2024 would be our 5th entry to the TransGrancanaria series of trail races. The races now range from a VK to the Classic which is 126km from one side of Gran Canaria to the other, with lots of options in between and tend to be held during the last week of February.
Billy and I had entered the marathon (my garmin measured closer to 30 miles than 26!) It seems to be a thing that European trail distances are always a rough approximation. The Normand family were also out in force with Will entering the 21km (still no mean feat with 1400m of ascent). Rachel meanwhile had entered the Advanced race or 84k and had a stormer of a race finishing in 11th place (continuing to prove she was a worthy recipient of the Carnethy Goat trophy!)
Conditions were pretty tough with temperatures touching 30 degrees in the heat of the day (I complained to a fellow runner I had left temperatures of around 5 degrees at home but turns out he was from Finland and had left -20!) The terrain can be technical, you don’t want to fall on volcanic rock, but the scenery more than makes up for it. The aid stations are also great, never have oranges and tomatoes tasted so good.
The race series is now sponsored by the North Face and as a finisher everyone received a really good quality jacket – definitely worth the €80 entry fee. The races are friendly and well supported by the local people with cries of “vamos” and “animo” ringing out along the course. And who needs an excuse to get away for some winter sun, so why not sign up for next year. And it also helps with motivation during those long winter months, giving you “Una Meta, un Sueno!”
Cheers!
Dorothy and Billy