Maratrail des passerelles du Monteynard

For my birthday, and while the You Yangs trail runs are once again happening at the other end of the world, I signed up on the Maratrail des Passerelles with Mickael!

Garmin trace.

Photos on Picasa: to be added.

On the line, I worry for a minute being unable to unfold my Z-poles, had to get a volunteer to help me. Then also realise I have forgotten to take an ipod along, so no music... Not my day. And we start running. Straight from the start, I feel like it's not my day. Legs are heavy, I'm not in the mood or shape to push... Strange. So I take it easy, despite the first section being almost flat, taking us to and across the two himalayan hanging bridges. Then we tackle the first climb to Montagne du Senepi, that I don't really like: the uphill is too green, too grassy, can't really see the terrain through the high grass, and the landscape is not rocky as I like. And then the downhill is too steep, not technical, not enjoyable. Well, you've got it, nothing was good... That's what is bound to happen in that sort of mood. Fortunately we then reach the first himalayan bridge with awesome views on the lake hundreds meters below in deep gorges. The next section through the forest on earthy rooty trails is nicer. Then I suddenly take a big fall tripping on a root and rip my right knee open, but it wakes me up and I then start enjoying this fun section. Until I take a second fall on the exact same knee, that is :) But I am in a better mood and keep running a bit faster than before, on a succession of small bumps, quite a pleasant track until we arrive above the second bridge. There the views open suddenly on the amazing gorge below, a sign warn us about the dangerous steep descent. I meet the same cyclist I've seen a couple of times already around the course, and start going fast down the laces. Crossing the bridge walking (as imposed by the rules ^^) and taking a few photos, takes me to the other side at the bottom of Côte Rouge. Now that's a nicer trail: more rocky, nicer landscapes, I like that section better. The final part consists in running along the lake, at some point in the big pebbles on the beach, amid hundreds of people having a picnic or preparing to windsurf, kitesurf, boat... Yes, you get it, it was very windy too. In our face. And very hot seeing as it was lunch time by then. I lose the marking in the pebbles and end up back on the road, I know I have the right direction anyway, and I quickly enough happen on the big parking lot where we left the car this morning. Then there is a small uphill on the road, where I meet Mickael who finished a while ago already. He walks with me to the top, then I take off running the last section, a sign says "2km left" but I know it's less than that for having walked it this morning: down the trail to the bank of the lake again, through a campsite, on the road to the finish line at the boat club where we got the bibs.

There I get a "massage" by a student osteopath, and I discuss with the guys from Taillefer Trail Team about Grenoble Ultra-trail to happen next year for the first time: Ultra-Trail des 4 massifs. An idea for next year :)