Sunday 9 September 2012

Sierra de Chiva

Running 40 miles across the Peak District used to be a challenge that seemed near-impossible and would have me giddy with excitement. However, it was now becoming a normal Saturday, so I went looking for the extra dimension. Speed? More mountains? No, I decided I'd race in Spanish! :-)
One gloomy December morning, I stumbled upon the Sierra de Chiva website and booked my flights straight away! The route description didn't fare well on Google Translate, the map looked like a cartoon and my Spanish was limited to 'hola!'...it was going to be a great adventure! Free accommodation was provided at the translated 'retirement home'..I had visions of smiling geriatrics playing gentle songs on their guitars before tucking up to bed early, ready for the race. On arrival in Chiva, it transpired there was no retirement home (I spent a while asking around for one!) but after following the more athletic part of the Chiva population, I found the 'old peoples pub' - success numero uno! Impressive race goody bags were handed out already (local wine, chocolates, tshirt, a book on the local dialect(!) and the most ingenious race number ever!) and I attempted to mingle with some runners before retiring to my sleeping bag. I ended up staying up late, eating my goody bag chocolates whilst the local oldies tried to communicate to me that I was nuts!


Best race numbers ever: when you look down at your stomach, the landscape profile is the right way up, with all the checkpoint info :-) ...just don't try to read this on a rocky section! Thanks Rafa Carrion for the photos :-)
In the dark of the next morning, I lined up at the start and watched the race director make some very important points, in Spanish (I was the only non-Spaniard attempting to race!). He wafted some orange things around with importance (I soon realised these were the life-saving route markers!) and some tags (for the headtorch drop bag that I didn't realise existed) and then we were off!

The descents required some concentration!
At one point, a friendly guy ran alongside me and said 'dolmo'. I recognised this was the name of the local wine which was named after the local tree. He was pointing at a tree, so this was all good and made sense. I nodded. He repeated, 'dolmo'. I repeated my thanks for the local tour and we continued in this circle of nodding and dolmo-ing for several minutes...it struck me, there was about 35 miles to go and they could well all be spent like this. It was one of those moments when you wonder what everybody else in your life is up to (probably drinking tea and discussing the weather) and compare this to your situation (pretty random!). We reached the first check point, where obviously everyone was dressed as Minnie the Mouse(!) and then the real tracks began. It was very dusty with loose rocks, the heat was starting to rise rapidly and the mountains came into view. The ascents were tough, sweat dripping into my eyes, fixed ropes guiding the way up - at this point, the language barrier evaporated, everyone just grunted and made noises of effort. Everyone around understood. The downhills were fast and furious, very loose and with the occasional roped/jumping section. In the midday heat, we passed some really magnificent, huge caves then began the ascent of the largest mountain. At the top, we were rewarded with lovely breeze before it was time to dive down into an arid gorge which would sweep us back to Chiva. The checkpoints were stocked with luscious tomatoes and lots of cola, the marshalls (wearing jackets and hats in the heat!) were filled with endless support and many friendly faces popped out of the quiet desert-like landscape to give us a cheer. As I reached the final hill and saw the view down to Chiva, I didn't want it to end! I was having such fun attempting to learn Spanish and practise my French, soaking up the non-Peak-District views and enjoying being warm in December!

Loving the band!
The finish was fantastic! There was a live band, free massages with no queue, food (although black pudding and boiled chicken wasn't super veggie-friendly but thankfully there was a pizza shop open, nom nom nom) and I was handed some super comfy socks and a rose too! :-) The atmosphere was great and everyone had a little dance with the very enthusiastic band. An even better adventure than I had hoped for! I will definitely be back :-)

If anyone knows any other great races abroad, I'd love to hear your suggestions!
Posing at a checkpoint with some friendly guys :-)

Adventures So Far

A quick summary of the best (and most educational) adventures so far:

  • Carrera X Montana Sierra de Chiva - 40 mile run in Spain, worthy of it's own post...coming soon!
  • The CCC, 61 mile version of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. Best day of my little life so far!
  • Runfurther races; Haworth Hobble, Calderdale Hike, High Peak 40 and the Long Tour of Bradwell. All very excellent days out with all the best ultra runners in attendence! Always great to see devout, Runfurther-tattoed Nick Ham and the other friendly faces.
  • The inaugral Tour de Helvellyn - what a lot of snow! Grown men bum-sliding icy decents, moonlit mountains and the most-needed/best-tasting soup ever at the finish! :-)
  • The OMM Perthshire and Dartmoor: great combo of misery, fun and trying to weigh super-fast Nath down with the tent, etc!

    
    Nath hits the euphoric stage, Perthshire
    
  • The High Peak Marathon; a 40 mile race at night in a team of 4. Team Andy+Jenn had never met Team Premier Quest (Phil+Tom) before but we had a great night out, fighting our way through the bog, up some peaks, through more bog - the best way to spend a Friday night!
  • The LDWA Dorset Doddle, my first ultra. Crashed and burned at about mile 27 out of 33 then tried to hitch to the finish...but nobody wanted to pick up a sweaty runner. Total distance: 31 miles, should have just carried on with the race but had a train to catch and the extra 2 miles would have taken a looong time! Lesson learnt: eat and drink. Successful finish the following year. Fab event, they even had rice pudding for dessert :-)

    
    Team High Peak Marathon
    
  • Mont Blanc Cross/Marathon: my first race was the Cross and we have since returned for the marathon three times! It's such an amazing route, I love running around Chamonix. Lesson learnt: hydrate, don't eat a million oranges (even if they are deliciously refreshing) then mix with lots of cola...bleeeurgh!
  • The Cheltenham Circular Challenge:  lovely and muddy!
  • The Montane Lakeland 100; number of starts: 2, number of finishes: 0! Must...not...eat...out-of-date food at start of races - typical student!! But had a fantastic time on the bits I did do, 2013 is going to be a completion!!

    First night, Lakeland 100
  • Tour de Turkey; my friend Nath and I decided to cycle from Bodrum to Antalya...in the middle of summer! Very hot and probably not the best 'roads' to take your new road bike on, but absolutely amazing coastal route with plenty of mountains to challenge you, then fantastic food and sleeping on the beach - perfect!
  • Also cycle-toured the Scottish Isles after the Isle of Jura fell race and cycled Conway to Cardiff this year. Currently addicted to a new cycle route planning website and can often be found attempting to cycle a silly distance rather than paying for trains.
  • Lots of mountaineering adventures have been had so far with friends from Nottingham Uni Explorers. Particular favourites have been alpine trips to Chamonix and Saas Fee as well as the yearly trip to the Isle of Skye.
  • Downhill mountain-biking in Morzine, Les Gets and Chamonix - totally addicted!!!



I wish the commute to uni was this fun!