An itch I can’t stop scratching
Sometimes in running I get obsessed with a trail or goal. Something gets in my head and I NEED it. I can go about my day to day but if it's actionable it comes back frequently to mind and I go into deep focus about it.
The most notable are on recent family holidays. Probably because the opportunity has an expiration and of course I'm supposed to be part of the family holiday, not just off running up mountains.
2024 Emboixar on Montgo in Spain. I plotted a gnarly steep climb and ventured during a family holiday. I had been struggling to follow my gpx for a while. When I reached a rock section I would struggle to climb it was really wide and one side I could see a way up but it was way off route the other side was exposed and tricky but with a rope dangling lending a clue. I didn't fancy it much. I couldn't see how it was attached. Giving it a tug, it felt solid but I certainly didn't fancy going back down this part if it proved to be a dead end.
I turned back. It was day 1 of a family holiday and I didn't want to ruin the trip by making a stupid mistake and getting hurt. Later I researched. I borrowed a gpx file from Wikiloc, read some hiking blogs about the route and went back assured. But it took about a week to get the chance. In the meantime it was very much in my head.
Returning I was able to reach the rope having followed tail markers all the way to it this time and was confident it was correct. The exposed part made it scary and the climb took a stretch to feet and hand holds but that was the crux and the rest was plain sailing. I was buzzing having completed it. I Leveled up!
Limone Extreme
Later the same year (2024) I was keen to explore the Limone Extreme route. I'd been running on the opposite side of the lake the year previous, following Malcesine Baldo Trail race routes and had discovered the Limone event. I'd have loved to enter in 2023 but logistics and expenses didn't allow it. It had been sitting in my mind for nearly a year.
There were some epic pictures on the Skyrace website and write ups and I wanted a piece. Mostly a ladder climb in the rocks stood out with Limone down far below.
I found the time to follow the Skyrace route, it ran along the lakeside a few miles from Limone then a gnarly climb started - steep and traversing an often exposed cliff side, it was epic and I'd not experienced anything quite like this before. I found old race markers along the way and followed the route to a tee. I loved it. One problem though. The ladder. Where was it?
Well of course it wasn't in that route. It was in the vertical kilometer race aka Cima Mughera. I learnt quickly after, more blog reading, learning, gpx finding. I suss'd it out but I felt I'd used up my trail time on this trip. It was near the end of the trip too.
Then Sunday evening I discussed it with Jenn (who wanted me to end the obsession) and squeezed some time to do it. I drove to Limone, the other side of the lake from where we were staying - arriving a little after 7pm and knowing I had around an hour and a half of light to use. It was hot, around 31 degrees in temperature even at this time in the evening. I pushed up the trail quickly as I could to make use of light whilst remaining cautious in respect to the tails scrambling and exposure.
I reached the top in an hour and a half just as the sun was setting just as I had hoped. Magical. The silhouettes of the mountain peaks around and the golden light, what a place and time to be. I put on my head torch and descended into the darkness of the forest and back to my van. At the time without a doubt the most rewarding run I'd ever accomplished.
Now we're back. I ran the same loop last Tuesday evening, at a similar time in the evening to last year. Jenn and the kids accompanied me around the lake and went for dinner while I went off to play. With experience under my belt confidence was no issue and I loved every moment. It was cooler than last year, closer to 20 degrees. I took some photos and videos to share on the way up, again descended via the forest, this time not needing the head torch.
You'd think that should be scratch itched. But I've been obsessing. I was much quicker this year, by 28 minutes. Is it due to the kinder temperature? experience? fitness? chance? Or perhaps wanting to get back to the family quickly to remain in the good books.
It got me thinking... How quick could I get up, no photos or videos or pausing on the way, just focus and effort? I won't be getting an FKT, it's a vk race route. Remi Bonnet holds the Strava segment. Killian is on the leaderboard and other elites. But I want a marker for me. To compare myself in future years to see what I can do. The weather looks kind tomorrow and my alarm is set for 6:30am :)