Today was the 4th Race of the Trail Winter Series organized by Topo Adventure. The temperatures are not too cold (still too cold for biking outside...well the water is still frozen in surface, a good indicator) and so the trails at Devou are really muddy.
By respect for the amazing work of the workers of CORA who maintain the trail system down there and to preserve the trails in good shape, the course was modified and we did not race on the MTB trails from the railway side but from the other side of the Park on a 5 miles loop (3 miles on Road + 2 miles on hiking trails) with the classic 1 or 2 loops division.
Brian from Topo Adventure wrote one the course details to
bring our climbing legs even .....and he was true. The 1st kilometer from the
start was basically a 100m elevation climb to reach the top of the Devou Park
and I can't stop to think that I have to do it again for the second loop.
Once the big climb passed, we cruised on rode for 1 more kilometer before
finally hitting a portion of trail....kind of muddy but not too much, we swallow
a short climb and back on road for a devil downhill....The leading pack with
5-6 guys and me (5 or 10 milers) has already got a gap with the rest of the
runners, the first climb had already made a bit of difference. We climbed again
for 400m on road before another crazy downhill, same strategy relaxing the legs
just letting the gravity operates....Back on trails for a 1k climb less steep
but a bit muddy and we are almost done with the first lap. After a quick
downhill and a last km flat time to get into the second laps after saying good
job to the 5miles runners stopped around the water tank. I met with another
runner who stayed with me the 3 first guys on the top of the crazy hill on a
double way section as they are already running into the other direction.
After the last downhill, we accelerate for the last km and I
got passed 200m before the finish line, the guys who stayed with me was stronger today and after a "Well done man" I
let him running away before crossing the finish line in 5th position.
The race was fun, Brian has done a good job changing the
course at the last minute and at least that time I was not freezing....
Result : 16.4km - 400m D+ in 1h14min
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