Trail 80K Andorra by UTMB

Why Andorra?

beautiful mountains (not as beautiful as Alps obviously, but quite decent) - just look at those 2024 event highlights video below,
pretty short distance for the 100K category (meaning relatively easy 3 extra stones for the next year's finals),
haven't been there yet, and not too long a drive to get there (family road trip!)

The race (official page) starts and finished in Ordino, and luckily enough I was able to find a last available room in Hotel La Planada, mere 400 metres from the start.

Looking at the profile, the first half seems the most difficult. If I make it to Canillo, and all is still well, I should be able to make it to the finish line in time.

Cut-offs seem, um, doable?

D-1: Bib pick-up

Queueing to pick-up my bib in Andorra Congrés Centre Ordino:

Find your name? Found!

Got my own "Dawaj dawaj! #mz" on the motivational wall: ❤️

Surprisingly tiny expo for a UTMB race:

Last look at the finish line before tomorrow:

D: The race is on!

Nice start of the day, it's the second morning in a row with body battery 100 💪 - and a small reminder to take it easy and not hurt myself, as the CCC in Chamonix is coming soon:

The start is nigh.

First big hill, going from Ordino (1313 m) up to the Solar de Tristaina viewpoint (2701 m):

Final approach to the mirador:

And here we are (from the photos seen before the event I imagined it was much bigger):

Vistas from the top:

Time to go back down, a 1000-metres descend (with a couple of minor bumps on the way), and oh, these views!

And up the second big bump, the Collada dels Meners pass (2713 m):

On the pass:

And down again the other side:

Ravito Borda del Pirot Ransol, with a nice natural river cooler:

Next highlight, the Tibetan bridge of Canillo:

The impressive minimalist structure is located in the valley named Vall del Riu at more than 1,875m altitude and is one of the longest in the world with a length of 603 meters, a width of one meter and up to 158 dizzying meters high with respect to the ground.

On the other side:

A longer break at Canillo feeding station:

Now, this wraps up the part I definitely wanted to complete (the main 2 mountains, the Solar de Tristaina Mirador, and the Tibetan bridge), and it's time to take stock how I feel, and if I'm still ok to continue (and hopefully finish). Truth is that I'm feeling pretty fine (perhaps except the stomach), I made good time so far, and I have enough time remaining before all the remaining cut-offs to even be walking.

Decision was fairly easy to make - let's do it!

It slowly starts getting dark now, plus a storm over the lake: