Com diu in Lluís: “Always Passen COSES, Vallfogona”.

This was our fourth duathlon Vallfogona, the small town of Ripollès our friend, i organitzadora, Goreti Farrés, and could not spend any “of these things” that diu in Lluís. The first thing we did was to star in the snow on a sunny day that we use while we ran spectacular views Pedraforca. The second stage duathlon was muddy and full of litter prompts an ankle injury for Luis. The third race was the toughest ever races with fang, and especially a cold mist that froze ripollenca senses. Now read what was then the fourth edition of a duathlon that, if you have other races already, this particular no-missed and the, you never no n'heu fet ch, try out this, You say it is magical and when an athlete knows it can not do without.

We were fortunate to travel, com entendreu, amb la “large van” Vallfogona up very early in the morning with the idea to do a good warmup. It was worth going all three: Dawn, Louis and Stephen sitting close to the front row while a journey to change after us comfortably in the spacious cargo box vehicle. Ed that I plovia. It was raining and no strength left to do in the morning and, tant for, ceased to do so at any time while the stopwatch made his job.

Indeed we could do a good warmup. The sortida, always goes with, live a strong emotion in the moments before kick off and especially at boot time. The runners and riders of duathlons, I do not know if it did you run the same opinion, gent are almost healthy generalment, or as a Kilian Mireia Miró explained in interviews that they have read, cur for pure diversió however, above all, for passion and love for the environment where these tests are performed: He Muntanya. The voice of the speaker gives the latest directions and thank the participants crowded the starting line and, largely around the music that comes out of speakers and cloth that reaches to vibrate the chest of these, round off all these emotions that you speak.

We start fast and Rick and I do the usual lap of honor before the people take the walkway that leads to fast track muddy and rocky that we know of other times. The courses of action Vallfogona and especially the weather always tested participants more technical. A Nomes 5 minutes after the start entourage already stretched allowing narrow passages are not bottlenecks. Around town, the various intersections of the route, scattered beautifully, organization of people of all ages with enfundats “xubasquerus” inspire and encourage us thankful. In the punt INTERMIG dels 5 the 6 kilometers of the first part we walk to a point where the road, beetle that is literally a big rock, passes through a corridor with windows that gives us a few drops of water splashing from the waterfall that curtains and decorate.

Near the end of the first part of walk, a time before the transition where we take the shoes and bikes, There are a few feet of grueling fang already trampled by runners who have gone before us. To the “box” where in the end we stop running and take the bike appreciate even more the shouts of encouragement from the Alba and many other viewers who like her stubborn fight against the downpour to watch and cheer us. I do not think they get to take the idea of ​​the enormous percentage of energy transmitted to us in these moments. The change in the discipline always viewed as a balm for my legs, com a minim to principi, while these muscles are still stunned and disturbed transferring to strain more suitable for running the best way to pedal.

In Vallfogona always make us cross a river riereta sometimes seems. It makes no sense to avoid getting wet feet there, pedals while. It is autumn ripollenca not fail to find huge puddles of water all the way and actually, For this no? Estem competint, we are enjoying, we look forward to passing this river riding the bike like creatures can not be screwed down to the foot of the puddles on a rainy day. With the bike then spend countless pools of mud and piles of leaves of a thousand colors and enjoy the pure air of the region due to excessive ventilation of our lungs, bound by the tour “i pinyó gros petit plat” always has the first part of the section of bike.

 

Made many friends in this part of the race, creieu-me. Rick and I always comment that this move in part because most participants have mastered more than the bike was fast running walk, but also where we tend to have more time to identify those who will serve in the most pure competition. I speak of those runners, the corridors, be stuck in our conference or those who persecuted us because we become our goal, or “pastanaga” not stop with the pedals and tighten it when you just finish by congratulating the test. In other duathlons we meet these people, already known and we salute you and wish you good race, which is precisely one of the incentives of these tests “in family” that have nothing to do with urban triathlons.

The final stretch of cycling coincides with the lowest point of access to people. The climb is right but we can not complain, because this time we do not have the pedal twenty-two or twenty-three kilometers used in these tests. My brand has-kilometers in approximately seventeen. Ja Transició quasi to me that Lluís n'adono, that has advanced to bicycle as soon as this part has begun, I takes a few minutes ahead; It's a great competitor. Other cop feel and balsam of discipline de canvi. As I start down the walkway again, I run slowly and you feel sharp pain in left knee picoreta contrast with the relaxed feel to the thighs while I'm still learning about the muscles of the legs up and realize you no longer have to pedal, plowing have to run!

The last stretch is always running so hard is the final moment but I managed to overcome dolorets and I'm strong and fully. If boot time is moving, so is the reach. Finally glory and ecstasy of step goal. Rick and Dawn were just barely catch a few moments. The Gore m'orienta and encourages me to stretch out the goal and leads me to abituallament. The comment then is forced to feel so: The duathlon is special Vallfogona. Always live up to my expectations, fidel, in “Carrega MES cells” have the run than the download while I'm proof joints and muscles participate.

If a piulada is something that can be devoted, I dedicate this to my colleague from the Louis adventures and especially the Dawn, which is the principal author of the photographs that accompany this text.

UP HERE THEN THE TEXT OF THIS PIULADA.

Thanks!!

Was