We reached the location a few hours before the race start. I got inside the building to collect my BIB (race number) and do all the administrative things that needs to be done. Than Alessandro left me there.... I was alone, waiting for this adventure to start. "Am I ready!?", "What am I doing here?!", "How am I going to reach the finish line as promised to my family!?", "Are you OK!?".... etc. - Yes, many questions that were in my head engaging the stress moment before the race. A quite normal thing, still, I knew somehow that this adventure is a different beast! I was kinda scared.... I respected the race, the race course, the nature and the effort that I will invest into it.
The preparations that I could do were done. The homework was done. It was absolutely not enough and I was well aware of it. Still, I was ready for the fight, aligned there on the start line, ready to suffer... a LOT!
It took some time to reach the Cima Rovaia (2440m) 2h and 18min and we just passed the first 10k of the race! Still, the first 1050m of elevation of the race were done! I was quite happy of the overall feeling and I was pleased with my pace. I was moving forward like I wanted to - easily, with patience and controlled pacing. It was cold, slippery and misty, the top of the mountain was cold, really cold. It started snowing before reaching the top and the trails were wet. I needed to be careful, in particular on exposed sections. During this section there were still many runners behind me so I felt the need to push my pace a bit over my capacity for this event. I felt a bit of stress from behind..... this was a lovely recipe for destruction, I knew that! And it happened!....
A the km 17.2 my right foot hit a large bunch of wet grass, moving it violently toward my left foot causing me to stumble and spin and ultimately fall down uncontrollably. The impact was violent and painful, as I managed to land chest-on a rock, not the grass! The pain was excruciating but I decided to give it a try and move forward.. slowly. The technical terrain helped me to move slowly and the fall did wake me up. I was in the moment now..... still, for the first time thinking about the "WHY" and moving my thoughts towards another choice - a DNF (Did Not Finish).
While reaching the bottom of the descent, I heard an ambulance, It was approaching. Maybe the guy sitting on the bottom of the mountain near the water creek needed help? I was thinking like: "I need help as well! Should I seek attention there and maybe finish right here and now?!"
During the long downhill to the half of the race point and the drop bag location at Ponte di Legno I managed to run, I moved so well in some parts that I just let it go and enjoyed it a bit too much, Still, I don't regret the outcome of that bravado! I knew that I don't have the legs for that, not in that terrain and those elevation gain/loss. Still, being able to run after 60k and feeling well was a good statement for me that I did a decent training after all and the simple fact that I had no pain in my legs was incredible for me. Maybe due to a good nutrition plan or/and the slower pacing.... still, I was happy.
I reached the half of the race point (ca. 75m) after approx 18h of moving. I knew that I was slow, still, the only thing and goal during this race was from the very beginning just to enjoy the event and reach the finish line in one piece.
The thing that bothered me a few miles before this aid station was the fact that my urine was getting darker and darker. Like a Coke color. I was afraid of getting kidney damage or the very "popular" Rhabdomyolysis that would end my race. If that was the case I was ready to drop! Health first! I was waiting for help of a medic that should be there in 15min or so. I rested a bit and changed my clothes.
The doc checked my pulse (45/min) and blood pressure and everything seemed OK. She kicked my kidneys (which I did not expect) and the result was the opposite of the one if one has an infection or severe kidney issues. I just felt the kick which is of course normal :)
They made me drink half of a liter of water and visit the toilet. The urine was normal once again, so after approx 45min there I was cleared and ready to go despite me being ready to DNF once again.
I moved forward, the uphill was nice, the gradient of the gravel road was the one that I like, not too hard, still a good speed hike was the best option and I was moving. The breathing here in this section was OK. But this would change soon.... very soon, just in a few meters!
The climb to Bocchetta Valmassa was a pain, real pain! Steep climbs and technical terrain together with chest pain and labored breathing was absolutely not a perfect combination, still, the personnel in those check pints and aid stations, well, in all the aid stations actually were on another lever. They did took great care of me, I felt the love of the community and god great food that kept me warm and nourished in order to continue moving forward. The climb from the Cortebona aid station to the top of the mountain (2322m) was a fight, but the descend to Baite Somalbosco and the next climb to L.to Monticelli (2300m) made me fight for each meter. I was able to move forward while breathing like 70% of my lungs capacity thus consuming a lot of energy dealing with this, the pain and the stress that derived out of the combination.
