walk technique and it got me to the top a couple of minutes quicker than 4 years ago when I’m sure I had spent more time running.

My race compañeros all produced good times, Roland, the Flying Dutchman just missing out   on the veteran C over-60s podium. There had been a late influx of entries from super fit senior citizens and our man had to settle for 4th place. Seriously though, these guys never cease to amaze me and motivate me to keep on running for as long as possible.

Selection of photos here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iHTjNWdatycUEKQs5
 
So ends the 2018 running season, hampered initially by injury and all sorts of doubts but with far more optimism in the home straight. Hopefully there’s more to come..