❓Why

In 2019 I signed up for a long race ( Ultra Montseny 2019 🏃‍♂️🏁) as a preparation to get ready for my first planned 100k.

I planned to run Transylvania 2019 🏃‍♂️🏁 but a very snowy winter made the organization to shorten the track to 80 kms, hence I would need to look for another chance for the infamous figure.

2019 continued and I had signed up for Swissalpine Irontrail T.88 | Sankt Moritz - Davos 🏃‍♂️🏁, but that will leave my longest distance until that time on 88 kms.

<aside> 💭 100k was a distance in my mind, but 2019 went by without finding the opportunity.

</aside>

I had planned again for 2020 a 100k (UTD: Ultra trail Drakensberg) but Covid cancelled the plans early in the year so since I felt I was ready for it I started thinking on my Own 100k.

I googled the idea and got some inspiration:

<aside> 🔎 Research 👍 Advantatges

Go – or don’t go – when you want
You can cut it short without earning a DNF
No entry fees
Don’t have to wait for anybody
No-one will check your kit and inform you that you can’t start ‘cos those lovely lightweight overtrousers are about as much use in the mountains as a…
No rules – well, apart from public access, the requirement to be kind and courteous to the folks you meet on the way AND TAKE YOUR STUFF HOME WITH YOU
Don’t have to run with some muppet who just won’t shut up
Don’t have to suffer being tail-gated by the navigationally-challenged
You can stop at cafes and without a race number no-one will think you are covering for being lost or are just not trying hard enough
No well-intentioned but hopelessly misguided spectators shouting “you look great” when you don’t and “it’s not far to go now” when clearly it is

Inevitably of course, there is a flip side. 👎 Disadvantages

No-one will hang a medal round your neck at the end
There’ll be none of those nice checkpoints to look forward to
You’ll have to sort your own feet out
And your navigation
And your route-planning
The only applause you’ll hear will be in your own head
You can’t ever say you missed a turn ‘cos some race saboteur moved a marker
And you’ll be forced to think of some cunning way to open a conversation with a total stranger at the end so you can talk about what you’ve just done

<aside> 📌 Source: https://www.runultra.co.uk/Articles/July-2017/Self-Supported-Adventures

</aside>

With this in mind, I was decided… I planned a date and as it was coming I checked that the weather was going to be good enough.

I did the first half mostly alone and in the second half Yves, Nicole and Clare joined me for some section.

I ended doing the last 5 kms in the city by myself… walking very slow on a state that who ever who saw me would have think if I had some serious issue.