RedCrossTrail, Quiaios-Maiorca, 42 km, 1000 m acumulative elevation gain

photo José Carlos Melo
All five of us Run4funners participated in the longest distance, which is not even that terribly long considering all the constantly varying scenery and challenges we were faced with along the course. The trail started on the Praia de Quiaios with 1 km of sand, and after that, there was a long ascend to Serra da Boa Viagem, where we certainly had plenty of nice views opportunities and, to catch the breath, also more than enough time to appreciate it. And then rolling up and down towards Maiorca and its rice fields along Mondego. Although the course was not terribly technically demanding, 42 km is a long distance, and it must be hard running it unless you really enjoy trails - but this one is easy to enjoy...

Garmin track José Carlos Melo


Garmin track José Carlos Melo

The rain stopped just before the start and the fog lifted, but later there was more of a refreshing rain along plenty of sun. The temperatures were ideal for running, there was tone of mud and puddles and slippery slopes – it was definitively not a boring course, single tracks and forest roads, amidst autumnly colored nature. A memorable dicey steep muddy track around 27th km - directly up a steep hill where the only option was to go on all four, trying to get some grip on sharp prickly vegetation, hoping to avoid sliding back too often for too far... And a stretch on an old railroad, trying to find the right pace and step length among railtracks, and then quite a long rail tunnel with some weak illumination. But all these challenges are nothing but fun and good excuses to slow down… It was a day full of adventure and endeavor, getting to know the nature, the region, and yourself, while sharing the day with other athletes. Many thanks to the organization team for working hard to provide us all with this memorable experience!
photos OFFtel runners and José Guerra
All five of us successfully finished, in a good mood, and fully deserved the arroz doce waiting for us in Maiorca. Especially inspiring was Ruben, who after completing his longest trail by far, looked absolutely fresh and cheerful and did not mind to run up the finish hill again for a photo-op.

photos José Carlos Melo and OFFtel runners
Well, my experience... This is a very special trail for me, since last year this was my first "hard-core" adventure: for the first time I ran more than 20 km (last year the distance was 35 km), I learned then some hard lessons about chaffing, black nails, and proper hydration and fueling in practice and not just in theory... This year it felt like coming back to old friends and familiar setting, and I don't consider myself a complete trail rookie any more. The day started really well, I was full of energy, running confidently and enjoying myself, not holding back and not pushing too hard... kilometers were passing by suspiciously effortlessly. At one of the food stations I asked other runners how many kilometers are behind us, and I was genuinely surprised that there are less than 15 km left... but not much later all the euphoria was gone, suddenly I felt my knee hurting and notably swelling, and I had to walk practically all downhill stretches, and once cooled down, it was even harder to run. I was seriously contemplating walking all the remaining ten kilometers to Maiorca, but then Vitorino Coragem from Omundodacorrida came by, and he was encouraging just in the right way (not too much and not too little :-)), and he hold a nice steady pace, so I just followed him - and my knee and I both finished decently, and I have a good feeling it is not a serious injury. Because of my traveling agenda in the near future I was planning about 10 days of a run-break anyway, but I guess now it will have to start a little bit sooner...
Ana G.

Comentários

  1. Ana,

    Obrigado pela partilha.

    Além da grande atleta que já demonstraste ser, passas também a fazer parte da equipa de escribas de grande qualidade que os R4F também têm.

    Parabén pela prova, pela performance, pela qualidade, pela simpatia, pela simplicidade e humildade.

    Tem sido um privilégio ter-te conhecido.

    Runbeijo

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  2. Obrigada, Ana pela tua partilha. Foi facil e agradável acompanhar com o teu relato as características da prova e as tuas emoções ao longo de todo o percurso.
    Mesmo uma grande atleta como tu sofre no organismo com uma prova de 42km como esta e é capaz de se superar com o apoio e incentivo de amigos.
    A tua capacidade de correr em trails, pela Natureza, a tua simpatia, a tua humildade fazem de ti uma atleta que eu muito admiro.
    Que bom ter-te conhecido. É bom conviver contigo
    Manuela Cruz

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  3. Great run. Great writing. Great feeling. Congratulations, Ana.

    A trailer kiss.

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  4. Parabéns pela tua excecional prova e pela prestação na prova e no topo da serra no Troféu da Montanha. Esta tua descrição é relevante do esforço dispendido por quem fez estes 42 kms pela Serra da Boa Viagem.

    Como referiste a paisagem é bela. Mas no teu caso não tiveste certamente tempo para a apreciar.

    Foi um fim de semana muito agradável na companhia dos companheiros R4F.

    Desejo as melhoras do teu joelho e que regresses bem recuperada. Aproveita bem este período de descanso.

    Rest with Fun!

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  5. Obrigado Ana,

    Belo relato, de uma grande atleta, que também, como qualquer um, por vezes, passa por dificuldades.

    Mas é isto que os "trails" têm de diferente e de belo: há sempre alguém disposto a ajudar, a dar uma palavra de conforto, a "levar-nos" até ao fim se for preciso.

    Runabraços

    PS

    Parabéns Rúben, pelo facto de teres completado, eplos vistos "fresco", a tua maior distância.

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  6. Parabéns Ana,

    Foi um excelente fim de semana. Eu não conhecia a região e fiquei impressionado com a paisagem. Vale a pena percorrer aqueles trilhos.

    Seguramente esta prova vai continuar na minha agenda para o próximo ano. Espero que na altura sejamos muitos mais a felicitar de novo a Ana por mais uns pódios.

    + fotos aqui.

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