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Sierra de Béjar, Lale's house Cubino

For years we wanted to go to Sierra de Gredos and Sierra de Béjar. Soon, the Hotel Cubie, near Béjar, has become a must for cyclists across the country. Especially for those of Madrid (it is two hours short of the capital) but also for the Basques, at the beginning of the season saw Salamanca looking for the best setup. The fact of staying in the hotel's great climber Salamanca and miles to even share with him are certainly attractions to visit the hotel.
Finally, this Holy Week of 2011 were given the right conditions to go. Being a very late Easter made sure more temperature and to avoid the cold that usually suffer at Easter when it falls in early April. However, one thing is the cold and the other is rain. The rain forecast late questioned some of the steps provided.

Stage 1 Mijares-Serranillos-Peña Negra

To make this point not yet arrived at Bejar, but slept on Mijares, to "hunt down" those three ports that leave some domains Salamanca.
a stage provided with more than 90 miles in a loop that included the legendary Mijares and Serranillos. Who can forget the Tour, 1983 Bernard Hinault shattered the then leader Julián Gorospe in a bestial etapón Serranillos to climb, or the stage of the Tour of 1995 in which Jalabert attacked alone in the absence of 3 ports and won almost 5 minutes on the other favorite.
rain expected throughout the week Santa makes an appearance point to come out in our first stage. So progress vary the route and decided to raise its southern slope Mijares and Serranillos its northern slope, significantly shortening the expected mileage. We also want to raise the port of Black Rock, we came to step on the way to Bejar. We climbed the slope of the Herguijuela and down by Piedrahita, by a spectacular road significantly harder than the slope by which we had climbed. Finally we arrived at Hotel
Cubie, where we settled and it would be our base camp for the following three steps.

Stage 2 Portillo the Batuecas-Peña de France 124 km

the stage, started in Horcajo de Montemayor, after a short transfer by car to compete hard loop of 124 km including two masters ports, such as Portillo (Portillo the Batuecas, for friends) and the Rock of France, the highest point of the Sierra de Francia. Upload
Portillo are no less than 22 miles from Las Mestas, by a beautiful road that crowns the 1,240 meters after beating 841 to drop that is not bad. Our journey continues to Peña de Francia, clearly visible as the highest point of the entire mountain. We crossed La Alberca, buses full of tourists. Not in vain La Alberca in 1940 became a Historic-Artistic (It was the first English town to get such a distinction) and is a must see.
Peña de France is another popular tourist destination. Crown rising to 1,702 meters and there are also the splendid view that as anticipated, a shrine which houses the famous Black Madonna.

Stage 3 Jerte Valley: 107 km

Of the various alternatives we had planned to visit the valley of Jerte, we finally decided on a stage rises and falls with the beginning and end of each Jerte. Thus did three ports as Piornal, Honduras and Tornavacas. The alternative "easy" was out of Béjar and make a stage with Honduras, and Tremedal Tornavacas (one way or another), with 120 km, but then we would not have gone Piornal ... Visit

Jerte Valley was one of the attractions of this trip to Sierra de Gredos.
The bad luck was that our visit did not allow us or see the cherry blossoms (they were 15 days before our arrival), nor taste the cherries, which lacked even 15-20 days to be picked ...

The first climb we did was to Piornal, the highest village in Extremadura through a lonely road that surrounded many fields of cherry trees. During the ascent
find another rider with a mountain bike with slicks that we caught quickly, but then there was no way to release it ... It was absolute, heh. A formidable fellow who explained in detail some curiosities like the celebration of the Jarramplás, Piornal held in late January, a character dressed with ribbons of color against which people throw turnips! We also caught up in some of the tough climbs of the area as the rise in El Torno. We also anticipated what would be Honduras, really hard!

The second climb of the day, after returning to Jerte was precisely Honduras. It is the road leading from Jerte to boil. And to top it all up after there was little sign of port! A return to Jerte, the body asked for food and we crack a paellita not soon forget. Then just Tornavacas was by far easier to port a day, but almost ends up in disgust because of a Portuguese truck almost makes holidays ending in tragedy.

the end, 107 miles very BIG completito and 3 ports in the sack.

