Written by Scott Harris - http://runninganimo.com
So there should have been a La Palma part 2 and part 3 before my race report but unfortunately my preparation didn’t go as planned and I was in no mood to share how my taper went, my race plan and my kit choices. I arrived in La Palma just over two weeks before race day to begin my taper. The plan was to get a few easy runs in the first week and then a few hikes in the second week to ensure I had plenty of energy for race day. I found my new surroundings a little on the noisy side in my casa on the east of El Paso so the first run was a couple of days overdue but it went okay. I got another run before taking a day off and then planned to run/hike up to Roque Los Muchachos. On the way back I had one of those moments when you think to yourself, if I wake injured tomorrow I’ll know exactly why. I didn’t get quite as far I had planned as I was short on water, a sensible decision to turn around. As I walked down from El Reveton I slipped on loose ground, my left leg slid out in front of me, my hips twisting as I dropped to one knee like I was going to proposal to someone. It didn’t hurt at the time but when I woke…
It was pretty painful and I took a few days of complete rest before going for another run/hike. I could feel it on the climbs and was painful descending. There was no way I was going to be able to handle the huge descent after 51k come race day. The race was getting very close now and I had to accept the fact I probably wouldn’t race but I didn’t want to make that decision without running one last time. I’d spent a lot of time on the foam roller on the Thursday trying my best to aid my recovery but it was difficult to tell if it was working as spending that much time on the roller can create as much pain as it cures. The day before the race and I decide to go for a short run. No pain! Not long to get my head together but I would be on the start line.
Having done the race before I knew how chilly it could be waiting around the start line so took some arm warmers and found a good spot quite well shielded from the wind. It was nice to catch up with a few familiar faces and some new. Like everyone I just wanted to get started. I decided to try and get quite close to the front as the start can be a bit chaotic. People sprint the few first few metres to get to the trail with the full intention of walking – very annoying. So there was a far bit of waiting around in position on the start line with music blaring out, as it got closer to the start a few elite runners were interviewed and shared their thoughts on the day ahead. It started to get closer and closer to the start time with the countdown projected onto a ‘wall’ to our left just a few metres away. ACDC Thunderstruck roars out of the speakers and it’s almost ready to go. Feeling well pumped up with 1800 runners around me, it’s a crazy start and probably the most exciting I’ve experienced. Ready. The clock ticks away, 5…..4…..3…..2…..1…go, go, go!!!
Thunder! Off we go bumping into each other being careful to not be tripped over or trip others over. People are sprinting as expected to try and get a better position but I’m a little more cautious and go at my pace. It’s mayhem but great fun. It starts to slow down as soon as people start to hit the trail, it’s only wide enough for 2 maybe 3 people, runners are off trail trying to maintain some speed. The pure volume of people means it’s going to slow down and there isn’t a huge amount you can do about it. I join those running off trail from time to time not willing to slow down to a crawl. Maybe I should have joined in the full sprint at the start! When I can run I do but it’s hard to get any sort of rhythm as the pace slows again, patience is required but soon enough it opens up a little and I can start running. The view to my right is awesome, a sea of headlights flood the trail as 1,800 runners are at the beginning of a hard day. The moving volcanic sand is hard to climb on, sapping energy, pulling on the calves, hard work for everyone.
After about 6k and I pass through Los Canarios. It’s awesome! The whole town is out cheering on runners. It’s ridiculous, everyone is cheered on like there are leading the race. Quick stop for some water and I continue on fuelled by the enthusiasm of the crowds. The soft moving ground continues, having done the race in 2013 I know it stops part way down the descent to El Pilar. I alternate between running and hiking depending on what’s underfoot. It’s a bit too hard work running on the soft stuff. The sun starts to rise and the views across to Tenerife and Mount Teide are outstanding. I can’t help but looks a few times.
The climbing continues till the next aid station, Las Deseadas at 16.5k. Not long now till the descent to El Pilar, A bit more climbing and I can finally give my calves a rest as I start to run down hill. I do so at a steady pace just to see how my muscle strain that almost stopped me from racing is doing. It feels okay, and I barely notice it. I find somewhere to stop and empty my shoes from the bits I’ve accumulated since the start line. I find a flat stone in the shade; perfect. I empty both shoes and continue on. A runner blasts past me, soon after another runner is going fast behind me, I go to one side and point to the other for him to pass. It’s Rob Krar chasing down first place in the half marathon. I wish him luck, he thanks me and charges on and I realise how fast he and 1st place are going having started at the same location as the ultra runners at the lighthouse but an hour later than us. The marathon is starting at 9.30 at El Pilar and I can hear the crowds cheer them on as I get closer to the aid station. I arrive at El Pilar 3 minutes after they started. Grab some water and move on.
