Race Report: Desafio Picos do Acor
32k, 2,000m ascent. This is real mountain racing. Desafio Picos do Acor is where i’d put my body to the test
The Lead Up
To say I was excited about this race would be an understatement. Not only was it happening on my home trails but it would also represent the most competitive field I had ever raced in.
The trails had only recently been ‘unearthed’ from beneath a dense thicket of brambles but, boy, had I made the most of the time i’d had to recce the route. I spent almost every workout and long run practising the course. It is super technical with ascents getting up to 30%+ and descents taking lines that you question the safety of. What makes it EVEN more exciting is it taking place in December. While Portugal is largely known for its warm climate, Central Portugal gets its fair share of rainfall in the darker months. The forecast for this one was terrential downpour for the 24hrs leading into it. This turned patches of rocky descent you were previously thankful for due the respite they offered from slippy eucalyptus leaves into death traps. I was going to need to wear some sticky outsoles!
An ankle update - I have been re-rolling my right ankle intermittently since I first damaged it back in June. As a result, I have taken to wearing an ankle brace for all my trail runs. I have gotten pretty used to it and it doesn’t seem to hamper my form particularly. I wonder the feasibility of just wearing such a support on every joint. Could I then descend carelessly down anything?!
The Race (excuse the over-excited nature of this section. It was written in the moment and I didn’t want to change it due to the emotion it conveys)
Wow, that was/is eventful!
I set off on the only bit of tarmac out in front playing to my relative strengths. Into the first climb and I was fearful these born and bred mountain runners would leave me for dust. Apparently my approach to adapting to vert +++ has been effective and I hold my own.
Running up a stone wall beside countless waterfalls, pretty idyllic location for a trail race
3k into the race as it flattened out briefly before the first summit, passing the most innocuous of trails one of feet feet just slips from under me. I slide for a moment and try to make it look as cool as possible! Initially no damage report necessary as there was no pain and it seemed like nothing. Descending down the other side and I catch I glimpse of blood pouring down my leg. Another glance some way down the sketchy descent and it’s confirmed, there is a large skin flap over my right knee cap. Can I see bone? Best not look. Shortly after this I pass an aid station, I carry on past and make another assessment. Yup, it’s serious. I turn and start walking back down the hill to receive first aid.
WAIT, I can still run. This ain’t gonna be another DNF. Not here. I turn and proceed forwards. No more looking, no more assessing. There are trails to run.
There’s a lot of to-and-fro with the front 10. We form a nice train on the way up the second ascent. The second descent is the most gnarly you’re likely to find - steep, mud, sheer-drops, switchbacks, ropes, a river crossing at the bottom. It makes for an exciting 5min of ‘hold your breath, close your eyes and just hope’. I largely remain on my feet except a few intentional mud slides (where were the camera people here?!).
Into the third and biggest ascent and I know I’ve got to play it a little safe. Its a half an hour climb on a good day and the way down the other side is super technical. You need good legs on the descent otherwise you can lose a lot of time. Cresting the summit and it’s me and another guy running together. We run the way down together like some dodgy slalom constantly looking like someone’s going to bail but somehow keeping within a hair width of control.
Out the bottom and I was expecting an angry dog who bit me a few weeks back. I don’t want to say revenge was on my mind but…
An awesome photo over my shoulder as I run through the enchanted forest of Selada Das Eiras
The next ascent (yes, there were a lot of them!) and my comrade leaves me before the top. My legs are aware they’ve climbed 1,700m in 19k at this point and there’s some significant complaining! SHUT UP LEGS. We go up. We run the ridge for 5k summiting another two mountains. I’m exposed, there’s a stiff wind and mud in my wound. It stings like a bitch and I consider turning back to the last aid station. There’s 10k of good running left and I’m not sure it wants it. I’m not sure I want it. I catch myself. Running to the finish line is now the quickest way to get this thing sorted. Plus, this year hasn’t exactly panned out as I’d hoped with DNFs and ambulance trips in abundance! We (my body and mind, two very separate quantities at this time) are going for broke 🔥
I descend like a man possessed. My legs are responding. I think they were saying ‘thank you’ for the vert largely being behind us. Plus, we’ll be passing within a kilometre of my house shortly. These are my trails. It’s time to act like it. For the first time in a race, the last 5k pass quickly. I know them well having rehearsed racing them and reacting to fatigued legs. It helps that they are rolling downhill open tracks.
The finish line is here. I did it. I wear my smile with pride. No one’s taking that one away from me (even if they do have to take my leg!)
I won’t show you under the dressing!
I write this on the way to the main hospital for assessment as to whether it needs cleaning under anaesthetic. The doctor in urgent care is concerned about damage to a tendon too. I reassure him my legs are working just fine. Better than fine. They’ve done me proud today. So too did my mind holding strong when it had every right to reason out quitting. It might be a little while before I’m moving like this again so I’ll relish in it while I can 🙌
Take Homes
I don’t know if I can simply write to ‘stop falling over’ but essentially this what I need to do. I can blame it on the footwear I was wearing each time but the truth is I need to focus on developing my core strength (in turn contributing to balance and agility) and technical trail running skills. I might just treat myself to a pair of Salomon Pulsar SG just to make sure that’s not an easy fix nonetheless!
Focusing on leg strength and speed goes a long way to getting you up and over mountains. Tying these together in the neat bundle of strides/hill sprints and short intervals (30/30, 10x1min, 5x3min hills etc) means you can fit it into your weekly schedule without upsetting the balance
I love the mountains. I might have arrived in Portugal extremely naive to what it takes to race in the mountains but I have LOVED every second of becoming acquainted with them. Everything about it is exhilarating - the steep ascents, technical descents, the views, changeable weather, the running where most other forms of transport would fail. If you haven’t tried it, book your next holiday next to some big old lumpy terrain!
Its good to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses but these need reassessing frequently. I went into this race (and every other race this year) assuming everyone would run away from me on the climbs. This is derived from the first race of the year, a 10mile road race where I got dropped on an ascent and never recovered. Its strange how these things stick with you and effect your confidence. However, my climbing has improved immeasurably in the last 12months so going forwards I won’t assume that’s where i’m going to lose a race
An Exciting Venture
I am launching running retreats set in central Portugal starting this Spring. I want others to have the chance to experience the magic of running in the mountains here. This is the first I have mentioned of it so if you are interested, get in touch early for more information and to reserve your spot. There will be more details to follow soon
Thanks for following along!