Stage 4 El Travieso and La Covatilla: 60 km.
After chatting with Lale Cubino the previous evening, we confirm that today was the day D. The day we were going to have the company of one of the greatest climbers of the time of Indurain, who shared the pack. Stage victories in the Giro, the Vuelta and the Tour, making it one of the elect of the cycling world. 14 days in yellow at the Tour of Spain are also the many cyclists ... Lale

would escort us on the climb to the Menace, an output port without really worth knowing. We climbed a working Monday and we came across a single car. There is a first zone extending up to the platform and climbs from there and the last section, more open and less vegetation. Crowned at 1,890 meters after 14 km climb at an average of 7%. As we walked up Lale informs us of other interesting ports in the area, as the Port of Los Olivos, which has also been uploaded in the Tour of Spain. Also talk about the textile history of Béjar, their relationship with Catalonia, the doping ... A real pleasure to share these moments with Lale.

And left us with the icing on the cake: the ascent to La Covatilla. A really stiff climb to arrival at 1,960 meters. A wide road that leads to expire on a ski slope 730 meters by nearly 10 km. Four kilometers to over 10% on average near the top left and very touched. The wind and the rolling hills of the rest of the climb up the arrival convert into a real ordeal. What a climb!

's edition of the Tour of Spain in 2002, rose for the first time at the ski resort of La Covatilla and the stage was very bright for Bejarano, as Santi White won at the summit and Roberto Heras kept his gold jersey . In 2004 and 2006 also rose, and is expected to climb well into 2011, although at one stage without too many incentives, it seems that there will be other ports that will precede ...

After Covatilla and there was only collect and return to Barcelona. In four days we had 10 lords ports, had met a beautiful and ideally suited for hard runs. And, basically, we had met and Lale Cubino hotel, incidentally, is a veritable museum of cycling memorabilia, with historical photos (many of Avila Julio Jiménez) and Lale trophies won in his career.

Duplicating Mac Dongles

All roads lead to Rome Marathon Barcelona 2011


I said I was going to run the Rome Marathon to enjoy it. He said he had never seen the wall. Now I say that a marathon can not be enjoyed. Now say I saw the wall, the wall, the wall of China, the moat, and the grave of the marathon. Already

I told my friend Marc who finished in 3 hours (a fucking crack), remind me to never again run two marathons in 15 days, remind me again not to lose respect for the marathon and confronts him with the awareness that deserves. Please remember me to just run a marathon in full authority.

When preparing this article I studied a little marathon of the 1960 Rome Olympics, Abebe Bikila's victory in bare feet. I write about Baldini, the only Italian-winning Olympic marathon in Athens 2004 and I explain these two historic events. But after what I experienced this weekend, let me tell you just my personal experience. Of these pieces of history of athletics, certainly exciting, I suggest a couple of links where you will discover details worth knowing:



weekend travel to Rome and run the Marathon was a dream that I was going to play, but time always the damn time, would make this a little odyssey. Traveling to Rome without knowing it and pretend to make the most of a day and spend another tourist to run 42.195 meters is too much to ask the body. Used to stop on Saturday meant an average tourist marathon kicked Vatican City, Piazza San Pietro, Castel Sant'Angelo, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Campo dei Fiori market, the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Circo Massimo ... only thing missing was the obligatory visit to the Exhibition which gave the lats, which is a major waste of time. Who wants to visit the Fair Corridor (very complete, of course) when we visit the Plaza of Spain or the Fontana di Trevi. The accumulated fatigue of the week, an early cold and I'm supposed to kick a general malaise that only I can solve with Ibuprofen. Set conditions for running a marathon.

D-Day I wake up drenched in sweat, the fever is making its effect. I have to get me another ibuprofen to run, if not not go out. My breakfast is unfortunate, with a paltry croissant and coffee with milk, but I have no hunger. I will not dwell on the head, here I come to enjoy, heh. Hands.

time ago I was given a team jersey signed by English athletics De la Ossa. Running home I wanted to wear it, but I thought going abroad would be nice to let everyone see that I had struck an important trip from Barcelona to run the Maratona di Roma.

I wearing the shirt of Spain and starts playing the anthem of Italy, which recently celebrated its 150 th anniversary of Italian unity, the faces of many Italians are painted with the "Italian flag" Everybody sing, some with hand on his chest. No reason to deny it, the music is beautiful, even my background makes me shudder, but if you look a little on the letter "Siam Pronti alla morte, l'Italia chiamo" (We are ready to die, Italy has called). Ugh, no, no, it did not cool anything. In short, the nationalist orgy ominous. I do that every day I feel more a citizen of the world and I feel less represented by a flag ... We

at the time of departure, and the fever has dropped me and I remain as calm as all week, I may not be aware of what's next above. Van said over the PA all representatives of each country. English are more than 700 on March 20, 2011 at the start of the Via dei Fori Imperiali. Shortly before leaving we announce that these 42.195 km are about to discover new corners of Rome and new sensations did not know. Suffering begins, we go.

a few miles I begin to sweat a lot, I do not know if this is something of a fever or leave as late (9.00) or what. I will not stop, but I'm running at less than 5 km. I know Carlos de Santander will share the half marathon. He also wears a red shirt, heh. No broker has great looks and I think we will leave later. We hooked the globe 3:30 am I still wonder why, why did I hurry.

But the truth is that when we passed the half in 1:45 and I noticed that not all well. I tell him I want to go pull more relaxed. Start the ordeal.

I never walked in my socks or two marathons I've done. But at kilometer 25 and I have many problems and the 28 and I walk a stretch. I think I have 14 miles and it's going to be tough. I do not know if it makes sense to continue. I run along the fences to prevent not pass me those coming from behind. I stumble over and fall to the ground. I can hardly stand up, look like a boxer who is groggy. For a moment I decide to quit at 30, but when I do not find the place of attendance (the point of "Retiro" announcing in the route book) and I realize that the exit points may not be listed on hype and dish because there would be a stampede when people see them. Luckily I did not see.

Despite the unfortunate physical condition in which I am, still holds the competitive edge to obsess when I do not hare reaches 3:45 am, and once it has, it does not get the balloon 4 hours. I do not understand why, but my head was still working well. And come to enjoy.

As in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe end of the marathon runs through the month tourist sites of Rome. The English team jersey does its job and it's amazing how much support and encouragement I receive from the English who are in Rome. Give me strength to continue jogging to a miserable pace of 6 minutes per kilometer. Give me strength to walk as little as possible, though at times I must. Attempt to answer each greeting with a nod or a word. That and cross the Piazza Navona, Piazza Spain, the Fontana di Trevi make my head keep entertaining the possibility of abandonment will decrease by the minute. I just want to get to Piazza Venezia, and from there, and very near the end trying to get the best vision of the Colosseum and the last mile on the Via dei Fori Imperiali. I just want to have that medal to prove I finished the Rome Marathon. In my mind there is nothing, only the medallion.

I see the banner of the last mile, it finally just ... How? It is the last mile! That puts red spot "Circo Massimo" banner as the last mile is about 500 meters ahead! Do not even know where I get my strength but obviously I have no doubt already finished and I will not walk more.
"E gia fatta." Finished. I do not know whether to laugh or mourn. The organization gives us the damn medal which cost me 4 hours to get and then we put a thermal blanket over aluminum that gives a bad Rollet not see.

Water, Gatorade, apple, bag, hotel, shower. I'm torn, my brain only processes single words. No more sightseeing in the afternoon, just resting. "Just relax? Neither of these, sprint to catch the train to Fiumicino and finally to rest on the plane, in those low cost luxury aircraft. Back row, with all the warmth, the batteries wear out at all ... Bona nit!

