Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th January 2010
Trail Blanch, Font Romeu (blanch - white in Catalan)
Once again, competitors will be participating in this endurance race through snow bound mountainous terrain, following trails which take competitors amongst the savage beauty of the "Pradeilles" and "Bouillouses" lakes and through other exceptional scenery such as the Carlit mountain chain trails, Aude lake, Bernardi, Pla des Aveillans, Estanyols, P2000 and Font-Romeu.
A demanding course, this race is reserved for very fit and well prepared runners only! However, other events are organised on Saturday for all who wish to have a go, including a children’s course
2009 Programme (2010 to follow but usually similar each year.)
Saturday
09h00: Departure of the « Caminada Blanca » - walk for everybody - around 20km with some uphill - followed by Catalan meal.
10h30: Departure of the « Trail Blanch » 13 km (340m D+)
14H30: Departure of the « Croc Blanc » children’s trail (1,5 or 3km)
Husky and sleigh race - « Lliga Catalana » - 12h - Font-Romeu « La Calme ».
Sunday
07h30: Departure of the « l’ Ultra Trail Blanch » 51 km (2200m D+)
09h00: Departure of the « Trail Blanch » 24 km (1300m D+)
Husky and sleigh race - « Lliga Catalana » - 12h - Font-Romeu « La Calme ».
OBLIGATORY MATERIAL
(PACKS WILL BE CHECKED BEFORE DEPARTURE)
- Sufficient reserve of water, cereal bars or gel
- Head lamp
- Whistle
- Survival blanket
Food with hot and cold drinks will be supplied on the 3 circuits.
WARNING!
Each participant is entrusted beforehand with an identification chip.
The chip must be returned to the organization, even in case of abandon or not participating.
A few tricks and tips from a chiropodist trail runner.
Never improvise a mountain race or foget how important your feet are.
A specific preliminary training is advised to tackle this type of event where our body will be subjected to diverse conditions, at altitude, mountainous conditions, wind, snow, and fog; for all these reasons it is better to be ready.
Vary the training, its intensity, frequency, duration; train on ground similar to the conditions which will be facing if possiblet, for example staircases for those who live in flat places or in cities.
It is important not to neglect any aspect: nutrition, hydration as well as stretching.
A good preparation means quality equipment adapted, from head to feet. Cover head and ears with cap, scarf (bandana) or head band. Wear clothes that ’breathe’ to evacuate perspiration as well as a wind jacket to avoid the cold. A polar sweater fit well between these various layers for more warmth.
Gloves will be useful in these cold and wet conditions.
For lower limbs, wear stretch pants to avoid cuts and wounds during passages covered with snow with frozen surface crust. You can also choose to put gaiters to avoid cold and wet contact. For the feet, better take socks without sewing, shoes with good studs, trail shoes. A good shoe is a shoe of the right size; it should not be a new one and should be long enough to let almost 8 mm free space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Good feet hygiene is imperative. Problems with your feet are going to be worsened by the effort, the ground, the constraints of frictions and the climate.
You should not take care of your feet only a few days before the event. Their ability to resist depends on a good 1-month preparation in advance with a tanning and a limbering up of the skin to avoid blisters and the other skin irritations on D Day.
You must cut your nails at least one week before the event, to limit problems between nails and shoes and to prevent a nail cut too short.
If you suspect having physical problems due to running, like pain with your knees or feet, don’t hesitate, to consult immediately a specialist (doctor, physic or chiropodist); your pathology will not be resolved spontaneously and very often only a multi-field solution can overcome it. Especially do not wait until the week before an event like the Trail Blanch’ to decide to go, otherwise you could as well miss luxurious landscapes by remaining stuck in front of your television watching the usual serial.
If you wear orthopaedic soles, do avoid putting new ones on the day of the event.
You should not forget to take some sun cream that can turn out very useful if sunny weather is of the party as well as sunglasses to go with. You can take heating creams (sensation of warmth on the skin), it is however necessary to remind you that these creams are not efficient for a good warm-up, they just warm the microcirculation of blood in the skin but not the muscle in depth.
Do not forget to take enough to change clothes, socks, T-shirts and foresee warmth with polar wool sweaters.
Didier DELZOR
