IBEX MULTI-DAY ULTRA 2021
"I had to go back and discover what had made my heart beat so strongly there."
This is how my report on the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail 2021 ended. And where the story of the Ibex Multi-Day Ultra began, which is a 212 km stage run (comprising five stages) with around 8,000 positive metres of altitude gain through Andalusia over the Christmas period. Although the Ibex Multi-Day Ultra started 67 km away from Loja, where the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail began, it was a completely different running experience for me in several ways. However, the insight that the run gave me was very similar, and ultimately inspired me to take an important step in my life.
But first, here is some basic information about the Ibex Multi-Day: The Ibex Multi-Day, which was a stage run in December 2021, offered two different distances. The Ultra, which covered 212 km with 8,000 m of ascent, and the Challenge, which covered 136 km with 5,303 m of ascent. The starting and finishing point of all stages was in Moclin, a very pretty village in the province of Granada with a castle on a high hill that had to be conquered every day. It was a very idyllic, quiet village with a lovely youth hostel called the Hostel Rural – Casa Rural Moclin, where the runners were accommodated. Mike and I, for our part, stayed at the nearby New Leaf Cortijo.
During the race, runners stayed in the same place every day and vegetarian meals were served in the evening, with everyone sitting together. But we had to bring all the other food and supplies we needed for the five days with us. We got drinks and food from the staff at the checkpoints, of course. I stayed with Mike at the Cortijo as it was not possible to share a room with him at the hostel. We rented a car, which I used to drive to the hostel and back to the Cortijo. Mike also used the car to drive around and do some sightseeing.
Due to the current situation and new Corona regulations, several runners cancelled their registration before the race, so there were 12 runners in the ultra-distance category and 11 in the challenge category. It was also the first ever edition of the race. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and inclement weather, Sarah and Steve, the organisers of the race, were determined to proceed with it. This was a significant undertaking for them.
Training for the Ibex Multi-Day Ultra took place during the wet and cold months of October, November and December. I was looking forward to the sunshine and temperatures of around 20 degrees in Andalusia. However, this was not to be the case in 2021. But we will get to that in a moment. I confess that I was not very fit at the time of the training. After the AAUT, I didn't really recover and rest. At the beginning of August, I organised and ran a 24-hour race around the lake in Echternach to raise funds for flood victims. Then, in September, I competed in the 112 km Ultra Trail Mullerthal. The two runs in August and September were characterised by severe weather and were simply wet! And so the training continued. I found it increasingly difficult to motivate myself to run. The long runs in particular demanded a lot from me, as I ran for hours in the cold rain, getting thoroughly soaked. This training was particularly challenging mentally, as I kept pushing myself to run in these conditions. But I wanted to be prepared for my run, and this was important to me. I was determined to return to Andalusia and discover why this area evoked such powerful emotions in me. I also wanted Mike to be with me so that I could show him the area where my heart beats so hard.
You might ask why this was only possible during a stage run. Why not just take a holiday in Andalusia and reflect on it while hiking, walking or just doing nothing? But that's probably just something that runners will get. This connects to the fundamental question about ultra running in general: What are the reasons for this kind of running, and what are its main benefits compared to hiking or walking? Why does it have to involve a particularly long and/or steep run in tough weather conditions?
Then Christmas was just around the corner and everyone was talking about Christmas preparations: food, presents, drinks, and everything else needed for the holiday and christmas time. I was also preparing for Christmas: running shoes, a running backpack, drinking bottles, electrolytes, isotonic drinks and food for the runs. Then everything was ready. I had packed all my equipment, and we went to sleep because our flight was leaving at 6:00 on 21 December. At 2:00, I woke up with a sore throat and didn't feel well. Sleep was out of question. I had a Corona PCR test in the morning. It was negative. However, the sore throat was gradually worsening. The first stage was on 23 December, so I had exactly two days to recover. I drank lots of tea and did some steam inhalation, and luckily I felt better after one day. So, I decided to start taking it slowly. I picked up my race number 'optimistically' (feeling queasy and full of doubt...).
Stage 1
On 23 December, we set off at 9:15. The sky was a little clearer. It had been raining since we arrived, and the forecast predicted further rain. The first stage was 35 km long, with 1,706 metres of positive altitude. It was a beautiful route through mountainous countryside, crossing a suspension bridge. I even saw a family of ibex! My heart rate was normal, and I took my time because I didn't want to overexert myself with my cold. The cut-off times were also very generous. Some of the climbs were incredible! Hard, but the views of the Sierras were fantastic! I was back in my beloved Andalusia. Although I missed the heat. It wasn't the same, but that too is Andalusia. I also got to experience another side of this place, like the rain, the cold, isolated places alongside motorways and the endless mud. But isn't that true of all things and places? Where can you find perfection in all its glory? Ultrarunning itself is characterised by ups and downs, both in training and during the race. Just like in our everyday lives, in our jobs, in our partnerships and in our families. And Andalusia seemed the same to me. Alongside the incredible beauty and sunny weather, there is also cold, rain and other inconveniences. But these are all part of my so-called treasure. This race showed me an authentic Andalusia, which I loved, too.