Milena Velba/ Launderette

Photography "El Mundo Deportivo"

the second marathon of my life and again in Barcelona. A severe winter, a new club that has allowed me quality training and personal bests (within 10 km and half marathon) were a good omen for the 2011 Barcelona Marathon . However

had made many mistakes as usual and new. Among the regulars was basically the small number of workouts per week, in fact I have done any week over 4 days and usually have three. Among the errors noted to have released new clothes on the day of the marathon, a rookie mistake, but gladly assumed to debut clothing Cerdanyola Hockey Club, the club where I trained this winter and that has allowed me to know great people an impressive level and training has enabled me to make serious and long runs. But you do not explain the consequences of new pants and interior grid on my English ... One of the new errors of this year has been very little sleep (3 hours) on Friday night. I thought that I would definitely punish, but the body is wise and was superimposed as a goal as important to you is involved.

However, when output was confident of making about 3:15, though my friend Ricardo put pressure urging me to push harder and go for the 3:10. Considering that my mark in the marathon last year was 3:26, both records were complicated.

La táctica era muy propia de mí: salir fuerte y después a sufrir y aguantar lo que se pueda. Al final siempre vas a correr a lo que el cuerpo te da, a 5 minutos el km, o sea que todo el tiempo que tengas ganado al principio pues bienvenido sea. Por una vez mis previsiones serían ciertas y no me pillaría una de mis históricas pájaras como las que he pillado tantas veces sobre la bicicleta. Llevo dos maratones y he sufrido como un condenado, pero aún no he visto el muro .

Salimos con José Luis al ritmo previsto de 4:30 el km. Vamos bien, pero nada que ver con el ritmo conservador del año pasado. Sobre el km 10 él acelera y yo decido no forzar más la máquina. Se va perdiendo entre la crowd will not stop with us all day. 15,000 people is a lot of people and is an endless rosary of runners ...

Step by Meridiana on the km. I am supposed to collect 19 gels Olga and my brother (thanks to both!) That were vital to bear. In the end I took no less than four gels. Also I think I picked drink in almost all the aid stations, which I never do (or half or the marathon last year). And for the first time I also used the sponges to cool. The day was beautiful, sunny, and I thought that any kind of moisture would be good for the body. The sum of account details.

The end of the Meridiana allows bump into people going faster than you and is a form of entertainment, meet famous people ahead of you (Xavi, Jordi Fortun). Furthermore, in the district is expecting our way friends (thanks Jordi Arnau, Josep Maria and Arcadi for your mood!).

Like last year, passing through some exciting times which coincide with moments of weakness. A runner pushing a chair for a disabled child is the one I remember now more vigorously.

Another exciting moments that are funny, like the Japanese marked with "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon, or a girl down Rambla Prim marked with" God loves you "(?). Another in the Ronda Litoral and said, "If you see the famous wall, I meáis on it and you continue on your way to glory." I'm a classic "Pain is temporary, pride is forever."

Gradually I'll see less, hardly looked at his watch to not demoralized. But when I do see that I maintain a steady pace of 5 minutes, the mile, I can not go faster but I'm not going slower.

in parallel, in the absence of about two km. José Luis reached almost stopped going, has suffered an injury and can only walk fast. I did not seen him since going blind just looking forward, suffering. The sees me and encouragement we mutually. This is almost done. Already after 35 km I see I can get about 3:13 am and I'm nailing the times, too bad the final 195 meters take you almost a minute and had not told him. Activity satisfied with a time of 3:14:47 that right now I see hard to beat in the future. Proud to have known suffering and pull breed to end this with dignity. After waiting for José Luis that comes a couple of minutes later do not find even one person climbing the stairs as the source of Montjuic. And I assure you I am not alone.

The day after the marathon, the consequences are manifold, aching soles, a pair of black toenails and about to fall, English irritated. But this has all been worthwhile. For this year's suffering ski run is almost over. Missing marathon, the Rome , but without going to find time, just enjoy. Well, actually that's one of my doubts, I can not run slower if it means suffering or simply enjoy a half hour!