Season 2014

[Bierzo Baggie]

Race 5. Truchillas again.

At least I made it on time to this year’s race.

I never described last year’s nightmare journey. Encountered unexpected roadworks and had to improvise an alternative route along unfamiliar roads with no map.
Each sleeping village had one human inhabitant.
Each single inhabitant pushed a wheelbarrow stacked high with cabbages.
When I asked one old guy for the best way to Truchillas he lowered his wheelbarrow and eyed me suspiciously. Then he squinted upwards at a distant rocky crag that hung from the sky.
“It’s up over the other side of them up there” he said, pausing to look at my car, “but I wouldn’t recommend it...”

This year the road was finished.

Have been using a pair of thinly soled INOVs this year which enable me to descend like a madman. But I suspect a bit less speed and a bit more cushioning might be appropriate at my age. The minimalist craze may be of great benefit for some, I’m sure, but I suspect that it will also cripple thousands. The Truchillas course is hard and stony.. Each step downwards sent shudders along my spine. I fell a couple of times on easy ground, I think I was dragging my feet a bit as a result of backache. Descended very carefully fearing more falls.
Struggled around in 3 and a half hours, a full 40 minutes slower than 2 years ago.
160th out of 192.