Passing through history was amazing indeed. I felt the power of those paths. The deep sensation that I was not alone there, specially during the night, was both disturbing and comforting. Still, I was there with huge respect for the race, the mountain and most of all for the people that made history of that area.
"The Adamello Ultra Trail is the only Trail running event in the World that retraces the paths and mule tracks of the First World War. Along the historical trenches crossed more than a century ago by young soldiers, the athletes of Adamello Ultra Trail engage a sport challenge to overcome their limits and their endurance. The charm of this event is also to unite sport and promotion of the territory and its history."
From the top of that climb a very tough downhill made us reach the S.Apollonia CP and from that point as I remember a nice, wide trail/gravel road was the perfect road for me at that time. The DNF toughs vanished, I managed to find a good moving rhythm and the breathing was quite "good enough". I felt good there while moving towards the Rif. Bozzi aid station where I made a stop to refuel properly. Having no support, all that I needed was in my Salomon running vest and the rest of the nutrition was the things that I could have in these stations. During the whole race I felt on point with my nutrition, no issues at all which is a statement of the amazing and well made preparations and offer made by the organizers.
Amazing job! Well done!
I left the Ponte di Legno sport arena and boy was i freezing. I was shaking cold..... breathing into the jacket and trying to move faster to get some "working temperature".
The whole climb to Malga Calvo (2015m) was a struggle to get the body in sync and working properly. I had issued for the first time with concentration and I was kinda sleepy. Alongside with the cold temperatures, the chest pain and breathing trouble, I had to deal now for the first time with another game changer - the sleep deprivation component of ultra events. Luckily for me I had just a few hours before the daylight so I just had to move forward with patience. Just push it forward and I would be good...... I was thinking inside me.
While reaching the km 100 another issue came into the game play. My tibialis anterior was in flames and it hurt more and more thus actively slowing me down. The tibialis anterior is the primary dorsiflexor of the foot located in the anterior compartment of the lower leg. Its main actions include pulling the foot upwards (dorsiflexion), preventing tripping by lifting the foot during walking, and contributing to foot inversion. This means that my movement needed to be very, very careful. During the climbs and descents I needed to make sure to keep my foot as flat as possible avoiding lateral movement as much as possible. This was absolutely not an easy task during this race in those trail conditions with rain and snow storm in the higher part of the course.
The descent to Edolo was a long one, I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible, the views were sometimes nice when the humidity vanished a bit. It was still raining and it was cold. The second night was falling and I felt how the second night would be a massacre for me. I was ready for another component of the fight - the second night after more than 30h out there! Those last 30k would be another beast for me! I knew that!
I decided to lay down in Edolo and sleep a bit. I wanted to avoid the "zombie walking" or sleepwalking up there in those very exposed sections of the course. I did promise my family to get back home safe and in one piece so falling down a cliff or something due to severe insomnia was not an option! Not at all! I slept like a baby for ca. 40min. Still the Italians at the nearby bar had a party.... they were quite loud (as we Italians usually are). This would be otherwise much appreciated but at that moment I felt really beaten and the whole body felt cold while still inside the structure under a blanket! Still, I decided to move my sorry azz out and give it a try...... after 200m I was really close to yet another DNF! Really close! I was shaking, breathing heavily, the feet, both of them, were like made of concrete and every muscle hurt! A pure enjoyment is you are a masochist which I am not... well, not entirely anyhow! Ehehehe
The city center of Edolo was really lovely to see. While in my pain cave I managed to enjoy and appreciate the architecture of the place, the tiny roads, the old buildings and the vegetation.... especially the chestnuts everywhere. As a matter of a fact I am in the process of trying to plant a few of those here in Sweden and give it a try. Well.... that was another discussion. I was just stepping on those fine chestnuts right there while climbing that steep and wet trail... I mean STEEP! With my leg hurting that climb took like forever, but I was into the fight mode now, deep inside the pain cave and accepting the pain. I was not fighting it anymore. I tried now to embrace the issues, the pain and trick the brain to be good with it. The power of the brain, of the positive attitude and mindset has a special force. It's another level of the game where a few of us that love this sport reach when dealing with huge discomfort. The elite runners - those flying to the finish line like chased animals - are from another planet. They do not get the chance to embrace these feelings. The others, or the one like myself that like to compete or experience these adventures are here mainly for the experience with one goal only - just to finish the race and see the whole race course. We are well aware of our limitations and training that could never be optimal for such races due to like in my case a full time job, a family, a home terrain that is mainly flat etc. Still, we like the sport, the community we love the effort and we do love talking and preaching about our adventures..... even with those that reply like: "I am tired while driving for 100k"!
