A dream, a goal – Trans Gran Canaria Classic 129K 2022
This is both the tagline for the race, and how it all stated for me. I don’t know when I started to get excited about this race. Perhaps it was when a few of my running friends mentioned they where running the marathon distance, and how it was mainly downhill. Perhaps it was some of the beautiful pictures of Trans Gran Canaria I’ve see on Instagram or perhaps it was a race report I’ve seen on Youtube. Nevertheless – The Classic, 129K distance was the distance that had got me excited though. I for a long period thought, if I travel that far, I might as well run the whole thing. I realised quickly I’m not qualified or trained enough to be able to complete this beast and still be true to my mantra – I want to feel strong afterwards. This was just a dream for now…
Turning a dream into a goal
I had run long distances before, and even a few shorter mountain races (Saint Bernard 30K, Killian Class 45K and Valderan 56K, Monte Rosa 160K 4days) but this goal was something else. It was my first “real” mountain ultra. Longer, and with more elevation, with more night running and more total time on my feet than what I had ever done before. When I completed Kullamannen 100K in November of 2021, I had decided before the race that if I feel strong and satisfied after the race, perhaps now I’m ready enough to test the classic – Trans Gran Canaria. For sure, Kullamannen was tough, specifically the last 7k was tough for me but I finished strong and I decided it was time to turn the dream into a goal. I quickly signed up, and started to plan.
Trans Gran Canaria, or TGCc was hosted during the kids school break, so I took the opportunity to invite them and my mother for a nice week in the sun (and to get some support on the way). Before the race, I used most of January and first half of February to train more than I normally have time for. Just before the race I had two weeks of no running (almost no running). I really didn’t want to have any reason to why I couldn’t achieve this goal, that previously was just a dream. This training period is something I will continue with, being more hard on my self (in terms of sleep, food and drinks), getting more milage in etc is something I realised I felt really good about.
Little did I know it would be this hard
With a high DNF rate, and a comment from fellow local Spanish runners that had run the race many times before said that this was the hardest TGCc ever.
With high winds, close to storm warning with winds up to 90K/H, constant rain and foggy mist and even hard hale at times this was truly a test to my will power. If you have ever heard of the Swedish trail running race Tjurruset, imagine this for about 60K. Due to the rain, most of the up hills and down hills was super slippery and muddy. On one specific part it was exactly like Tjurruset; Freight in some peoples eyes and laughter from others, when people where sliding down on their bum, taking fellow runners with them.
Trans Gran Canaria Classic, 2022 was the hardest thing I had set out to try to do by far.
11 checkpoints to achieve my dream
CP 1 – Arucas (Barreto) – Time to quit already
Cut off time: 18.9K, 605m – 4 hours
My time: 2 hours 28 minutes; Rank 534
As I had lived for close to a week up in the hills, I understood what the storm and weather warnings could mean. The villa we rented was beautiful located on a mountain slope with a view over Las Palmas. The weather difference up un the villa comparing to Maspalomas (which truly is the sunny side of Gran Canaria) was enormous. 26c and sunny in Maspalomas, compared to foggy, windy and 7c when we got home. Therefore, when the race organisers sent a warning e-mail before the race I took it seriously. I had my Salomon Bonatti Pro jacket with two layers underneath. My favourite shorts and Salomon wind and rain protective running pants on already from started. I was prepared when I left the 7c degrees villa, but warm already when before I started this race in a party atmosphere beach of Las Palmas. Most other runners had shorts and t-shirts. Experienced “as I was” , I warned a few others to take on more clothes, I mean I knew what we have to await. The problem was, that it was a few hills, and about 20K until it started to cool down.
At 11pm, we started to run on the beach and ran north west out of Las Palmas. I felt strong, and up for the challenge but it quickly went wrong. I quickly started to sweat more than I’m used to and after 3-5K I started to vomit. I couldn’t eat anything, and everything I drank quickly came up. I thought, I have to quit before the first CP at 19K.
