After successfully (though somehow unexpectedly) finishing the 55 kilometres of Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc OCC in August, still riding that runner's high a week later (and trying not to forget it completely), I registered for another ultra trail, the Transvulcania Maratón.
Which means that a longer October weekend on volcanic La Palma (aka La Isla Bonita), the westernmost island of the Canary Islands, is coming my way!
The route begins at El Pino de La Virgen (El Paso) at 853 metres above sea level and from there, climbs steeply until it joins up with the GR 131 long distance trail, passing through El Puerto de Tazacorte to end at the finish line in Los Llanos de Aridane.
With a total distance of 45 km, a cumulative elevation gain of 2,816 meters, a cumulative elevation loss of 3,372 meters and a total elevation change of 6,226 meters, this race category requires a special physical condition, since we must take into account the last part of the route, which descends a vertiginous path from the highest point of the island, the Roque de Los Muchachos (2,426 m /7,959 ft above sea level) to sea level (Playa del Puerto de Tazacorte), with a final ascent to Los Llanos de Aridane.
All to be done within 10 hours.
