Grand Raid des Pyrénées
Summit Fever at the Grand Raid des Pyrenees
Andreas Strand / 02.09.2013
The GRP is one of the hardest trail races you can do, and the most beautiful race. This year there were three different distances: the superlong 240 km with teams of three persons, and the 100 miles (160 km) Ultra, plus the Grand at 50 miles. Situated in the Pyrenees these trailraces are not to be taken lightly. There is 10,000m of ascent in the Ultra 100 miles, and 5000+ in the Grand.
I first came to France in 2011 to do the 160 km, but had to withdraw after 130 km due to a massive pain in my hips. I had totally underestimated the downhillrunning and did not run gently into that long night. It took me 2 years to change my runningstyle downhill and now I was back for revenge.
My gameplan was all taken care of, and I'd planned in all the details I knew from my prior experience. Start slower, then pace up and be careful on the downhill. I brought more swedish food so that I could eat what I was used to and even brought change of shoes for both 70 km and 120 km lifebases. It was a good plan.
Being in France is a special experience, especially if you dont speak the language that well. You could very quickly become lost in translation. But luckily I have a good friend who takes well care of me there. There are good and short translations of the roadbooks and of the important information on the website. When you arrive at the registration you can easily find your spot and get your things, no fuss even if you don't understand and they dont understand your English. After the french briefing there is a briefing in English and Spanish for those who don't understand - which is great.
The start is at 05:00 am, so it is a very early alarm call. It was warm outside, or at least I thought so – but the others standing next to me were in their long tights, longsleeved shirts and had Buffs over their heads shivering. I should have known then that something was wrong.
Finally it is Go-time! Everone is cheering and off we run. Into the darkness and up the hill! After a couple of hours I started to feel very tired in my body and something wasn't right. It was very warm outside… wasn't it? No answers from my French speaking competitors. I felt tired and it felt like I had a fever. Not good. I tried to pour water over my head and cool off. But when I wanted to start running a little bit faster it was just awfully hard to get going. It didn't become any easier when the sun came up.
I struggled with all the uphills and couldnt get the body moving on the downhills. It wasn't my race this time either. I was ready to give up on the Col de Sancour , but this really, really nice volunteer came up to me and spoke great English. He cheered me up and got me fired up and ready to take on Pic du Midi - if it only could have lasted longer!
When I got down to Hautacam 63 km - I knew that I had to withdraw again, not that I wanted to, but I had to. The feeling inside your head and the demons shouting at you is not what I recommend for anyone to listen to. After all the time spent preparing for a race and not having any sickdays for years, the despair hits you right between the eyes on days like this.
I would like to say that the GRP is the most beautiful trailrace on the planet. Fantastic and beautiful small French villages, high mountains and great trails all over the place. Then it is easy to continue for over 60 km with a fever. Coming into Artigues (30 km) the whole village plus other supporters stood there cheering you on, and I could feel like a rider from Tour De France when I ran into the food tent. They were standing in front of the gate and clapping hands, I could almost not see the path I had to take to get into the tent. Just like TDF in the mountains. A memory I will take with me forever. Even though you dont speak the language you always get a nod or a nice cheer when someone passes you, it is a very friendly and happy race!
There was an impressive win on the 160 km by Iker Karrera Aranburu from the Salomon Team in 24 hours and 54 minutes - just incredible. He was 1 hour and 10 minutes in front of second placed finisher Brice Dijoux from Team Opel. Winning the female category was Karine Herry from Team Lafuma with the great time of 29:52 hrs.
The 80 km race starts a day later than the Ultra, and that was a closer battle. Winning the mens category was the superfast Jerome Fournier with a time 09:40 hrs. Second placed Julien Navarro was only 13 minutes behind him. The first female and winning the 80 km was Maud Combarieu with the time 12 hours 13 mins.
Needless to say, but I have to come back a third time. Or as they say: 'Third time's a charm!'
Some Additonal Info. from Anne-Marie Dunhill - Race Press Officer.
160km
Iker Karrera Aranburu is a huge fan of blueberries, so much so that his wife made him blueberry sandwiches at every feed station and in a post-race interview he said that when he found wild blueberries on the way up the Col du Riou he had the best feed-station ever.
He said that he found the route markings impeccable and the terrain beautiful. Although he came prepared for a battle for the podium, after thirty kilometers of racing a quick glance over his shoulder showed him that he had a strong lead so he slowed his pace and managed his race alone, at his own rhythm.
Karine Herry announced her retirement from ultra race distances prior to the start so her first place podium had special meaning for her.
80km
Maud Combarieu won the 80km just two days after returning from a month in Peru so she said that pre-race she was uncertain as to what her results would be and she started the race prudently. She added that the race route suited her with its ’technical difficulty' as she is “easily bored”. She arrived with a huge smile at the finish line and chatted for quite a while with Julia Bottger from Germany at the refreshment stand at the finish line.
Julia of team Salomon who came in third was originally registered for the 160km but knee issues forced her to reduce her ambitions. Maud remained gracious and smiling even when she was taken aside and assigned a minder for a drug test. (This year the GRP received a surprise visit from a French drug testing organization and they tested the first racers to cross the finish line as well as racers selected randomly).
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