After four months absent from mountain races I finally got on the starting line of a trail, the chosen one, or rather the one that crossed my path (due to an invitation, thanks @ElioProductions ) was the Ogre Mountain Marathon, which celebrated this 2019 its fifth edition, in the town of Autol, La Rioja.
Due to the injury I suffered in late October I have been unable to jog for two full months and practically until a few days ago I did not resume running normally, but looking back and remembering the phrase that the traumatologist told me: "You have to stop running", and that left me more touched psychologically than physically, I can be more than happy to plant myself again on the starting line of a whole mountain marathon.
Being far from the form I reached last year, but with the illusion and desire fully recovered, the goal era clear, to enjoy trailrunning again.
Technical data of the #Ogromarathon 2019.
- Distance: 41km.
- Controls: 4.
- Refreshment stations: 8.
- Total elevation gain: 4328m.
- Maximum altitude: 1150m.
- Minimum altitude: 445m.
- Time limit: 8 hours.
Ogre Mountain Marathon 2019, organization of 10
I have to say that the organization of the race was 10, good previous indications, with references to parking lots and places to collect the bibs perfectly located, which are things that those of us who travel to races like to find so we don't have to be walking around lost until you find everything.
The "runner's bag" was very good, with fresh products from the area, (mushrooms and plums) among other things, in addition to the race T-shirt and finisher details that they gave you as soon as you crossed the finish line, socks and sleeves screen-printed with the "Ogre" of the race.
As for the course, I liked it a lot, although after so many races you see as unnecessary certain sections that are put to "harden" the test, and really do not contribute much more than lengthen the arrival at the finish line, I would have preferred to go down to the finish line by that track lined with pine trees without getting so much in the famous area of the "slides", but this is a very particular appreciation and others will be the area that they like best.
Many and varied refreshment stations, although I only used the isotonic and water. I noticed that they were well stocked with sandwiches, bars, fruit, etc..
Vanir energy gels, tested in competition
In this section I will make a small "Review" of the Energy Gels that I used during the test, the Vanir Go! of Vanir Health, whose ingredients per unit are:
- EnergyValor: 68 kcal / 288 KJ.
- Saturated Fat: 60 mg.
- Carbohydrates: 15.6 g.
- Sugars: 15 g.
- Dietary fiber: Absent.
- Proteins: 1,2g.
- Salt: 28mg.
Of which:
- 7,500mg. Dextrose.
- 7.500mg. Fructose.
- 1.000 mg. Taurine.
- 250 mg. Cyticholine.
- 80 mg. Caffeine.
- 15.6 mg. B vitamins.
I took 3 of them during the race, although the recommended amount on the website is a maximum of 2 per day, I guess they did not count on its use in long duration competition and that the indication is rather for a training day where you need to provide extra energy to the body.
The taste is sweet and fruity, quite liquid and not at all pasty, so it goes down the throat very well, helped by a little water, as all should be taken, it is perfect.
The dosage form with screw cap is very comfortable and allows you to close it if you do not take it all at once to continue with it later.
The only "but" that I find is in the amount of gel that contains the container, are 23.8 ml, and personally I'm used to taking larger doses with each gel, so they are small. This can come in handy in shorter and more intense races because in one sip you can take it practically whole, but I think that taking advantage of the same packaging you can put a few milliliters more and make you can carry more food in the same space.
During the race I consumed
- 3 Vanir Go gels
- A couple of Push Bars "The Gel Bar" of 40 gr
- Isotonic from the refreshment stations and water + a load of Amylopectin.
Total race time of 5 hours.
With this combination I did not have any energy ups and downs in the race, and although it is true that I was not in the mood to force the machine, if I was reserving and controlling food and hydration, allowed me to reach the last kilometers very fresh and being able to run fast.
Looking to regain sensations in the race
On the course of the race itself, little to tell, I arrived very just in time at the start and I had to place myself in front so that despite what I intended I was dragged to a very fast start, for a moment (a few seconds) I thought I was like last year and I kept the pace of the head of the race, but chop the first km in 3:15 and the loss at the first crossroads (my fault for following one who seemed to know the way) added to the subsequent rejoining the peloton about thirty places down, reminded me that I was "returning" and that we had come to enjoy.
I still have a lot of elevation gain to accumulate, as I have not been able to put hardly any elevation gain in training yet, and that shows in the first ramps, so I take out sticks and pull up "chino-chano" waiting for a more favorable terrain where I can loosen the legs.
The race consists of several firebreaks, which provide hardness, which climbs to the top of the sierra, where there are many wind turbines.
Final conclusions
In general, this race of the Maratón de Montaña del Ogro is quite runnable, if not for the verticality of its descents and the last slides. The weather was benevolent and we left with cool that turned into a great morning in which we could run perfectly with short sleeves without being cold or hot, without air, a splendid morning to run and meet again with trailrunning.
At the finish line they were waiting for us with the finisher details and a complete provisioning, besides the steaming hot plates with hot food, that after the restorative shower in the perfectly equipped sports facilities that the organization offered us, they did not stop offering us mushrooms and mushrooms of local cultivation, in addition to freshly cooked meats to replenish strength. Nor lacked the beer to celebrate the race and finish a great day as we like, gathered runners after the contest talking about how we have gone the same, commenting on the most beautiful sections and the most complicated, while we meet in future editions and for other races, where many of us usually coincide to enjoy everything that surrounds this blessed madness of running in trail territory.
I'm back! ;)
running gear used in the Ogre Marathon 2019
- Trail running shoes: Hoka One One Mafate Speed 2.
- Equipment: Runnea by Joma Sport.
- Poles: BlackDiamond UltraDistance Carbon Z.
- Goggles: Eassun X-light.
- Hat: Buff
- GPS Watch: Garmin Fenix 3
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