Istria by UTMB
Photo Petar Lupic
Istria by UTMB, over 100 miles with 6500+ meters of elevation gain. An ultra-trail world tour championship race, now qualifier for the UTMB itself. The event with over 2000 runners attending, of which 280 or so doing the “red” route (100 miles). 40 elites, 60 drop-outs at the end.
Amazing day out with time of 26h and 11min. 6th place in my category, 24th overall.
Labin
Bukovo
Sounds of ocean waves and winds howling across the mountains. Smells of deep, dark pine forests. Views of old villages scattered across endless rolling hills and valleys. And the sea. Summers at my Nona (my Croatian grandmum) in Buje and winter retreats among the ghosts of Motovun. Istria.
It was time to take on the big boy challenge after finishing the green (baby race – 67km) and the blue (adolescent mischiefs – 110km) courses years ago at Istria 100. We set off in Labin at 5 pm. To my left, my fantastic coach Doug, to who I owe so much for getting me ready mentally and physically. By coincidence, he's running the same race as me. On the first ascend, he promptly drops me (probably had enough of Mr. chatterbox).
I continue on my own into the darkness. The first 80km pass quickly. The night is beautiful, peaceful and quiet. The mountain air through Ćićarija is clear and sharp. I am thoroughly enjoying the run through the dark woods. In Trstenik, I find Doug at the aid station with some digestion issues but with plenty of spirit left in him.
Žbevnica
Sun rises through the clouds as I climb Žbevnica (the last big hill – 1014m). The mountainous part of the course is over. Breakfast stop in Buzet with some porridge and a sandwich, and I'm off.
Butoniga lake
During the day, it gets boiling hot. The hills keep coming, and I'm praying for that rain we were promised. At my lowest point (Butoniga), I find my support crew (mum, dad, sister+her fiancé) holding a massively embarrassing poster with "Bravo Peter" in big red letters. I love it. I am so lucky to have these idiots in my life, cheering me on along the whole course. I continue up the next stupid hill, slightly less grumpy.
Motovun
Livade
Oprtalj
Buje
Running through the next set of villages is like running through memories. Motovun, Oprtalj, Grožnjan, Buje.
I now finally get my promised rain in the form of a full-blown thunderstorm with hale. As I run across the fields towards the finish, lightning is striking above me towards the hills on my left and right. I welcome the wet under-footing to soothe my blisters. My pace fastens as I think back to my solo crossing of Brecon Beacons in Wales a month ago. I arrive at Umag 3h ahead of schedule, plenty happy to have a warm shower.
Istria 2022.
Ti i ja i zmije i vrhi, vrhi Ćićarije. (•