When I arrived at Arucas, I was tired, felt sick, extremely sweaty and thought I will never make it. This was also the first and only aid station I used the organisers relax area. I grabbed some white bread and cheese and sat down for a few minutes. I recovered fairly quickly and decided to try a bit more. I mean, feeling sick wasn’t one of my two reasons why I could leave this race (feeling pain of something I believe is a dangerous pain and being too slow so I’m forced to leave due to the cut off times.)
CP2 – Teror – The way to Teror was terror
Cut off time: 30.8K, 1,418m – 6 hours 40 minutes
My time: 4 hours 55 minutes. Rank: 515
I actually can’t remember this aid station. Perhaps that I was still struggling with the heat and just getting better from the sickness. Perhaps it was the way there that made me forget the aid station. The way there was more hilly, the cool mountain wind and rain finally started to make me feel better. With the rain, the mud also came. People were falling to the right and left and struggled with both going up and down. Here I once again discovered that I’m crap up hill and pretty good going down. Even if the hills was slippery, I could run down hill and passed many runners that had just passed me going up.
CP3 – Fontalanes – The first supported aid station
Cut off time: 42.2K, 2,441m – 9 hours 20 minutes
My time: 7 hours 41 minutes. Rank: 490
Between CP2 and CP3 – the mountain really started to show what we could expect more of all night. Heavy wind and rain. At this time I was feeling strong and more like my self again. I pushed on quicker than expected and I was at Fonalanes 30 minutes before expected time.
This was the first aid station that I had decided to meet up my mother and my kids to see if I needed any support. I sent them a text on the way there, to mention that they didn’t need to come as they would miss me. To my surprise they were already there. They had woken up early and seen that I was quicker than expected and left the villa even before 6am.
This visit for sure made a difference. Not that I needed much of the support I had packed, but to see their smiles was great. I had a zip of the bullet coffee my mother had prepared and change the energy supply bags I had with me. I realised that the only thing that worked was the Umara gel. I couldn’t get the bars down and the sport energy drink didn’t taste as good as it normally does.
CP4 – El Hornillo – no support allowed
Cut off time: 52.8K, 3,093m – 12 hours
My time: 9 hours 57 minutes. Rank: 437
This was the distance where I thought I would need support for the first time but on this CP, no support was allowed. I can understand why. El Hornillo was just a few houses, beautiful located. Half way up through a steep mountain cliff what I believe is a fantastic view over a green valley (I couldnt see anything here either 😉 ).
The downhill before El Hornillo was amazing – A small, narrow and relatively technical trail and today very slippery. Despite that, it was for me very runnable and truly the peak of the race. I felt unstoppable and ran very quickly downhill without feeling tired.
CP5 – Artenara – oh so, so cold and windy
Cut off time: 67.2K, 4,216 – 15 hours 20 minutes
My time: 13 hours 56 minutes. Rank: 434
Before this CP, where my family would meet me again, I thought of quitting. It would be an easy DNF, and a nice car ride home. I was cold, and sleepy. I was clearly not alone with these thoughts. In the CP, it was, what I would guess 40-50, people in rescue blankets that all looked terrible. That view made me change my mind. I have trained for this, I wont give up and take the easy way out for some rain (and shit loads of wind). I had no pain. I was hungry, sleepy and exhausted; but I had no pain – so why would I quit?
I decided to have a sandwich with cheese and what ever warm soup they served. At this stage, I truly didn’t care if it was vegan or not. I just needed something to fill me up and warm me up from the inside. I was longing for some salty, vegetarian broth. They served… something else… But regardless what it was, it tasted fantastic with a warm soup.
Heading out from the CP, the wind quickly hit me again, and since I hadn’t changed clothes yet I was quickly freezingly cold again. I hadn’t seen my family yet, and I decided I had to give it a go anyway. Hopefully I would meet them on the next CP again. Lucky enough, just a few seconds later they came driving.
I jumped into the car, changed clothes and got warming and supportive comments. You look strong, you’re fantastic…. I could see in their face that they didn’t really mean it 😉 Anyhow, some extra energy in the car and warm new clothes felt great. I let them know I was going to take a nap – seconds later I was fast asleep.