I had to put in some time to stop seeing the Ibex Multi-Day as a kind of a "copy-paste" of the AAUT. That would be unfair and not dignify the race. I realised this during the week. Unique experiences can't be repeated in exactly the same way. Each time is different. The past is over; I also needed to let things go. This applies not only to the race, but to everyday life too. My change of job in September was still difficult for me as I couldn't really settle into my new role. I was too attached to the past. It was a bit like that with this race and the memory of the July race. The Ibex Multi-Day was unique and special, and I had to make the most of it and enjoy it. In the end, it was a great race.
Stage 2
I nicknamed the second stage 'Mudskiing'. The rain was particularly heavy during the night, with reports of the heaviest rainfall in many years. The track was mostly mud, which stuck to the shoes. I was walking through about 8 cm of mud. In fact, I was wading and sliding through the mud. It was like walking with shoes full of mud through mud, or something like that. And that for 49 km, officially... for me it was 54 km with 1,800 m+ of ascent.
Another special feature of this stage was the river that had to be crossed. It was a very welcome cool down, but when it rains and the temperature is below 20 degrees, it's a different story. But on the other hand, I was completely wet either way, whether I swim through the river or not. The water was just above my knees. I was enjoying the route until I suddenly received a message from my GPS watch during a climb. I had gone off the route. I also hadn't seen any markings for a while. I turned back, but there were no more markings. My watch was pointing down, but the last marker was pointing up. So up the hill again! After almost 2 km, there were still no markings. I turned around and went back down the hill. I had to think about my hill repeats. That's why I did them! I spent 20 minutes looking for the right route. In the end, I decided to call the organisation. In the meantime, two other runners arrived. The organisers told us that the markings had probably been lost, so we had to follow the route on our own. Then we got lost in the middle of the olive groves and wandered around. Or rather, we were 'mudskiing'! Eventually, we found a tarmac road again and reached the checkpoint. Then it got pretty bumpy. It was raining heavily. I was soaked, full of mud and cold. To cheer myself up, I sang and danced. The old David Bowie album Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was perfect for the occasion. Honestly, with my raincoat and trousers full of mud, I felt a bit like an alien from Mars myself on a moonage daydream. When I arrived at the checkpoint, a volunteer said, 'I saw you dancing in the rain.' From then on, I became known as "the girl who always smiles and dances".
Then came the last big climb to Moclin. When I saw the finish line, I felt such a sense of relief that I wanted to run through it. But something was wrong. I was at the finish line, but on the wrong side. There was another loop and another climb to go. I had to go through it from the other side. I went back again. Up another hill, then another 1.5 km to the finish line. At that moment, I switched off all my thoughts and just ran. After running more than 52 km, standing in front of the finish line and turning around to run some more was challenging. But I kept going and crossed the finish line with a big smile on my face. I also won a prize for coming third: A chocolate bar with peanuts. Due to my allergies to seeds and nuts, Mike ended up with my prize.
In the evening, we always ate at the hostel with the other runners. After all, it was Christmas Eve. It was a bit unusual because the focus was on running. Instead of wine and champagne, we had isotonic drinks, lots of water and tea. There was a fireplace in the cortijo, so Mike and I spent the rest of the evening sitting in front of it. By now, he also had a bad cold and I was in the middle of a stage run, just before the third stage. Our cortijo wasn't heated until 17:00, so we were perfectly happy with our open fire. We also had electric blankets in our beds. They felt like a relief to my muscles after those long, wet hours!
Stage 3
And then the 3rd stage started. This was the shortest with 29km and 928m+. The route mainly followed paths through olive groves, partly running parallel to the motorway. Above all, there was a lot of mud, which made progress difficult. And the weather? Rain and more rain. Later, it became very windy. While running towards the castle in Moclin with another runner, there was so much wind and fog that I couldn't see him, even though he was right in front of me. But we could hear each other. We talked about pizza — lots of it. We wished we had a magic lamp so we could have some pizza right then and there. With pizza on our minds, we tackled the final few metres of climbing before crossing the finish line.
By the time I had finished the third stage, I was feeling really down. The constant wetness had taken its toll. My skin had started to itch a lot, and the skin on my back was sore. I was also extremely tired from being wet all the time. When we arrived at the Cortijo, I discussed the progress of the race with Mike. Meanwhile, the weather was unpleasant, with reports of heavy thunderstorms. This was the longest stage at over 60 km and 2,000 m through the Sierra Parapanda. I was confused and uncertain. In the evening, we went back to the hostel for dinner, where I told the other runners that I probably wasn't going to start the next day. Then we were informed that the route had been shortened to 40 km for security reasons. The Sierra Parapanda was not runnable in these weather conditions. Nevertheless, I was still unsure whether I wanted to run 40 km in these conditions through mountains. At that moment, I was more tempted to give up the race. Even though I won another prize at this stage. This time it was a packet of seeds — a local snack — which I had to give back to Mike because of my seed allergy again. :-)
Later, I packed my running gear anyway, just in case. In the evening, I received a message from Mike's brother. He encouraged me to keep running, saying that I had already made it this far and had the mental strength to do it. He was right. I decided to stop thinking and go to sleep. The next morning, I would get up and see how hard the storm was raging and take a decision. Then it became morning. I got up and went to the window. It was still raining and stormy. I went to the bathroom, put on my running clothes, ate and drank something, and then left the cortijo and drove to the start line.
