Saturday morning saw us not having to get up overly early, not having to rush and only having a short journey to our latest race. This time, it was a trail run near the tourist hotspot of Kazimierz Dolny.

Around the area are steep hills filled with gullies thanks to the fairly unique geology. This formed the base of our 7km route. The 7km route was the shortest available on the day with a 21km and a 57km route available too. The 57km left at 5am, the 21km at 10am and our race at 10:20am.

The start was in the ski station / resort at Parchatka in between the towns of Puławy and Kazimierz Dolny. A fitting start for a pseudo mountain run. After registration it was a case of waiting for the start. While we were chilling out suddenly there was a rise in applause and cheering. It turned our it was the race leader/winner in a time of about 4hr:30min. Crazy fast.

Our start time came around and we were ushered into the starting pen along with our good friend Monika and about 100 others. After the starters pistol it was straight into the first climb. It started out nice and easy, with people talking, laughing and nattering. Then the climb started properly as we headed up our first gully.

The chatter stopped, the breathing deepened and you could sense that legs were starting to burn. The reality of what we might have thought of as an easy 7km dawned on us. There were definitely a few that had headed off at quite a pace that were caught out and were suddenly at a halt on the side of the track.

The climb continued up onto the hill top where the gradient finally offered us some relief from the leg burn. But not for long. As steep as the hill up was, we suddenly started the first descent and it was steep, uneven and yet very beautuful. As the race wound it’s way down the gully it seemed that everyone’s quads were starting to feel the burn. It turned out the downhill was just as tough as the up.

Onto the flat now and the first hill complete and about 3km in. The flat was a lovely relief though it was brief as the next hill came into view. It was another stunning gully, this time with a stream running down the middle of it. Definitely a lot more muddy than the first, so at first while the climb wasn’t the steepest, footing was a challenge. Then the gully turned a corner and we were faced by a wall.

This climb saw all apart from the very fastest reduced to a walk. The fastest were “speed hiking”. It was tough, it was starting to get hot but we kept on pushing on and on. Finally at the top of the climb was a much needed water station with everyone seemingly taking a moment to slow down recover a little and prepare for the final 2km.

As the course then wound it’s way over the top we were suddenly out into the open and we were afforded a beautiful vista over the Wisla down towards Kazimierz Dolny. Then the descent started. Much like the first, it was technical, steep, fast and a little bit testing on the quads.

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Then came the final climb, a little bit shorter than the others but equally sharp. There were some much needed fans supporting and cheering on the climb, it gave everyone a little boost. Finally there was a short flat section through a hops field before the final descent down into the ski station. Rounding the final bend, the crowds and the finish line in sight. It was time to savour the final run in. High-fives a plenty and done.

A time of 56 minutes 30 seconds.

At the finish line we were given our medal, a water and a bowl of stew as we cheered all the 7km, 21km and 57km finishers in over the line. I think we’ll be back next year and maybe going a little bit longer… (Gabby is thinking the 57km sounds fun…!)

Next up Triathlon Kraśnik at the end of August for Liam and Warsaw Marathon for Gabby!