After about 10 minutes; I woke up again and felt rested. I felt warm and rested. I took my poles, put on my rain jacket and rain gloves on. It was time for a new day…
CP6 Tejede – going down to go up
Cut off time: 76,5K – 17 hours 45 minutes
My time: 16 hours 33 minutes. Rank: 437
The 11K trail to the next CP, of course started with a long hill. A hill that lasted for about 650 m of elevation for the next 4-5k. What a great start of this new day. Lucky enough, for the first hill I didn’t get much rain, but the super strong wind was still with me. When I finally made it to the top; and almost was pushed off the trail and down the steep slope by the strong wind, I was thinking: I should have gotten a GPS so they could find me if I fall.
I never fell – On the contrary both up and down I felt strong and stable and I trusted my own performance and the grip in the shoes. Like in many races I run, going down I passed many runners in this race who clearly didn’t feel as confident on their own down hill technique or the grip in their shoes. It’s very visible how this cause them be slower and use extra energy. I guess in the same way I struggle with the hills going up. 🙂
As this hill turned and we headed down, with every meter lost, we finally started to get a warmer and warmer run. People stoped to undress and changed the wet rain jacket to t-shirt. Arriving at the nice little village, it truly felt like summer. Such a different atmosphere to just an hour ago.
This was a very quick stop for me, and now in t-shirt, I headed back up towards the mountain agin…
CP7 – El Garañó – perhaps it’s better to camp
Cut off time: 84.8K, 5,565m – 19 hours 20 minutes
My time: 19 hours 09 minutes. Rank: 429
This stretch stared very easy, on a light downhill road. I felt strong and manage to pass a few runners. This until the next climb started. The climb was beautiful but tough. Another 750m of elevation in just over 5K. As I started to reach the next top, I was happy I had my rain jacket packed, and the wind really let me know that the race wasn’t over yet. The wind was super strong again.
Getting closer to El GarañóI could finally get some views. Majestic views over valleys and tree covered mountains. Such a luxury to be able to run here. Or run… I realised I am slower than normal , but now, close to two marathons in , I guess I’m ok with being slow. I could enjoy the run even if I was tired. I was soon to be able to see Roque Nublo, the rock that made be continue through my previous low.
As I arrived to El Garañó, my slow run had turned to limping. The previous long hours of rain hade done my feet in. I had serious pain in my feet and every step hurt. Seeing my kids cheering me on just before the CP made me feel great. A quick break, change of clothes again and even shoes this time should hopefully make me better.
My kids took good care of me, helped me to take of my shoes and socks. The socks was completely stiff and I could feel the dried mud everywhere. My feet looked liked they had been bathing for hours, which I guess is exactly what they had done. The wrinkles under my feet hurt a lot.
After a long break, with new Injini socks, and my new Altra Mont Blanc shoes I headed out again. Finally time to see Roque Nublo. After that I could quit if I wanted to.
The Altra Mont Blanc I had bought just before the race. I wanted to make them my go to race shoes for 2022. With a huge disappointment before the race, I discovered that they didn’t fit as good as I thought they would. I had bough the Altra Mont Blanc in the same size as I normally run in with my Altra Olympus. But as the new Altra Mont Blanc has less cushion around the shoe to save weight, I felt that they didn’t had the same good fit as Altra Olympus. I guess, one, or one and half size smaller compared to my Altra Olympus would do the trick. It was specifically the heel that felt too large. I was very worried that this fit would give me chafe after a few hours.
At El Garañó I had no choice. I had to change to the Altra Month Blanc to save my feet.
Wow… Did the Altra Mont Blanc feel fantastic… Nimble, light, perfect fit and overall amazing. Only if they would have felt like this from the start.
CP8 Roque Nublo – The beautiful cliff and rock
Cut off time: XK – 21 hours 15 minutes
My time: X hours X minutes. Rank: X
It was finally time to run around and up on Roque Nublo – The rock that made me continue the race several hours before. I was finally here, and just about when the sun started to shine through the clouds. It was still windy though – actually it was so windy, so when I finally came to Roque Nublo, I was greeted with a message to turn the other way. I thought the volunteer was wrong, and said “I haven’t been up yet”. “No, you are not allowed, it is closed” “It’s way to dangerous to let runners up on the rock in this wind. We have closed this path”. Oh, no…. The one thing I was looking forward to.