Stage 4
As I passed the first checkpoint, I remembered something that Mike said the day before. Due to the weather conditions and my sore back, he said he couldn't understand why anyone would participate in such a race. It wouldn't be any fun. But this wasn't about fun, I didn't run just for fun. There was much more to it than that, it was deeper and more existential. I completely gave myself over to my philosophical thoughts and suddenly fell into a state of deep calm and peace. It was all about 'being'. I was simply moving forward.
Then the track passed a small petrol station and continued uphill. I came to a small village, which I liked very much because there was a beautiful view to the right. Later, I looked up on a map where this place was and what it was called. But all I could find was the name of the street: Calle Las Trompetas. At the time, I was also listening to music, and my app played a song I'd never heard before. It somehow fitted the whole picture, so I listened to it on repeat for a total of four hours. It was 'What's on Your Mind?' by Madrugada.
Then, at the next checkpoint, a man and his son joined me on the track to take down the markers. I was irritated at first because there was always someone behind me, and it was obvious that I was the last one. It gave me the impression of being a 'broom wagon'. But they were very nice and accommodating. After a while, I managed to stop thinking about it and just concentrate on the course. It was getting pretty steep. The route went through olive groves with fantastic views. 'What's on your mind? 'When you're lost in time' was still ringing in my ears, and I tried to answer the question. There was nothing left in my mind. I was moving. Through time. Through an unbelievably beautiful landscape. Silence reigned inside me. I tried to think of certain things, but I couldn't. They were too unimportant, and in this moment they were simply superfluous. At the next checkpoint, the two men said goodbye and a woman and two young girls arrived. They were very friendly too, and even took photos of me with the great view. Then it was almost over. I was at the last checkpoint, and there was only one final, very steep climb of about 6 km to the finish line. I really enjoyed that last part. I kept looking back at the beautiful Sierra. Then I crossed the finish line for the fourth time. I was totally relaxed and just happy.
Stage 5
And now it was time for the final 40 km with 1,500 m of ascent. It was now clear to me that I would finish the Ibex Multi-Day. Of course, you never know, but I wasn't thinking that way at all. Unfortunately, there were very few runners left in the race. Stage 5 also featured some steep climbs, but they were absolutely worth it! There were idyllic small villages, mountains, olive groves and nature parks. The weather was also improving. I got lost a couple of times and wandered around the olive groves, looking for the markings. In the end, of course, I had to walk a few extra kilometres. As the routes crossed and overlapped in places, it's quite possible that I ran an extra lap from another stage without realising. Some other runners had the same experience. But we still passed all the checkpoints — just with a few extra kilometres under our belts. So typical! :-) And then... I headed for the finish line. I finished the ultra distance as second female (out of two) and with an eighth place (out of eight) in general.
In the evening, there was a final dinner and awards ceremony. I couldn't believe it! I'm a slow runner, but I managed to come second. It was because I had persevered and managed to finish despite all those conditions.. It took me much longer than the other seven runners, but I did it! I had overcome my doubts, fears, and all my other thoughts. I did what I love: running an ultra.
I am very happy that I was able to take part in this race, even though the conditions were not always easy. But I don't think they were easy for anyone. Not for the organisers, Sarah and Steve, who had to overcome many challenges in their first event; not for the volunteers, who waited patiently in the rain for hours to welcome us with smiles, motivate us, and provide us with everything we needed. Thank you all so much! Sadly, there won't be a second edition of the Ibex Multi-Day in 2022, but Sarah and Steve (Ultra Trail Spain – Running Holidays) will continue to organise running holidays in Moclín, including at Christmas.
The next day, as we left Moclín and walked to the car, I looked at the Sierra again. At that precise moment, I had a profound realisation. I don't need much else in my life to be happy. I want to spend as much time as possible here. I have found my place on earth. It inspires me, fulfils me, excites me, amazes me, gives me peace and quiet and the feeling of having arrived.
A few days after we returned, I made two decisions. Firstly, after almost nine years, I am going to take my first real recovery break from running for a few weeks, because I was really tired. Second, I decided to buy a house in Andalusia. I managed to do both :-). And you remember this "strange" village called Jatar with the white houses and this bar called "Los Angeles" at stage 2 of the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail 2021 ? Jatar is now my second home.