It’s quite good timing. The part from El Pilar to El Reventon is wide and I shouldn’t notice any of the marathon runners. Glad I didn’t arrive just before the marathon runners had started. I’m moving well during this section, fuelling myself well, taking on enough water and feeling good. After the next aid station the climbing starts again. A helicopter roars overhead a couple of times. No idea why, people are waving assuming their are on camera but it isn’t really the type of helicopter you’d expect if there were filming taken place. The El Reventon aid station is pretty busy as the marathon runners are now involved. I don’t hang about, get what I need and crack on. I start to get slowed down a little from some of the marathon runners on the climbs. It’s a little frustrating at times but you just ask to pass and hope they let you on the single track. A couple of guys have poles and are listening to music – a potential lethal combination….
I get to Refugio Punta de los Roques where I go inside and reapply sun tan lotion knowing the shade is going to be lacking from this point on till the long descent. Outside a volunteer is pouring water over peoples heads. It’s pure bliss. From this point on I do that at every aid station and use my own water to do the same where I can spare it. I started with a visor which I keep on all day and have a buff I get wet after having water poured on my head. It’s quite a good combination as I don’t have to remove the visor at all and don’t risk sweat going into my eyes. The buff goes back on once wet to cover the top of my head and all my neck. It’s keeps the sun off and my head cool. The heat hasn’t really been a factor to this point and I’ve found it easy to get several gels down me.
The climb to Pico de la Cruz is a little further than the organisers said and I run out of water for a short time. No big deal as I’ve stayed on top of my hydration well so far and it’s isn’t that long till I reach it. I find myself wasting a bit of time at this aid station, I stuff my face with watermelon and take longer than I should trying to get a bottle of powerade. The first time I haven’t been decisive going through an aid station all day. Though this aid station is a little further away than expected it does mean the next at Roque de los Muchachos is going to be closer. A nice positive to take on that final push to the highest point of the race.
I arrive at Roque de Los Muchachos feeling great. I’m an hour ahead of when I raced here last time. I’m in and out of the aid station quickly leaving walking with a cold coke. I empty my shoes as I can feel an annoying stone which won’t be much fun descending with. The initial part of the descent is going well, I’m feeling good and run the small uphill parts. Unfortunately it isn’t long till I start to encounter problems. I start to feel the heat for the first time all day, it feels like it’s get hotter as I get lower. My energy levels are starting to fade. My nose can’t stop running and is taking a lot of much needed concentration. My cheap sunglasses are starting to struggle as I’m switching being shade and sunlight. These 4 things seem to all hit me at once and I start to lose speed, focus and confidence. I struggle. My pace alternates between walking and a slow jog. It doesn’t matter how many times I blow my nose – it keeps running!
It’s such a contrast to how I felt after 51k at Roque de Los Muchachos. I’m no longer enjoying myself, I feel mentally defeated. I was expecting myself to be enjoying this part as I love descending. I was expecting to smash my previous best time of just under 12 hours. I have to keep calculating my estimated finish time. I struggle on not enjoying the part I was looking forward to. A couple of people overtake me easily, I feel pathetic and my descending abilities match that feeling. It seems to go on forever. I pass through the El Time aid station – nothing improves. A couple more people overtake with ease. I eventually start the huge switchback to the last aid station. It takes forever to get within sight of the bottom. As I approach the end of a young child tucks in behind my and runs with me. He could drop me if he wanted to so easily but he stays behind running with me. It bring a smile to my face for the first time since the highest point of the race. He runs along side me briefly before stopping to return to his mother. I give him a high-five and run into the final aid station at Puerto de Tazacorte. There is a car wash like shower for runners to run/walk through which is awesome.
After I top up on water I get going. The dry river bed is new to me, more soft ground, different sized rocks. I struggle through to the base of the final climb. It’s really hard work, I’m not walking as straight as I should but I push on getting soaked by a couple of spectators who have hosepipes for very thankful runners. The final straight is just there. Last time I ran this section with ease, today it’s hard work to maintain a jog. The crowds are awesome and help me struggle to the finish line as I accept water melon and a cold can of sports drink from people who I can’t thank enough. I finally hit the red carpet and high-five as many people as I can with till I reach the finish line in 11:12:05.
My race on Strava
*The above was actually written on the 17th of May 2015 not long after the race. Due to how disappointed I felt the end of the race went I didn’t particularly want to share my experience. I haven’t actually blogged in a very long time partly because of this. 2015 wasn’t a great year running wise for me and the second half of the year the least I’ve enjoyed to date. Not to fear. I’m back and ready to train hard and race. I might even start blogging on a regular basis…