Now, when things like this happen in an Ultra race/run, it’s very easy to let the mood go down, but that wouldn’t have open “the rock” again, and I would have started a series of downwards spiralling emotions that would have made me wanting to stop. Therefore, I have learnt to accept things how they are, and just continue. One step before the next. I now have a reason to run Trans Gran Canaria Classic again.
CP9 – Tuunte – I thought it was it the last CP
Cut off time: 101.9K, 6,416m – 23 hours 15 minutes
My time: 22 hours 04 minutes. Rank: 409
All the way down to Tuunte, I felt strong. The hill down to Tuunte had been long, but despite me being tired I could run down hill faster than many other runners and I passed several runners. This is what I love. Running down hill. I don’t have the exact numbers, but I would be estimating it was a down hill stretch on about 800 meter of elevation and about 8K.
In Tuunte I felt strong, close to in a state of runners high. I could see several people laying down on the floor, or resting towards a wall. People looked exhausted, tired and sleepy. Not me however, I said Hi to a few Swedish runner I met at the start, and made a very quick pit stop. Only topping up one of the water bottles and I headed out again. I was now super excited to go out for the last stretch. I would finally soon be done.
CP10 – Ayagauras – the unexpected hill
Cut off time: 113,6K, 6,766m – 26 hours 15 minutes
My time: 24 hours 21 minutes. Rank: 395
My CP joy was quickly demolished when I realised that this wasn’t the last stretch. We had one check point more to complete. Another reason to let the mood go down. I decided to continue though, I can do this I thought, I will just let it take time and continue. My body still feels ok, and pain free even if I’m exhausted and tired. One step after another, I pushed through and had soon passed another hill.
It was finally time to arrive at the last CP, Ayagauras. At Ayagauras I started to feel sleepy but took a quick stop even here. If I sat down now, I for sure couldn’t get up again. I took some more water, a salt pill, a coffein pill and continued the adventure.
CP11 – finish in Maspalomas – I thought it would never come
Cut off time: 127,9K, 6,994 – 30 hours
My time: 27 hours 14 minutes. Rank: 359
Penalty + 2 hours, as I wasn’t allowed to run Roque Nublo
In the two last hills, I had realised that when the upp hill doesn’t become as technical, when its slightly less steep, and I can just hike quickly, my uphill training has helped me. Or perhaps the other runners was just very tired. In the last two uphills, I passed a few runners even uphill. Hiking strongly with the poles as assistance. This made me gain confidence.
Over the last 10K or so of the race, we “ran” through an old dried out river. With big, wobbly rocks it was extremely hard to run on tired legs. I tried a few times, but I had to turn to hiking. I hiked faster than I could run. This stretch, for a few reasons, felt like the longest, and mentally most painful stretch of the whole race. What a way to end the race.
As we had passed the old river bed, I unfortunately couldn’t start running again. I was too tired, and I continued to hike all the way to the finish line. During the last stretch, I met a fellow runner who was hiking as well, and we started to chat. Among other things, he mentioned that this was his forth TGCC race, and it was by far the hardest one so far. The weather is “never” this bad…
On the finish line stretch, lots of energy came back and I could run to the finish line with a smile.
Seeing my kids, and my mother greeting and cheering me on, on this last stretch was a real energy boost. I was so grateful for them to be there. I was soo proud over my achievement. I had dreamed and worked towards this for many years. I had finally done it. I had completed the Tran Gran Canaria Classic, 2022.
Did I achieve my goal?
Yes, I must say I did. Of course, like in anything you do the first time, there are so many things I know I can do better now. I know I have to train harder, I have to eat more, I have to… so many things. But despite all the things I could have been done better. I did complete the race, and when I woke up the day after I could walk without any major issues. I didn’t have to walk like a pigeon and my body felt strong. This is what I truly want to achieve. Run far, and still feel strong afterwards. So, I did achieve my goal.
Thank you, for reading this far: You must be an ultra runner, or soon to be.
Thank you Bettan, Noel, Leon and Estelle for making this possible. I love you.
Marcus
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