After the climb to Rifugio Malga Mola (1700m) I started to move really slowly due to incredible issues with sleep deprivation. I tried almost every trick that I could to move forward but it was tough, not only for me but for each and every participant of the race at that point. We were moving forward like shadows, in silence.... appreciating the effort when we met, when somedy passed or was passed.... we were helping and understanding. Those last miles would be different for each and every athlete, still, the effort was there making us one big happy family sharing the trails, the pain, the suffering, the joy and a huge amount of emotions. Simply wonderful, as it should be.
I was moving good while climbing with a good focus, but the flat sections that were quite exposed on that last section before the last check point and the downhill to the finish line was something else. I needed to stop after every 100-200m and do a power sleep while leaning on my poles or in severe moment where I could not even see properly. I just threw myself down on the grass and slept for a few minutes, enough to move forward for some km.
When I reached the Pianaccio aid station at the 145km I felt exausted, really low on everything, but there is one change.... suddenly I was not sleepy anymore. I remember that I wanted something from the aid station but they already sent those things back to the valley. At that moment I realized how slow my progress was and I started being worry about me finishing the race in time. I knew that I had no problems with my energy, the nutrition was on point all the time despite all the issues, still, I was moving slowly and the time was ticking.... but I was there, awake and not sleepy anymore! I was ready to fight those last miles to the finish line. This time the sun came out and caressed my face and my cold body. This moment was something special. I could finally enjoy the surroundings, the views, the mountains around me.... pure magic. I missed all that beauty due to bad weather conditions, still, I got the chance to get to enjoy this during the last descent.... well, maybe there is a reason that I was slow, I needed to see this! Amazing indeed! Loved thah moment....
The gravel road was OK, if I was OK with my legs I could just fly down and relax. Unfortulately every side movement with my left leg was really painful, but I needed to power hike it anyhow... as fast as possible. I squeezed my teeth, embraced the pain and tried to move as fast as possible while avoiding strange movement of the body. Controlled but really careful on where and how I put my feet on the ground. This made me really awake and every issue that I had just hours before vanished. Leaving the gravel I approached a sectiomn that was a bit more technical but at the same time softer that made my progress a bit faster. I liked that section, it was fun. It would be a perfect training playground!
When I finally reached the paved road I knew that the finish was there.... I watched my Coros watch and it showed like more and less 5k to the finish. I told myself that I needed to finish this under 49h now..... Why? Just because! :)
It felt nice.... I could just relax and roll down that paved road. I was thinking about this event, the emotions, the struggle, the beauty of the trail, the event and how I might do it again.... eventually.
I learned a lot during this race. I gotr the chance to apply much of what I learned during my UESCA certification courses both the Nitrition one and the Ultrarunning one as well. The Injury Prevention for the Endurance Athlete Specialization Course that I'm still attending gave me the knowledge needed to finish this race despite the injury that I got as consequence to falling and the problem with the injured tibialis anterior. I managed to understand the pain, the limitations due to these problems and finish the race with patience ands understanding.
This sport is much more than just a sport. It's a lifestyle and these activities and such experiences give me a higher understanding of the important things in life that are much more than the material things that are surrounding our life. Life could be much better, simpel if we could remove our chains made by things that are essentialy trapping us into a limbo while getting older.... to the end. We should be able to live our life with simple actions, rexspect, joy and happiness of living in this amazing planet. This sport gave me much, much more than I could ever explain. One thing is sure, I will not stop attending such events until the day when I will not able to move forward....
I hope that this read was not a boring one and that I managed to inspire someone to visit not only the Alps but to try this amazing sport as well. Sharing trails in particular with somebody you care is something amazing in my opinion. Before this race my wife and I did a few long hikes here in Sweden, and I think that those were actually great because we got many hours just for us where we get to enjoy nature, the event and each other for many hours. In my opinion this is the best way to spend an active vacation. No luxury things, material crazyness but simple things and a huge amount of love. :)
Have fun out there my friends.
Feel free to check out my film about this amazing and tough adventure on Youtube:
Kind Regards,
Aramis
