52 km, 2200 altitude meters
I signed up for the run in the spring with the desire to test my mind and body. 35 km seemed too little, very doable . I wanted a bigger challenge. But 50 km sounded like a lot at the same time. I was worried about training. How and where to find time for longer training? Where to train altitude meters on our low hills? Challenges. But where there's a will, there's a way. I tried with at least one longer training session a week (usually on the weekend - between 20 and 30 km) and a short circuit in between. I only went over thirty once, and then only by a few meters. The conditions for long training sessions at home are difficult. There are no refreshment stands, no taps every few kilometers, snacks, company, etc. It's only possible if I carry a liter and a half of water with me (it doesn't fit in my backpack anymore) and gels or if I convince someone to go with me (which happens very rarely). The conditions that runners have on organized trail runs are simply unbeatable.
After the high-altitude preparations a week before the run with easy tours with the kids in the Dolomites, I felt really rested. We arrived in the Soča Valley a few days earlier. My legs were light, I felt really ready. On Friday we drove to Tolmin to pick up my starting number. I packed my backpack: a bladder with a good liter of energy drink, I took a piece of bread and five gels with me. My head was set on getting to the finish line and that was it . My self-confidence came mainly from these longer runs, when I functioned completely normally on the same day without any muscle fibers. On the penultimate run (Go4Trail, November '23, 30 km) I hit a serious running wall and had digestive disorders. I wanted to avoid that at all costs. This time I tested all the food in advance. I found that I could eat spreads on bread or cereal before training. And simple carbohydrates during the run. Everything else was checked too: from panties to socks and bra. The pants that suit me best are high-waisted ones, because otherwise the backpack chafes on my hips (now I know I can solve that with Vaseline).
I slept great before the race. Surprisingly well. The first time I looked at the alarm clock a little after three. The next time it was ten minutes before the alarm clock. It rang at 5 am. Peeing, brushing teeth, pooping, getting dressed. Leaving Bovec at 5:30 am. Changed into running gear, straight into my Citroën and towards Tolmin. I ate a Nutella sandwich and drank during the drive. I knew we were in for a hot day. Another problem that often happens to me during training is the feeling that I have to pee , but after I squat, only a few drops come out. Apparently it's a consequence of not drinking enough. Hydration is key for the kind of effort that awaited me. And food too. I couldn't allow myself to be thirsty or very hungry. That really became clear to me during this race.
The start of our distance was at 6:30. First, they took us through the camp twice, it was really funny how they put us on display . :) Then we ran towards Ljubinje and the morning was foggy. At the Senica viewpoint we were already above the fog. There I ate bread with Nutella again. My dad called me the day before and told me to eat real food , not just gels. I really followed his advice and made sure that I didn't have a hole in my stomach even once (I often feel hungry during various activities). I stopped at every refreshment station along the entire route. I drank at least two glasses of isotonic drink everywhere, and in between I also had my drink from the bladder every now and then. I really, really, really made sure that I drank enough. In between I also went to pee normally three times. So it was enough. I also ate at every refreshment station with food. I usually picked up bananas and ate them while walking. I washed and refreshed my face everywhere. All the refreshment stations had incredibly helpful and friendly volunteers. I really thank you from the bottom of my heart for the hospitality! Such things are extremely important for morale. They praised us, laughed, applauded, encouraged us, offered us food and drinks. They opened our backpacks, filled our bladders, knew the route (everyone knew whether we were going uphill or downhill and how many km it was to the next refreshment station). Really, all praise to the organizers for such a wonderful team! They were also very well stocked, we got: bread, bread with Nutella, salami, cheese, salt, chips, peanuts, raisins, magnesium, various energy bars, bananas, oranges (and I probably forgot something else). In just under eight hours on the route, I ate about four bananas, bread with Nutella, two pieces of bread and a loaf of bread that I had with me. I also used up three gels.
From the Senica viewpoint, the trail took us to Modreja and then Most na Soči. There, the first runners at 35 km started to overtake me. Then came the second climb to Mengore . I was at the top at 9 am. Wonderful! This morning part was good for the soul . Absolutely wonderful. My endwaters flew by. Then we descended to Tolmin, past Labrca and when it was already very hot, onto the most scorching Tolmin plain . Oh, my. On this plain, the 50 and 35/25 km routes also separated. We covered about 20 kilometers up to here. Then everything became more lonely. I cursed that scorching and flat macadam road to the village of Gabrje . Then I somehow dragged myself to the refreshment bar at the end of the village. I ate some refreshments and a really long climb followed. It wasn't steep, but it was long . I walked and walked. Mostly alone. The route was really ingenious, through a dense forest and in the shade. It was muddy in between, we crossed a few streams. And when it got really hard, I walked (uphill of course, I'm writing this only for those who don't yet know what trail running looks like for the average recreational runner) to the village of Krn. Hallelujah! Refreshment stand, food, drinks. But we still have more climbing to do. I continued uphill. The clock showed about 34 kilometers. I sent a message to my mom that I was doing well, that I was feeling good. It was really going well up to here. I also checked in with my husband regularly. At the 36th kilometer, we reached the highest point of the trail - the Pretovc mountain (I had already been on the trail for five and a half hours). From an altitude of 160 m above sea level, we climbed to 1150 m.
There was a wonderful atmosphere on the mountain. A blue-eyed fellow runner anointed and massaged my knees (preventively), I ate and drank again and then… A painful descent followed. I enjoy going up more. In seven kilometers, we descended back to 200 m. For comparison, we climbed 12 kilometers. In between, I stopped once more and anointed my knees again. Here I could already feel my joints. I ran a little, walked a little downhill. I counted down the kilometers to the finish line in my mind. Then, when we were under Tolmin Castle, the heat, the steam, the heat ( I don't know what ) was downright desperate. When I write that it was to die for , I'm not lying. In front of the Tolmin Gorges, they cooled us with water ( they sprayed us with garden sprinklers ). From here on, Leon kept me company the whole time. We still had about 7 kilometers to go to the finish line. It was easier in company, although it was still scorching hot . On the macadam road to Tolmin Gorge: desperate! Then a few seconds of cooling off when we reached the river. Then a crazy climb. Leon was cursing for a while, and I was. Where were they taking this route, the letter was dewy! So we somehow managed to get to Žabče, then to Poljubinje. In the end, the refreshment stands were even more frequent. Although in the end you just wait for the finish line, for all the suffering to end. I couldn't wait for Tolminka and crossing it. Cooling down. Finish. The end.
Overjoyed. First, that it's over. Then, that I succeeded.
After I had a beer, cooled my feet, and sat down for a bit, I also crossed the finish line eleventh out of thirty women. I missed my fellow runners. I didn't meet a single one for the last thirty kilometers.
I covered the distance two minutes before eight o'clock. The running pace was about 9 minutes per kilometer. 4465 calories burned.
So, behind me is a wonderful experience. Really, really wonderful. The kind that leaves the feeling that I was looking for (even though I carried it inside me from the start) I can do hard things . That was the first time, but not the last.
Extremely satisfied with the organization, I will definitely be back! Only Tminci , but next time can we agree to turn down the heating a little? :)
*raisins
*cursed
All recorded distances, hours, altitude meters, etc. are approximate (rounded), measured with my Suunto watch and copied from Strava.