Guadarun 2008
Day 3; Marie Gallante
Bryan Sharp / 07.04.2008
Having slept the previous nights under canvas it was a luxury to awaken in a sports hall surrounded by our fellow competitors in a make shift dormitory. Breakfast was as prompt as ever with today bringing a few more sighs and moans as the runners propped themselves up onto their feet. We were to be driven by coach to the start and finish at our beachside sports hall. At first glance the route map seemed basic and straightforward, then we realised it was double sided! Delayed starts are never good and news of a one hour delay was not welcome, but the event organisers ensured us it was to complete additional course markers so losing an hour of cool morning would prevent anyone getting lost in the heat of midday and suffering the consequences.
The hour passed quickly and we were off with a circular short road section to start before the more demanding off road section. We wound our way down a sheltered wooded path then onto a dried river bed zigzagging our way from boulder to boulder.
The familiar if not welcome sight of volcanic rock and it's sharp edges popped up to say "Hello" for the next 10km's or so as we fought a hard battle against the sea breeze.
Rocks, cliffs and crashing waves were some of the competitors only companions as the field started to spread, the strain of the previous two days was starting to show.
A steep climb to the one and only water station (self sufficient?) some familiar friendly smiles and open road lay ahead. Approximately 7km of lovely fresh, springy tarmac cutting it's way through sun dried countryside gave some of the runners fresh inspiration and others a sickening psychological blow.
A mixture of road and track with several turns, all well marked, led us to a horseshoe shaped section, rising on a gradual but demanding dirt track, a gently undulating section through cattle farms then down through woodland to another stretch of tarmac. The tarmac lay at the side of a beach, the sports centre was on the beach, the finish was that close you could almost smell the fresh fruit and hear the sound of a cold shower. Quicker than you could say "Could you take a look at this blister for me?" friendly faces started to appear in the distance and we were there! Three down, two to go!See All Event Posts
