So, how to start this? Well, many of you know I’ve become slightly obsessed with running over the course of the last few years. One thing led to another and 2020’s running plans culminated in me completing my first ultra-distance trail running race, the Mátrabérc Trail, which is a 54km race along the spine of the Mátra range in the north-east of Hungary, with a pretty significant 2750m of elevation gain. But you know what? If you ask me about what I remember the most from the race, it won’t be how long and hard it was, but how beautiful the route was and how awesome the people participating in the event were.

Preparation

I’ve always enjoyed running and about two years ago I decided that I will run a 40 km race in the Sierra Nevada mountain range while living in Granada. While I did have some running base to build off of, the preparation for that race ended in me messing up my knee the month before the race, so I had to cancel. Fun fact, then the 2020 spring race got delayed, then delayed again and now it will be held in April 2021, so I probably will only be able to do it in 2022? Who knows… But that screw-up in training set me back a few months, led to several doctors’ visits and made me re-think how I approach training. I spent ages researching training, mobility, running shoes and the experience made me a more consistent, healthier and better runner.

Not to say that 2019 and 2020 were without injuries. After the runner’s knee I dealt with a few fun things like cuboid syndrome (google that, it’s a good one), achilles tendonitis, minor shin splints, you name it… But they were all short, easy-to-fix ones compared to the knee ordeal. It was almost like my body realized I was hell-bent on pounding my joints for hours on steep trails and after some minor protesting, it decided it would cooperate. Now I’m healthier and stronger than I’ve ever been, and I plan on continuing my consistent training for years to come.

Why do I do it?

Most sane people don’t equate fun with running for hours on end week after week, only to be able to sign up for events where you can do the same thing with like-minded loonies for even longer periods of time on even harder terrain. Honestly, I can’t adequately describe why I love running so much. But much of it comes from a love for the outdoors and exploration. Running on trails, you can cover a lot of distance in a shorter amount of time than hiking. I also love the physical side of it – I feel like the training gives structure to my weeks and teaches me discipline. Finally, I’m also a nerd and I love all the gear, gadgets and accessories that become increasingly useful as one trains more.

The Mátrabérc Trail

Mátrabérc Trail is well-known in the Hungarian trail running community and it evolved from an endurance hiking event. A significant portion of it runs along the Mátra section of the Kéktúra, the famous blue trail, which is the most important long distance hiking route in the country. The route of the race can only be described as epic.

On a cold October morning about a 170ish determined runners set off from Kőkútpuszta, in the eastern foothills of the Mátra. A few kilometers in and a good bit of climbing later, I was out in the sun overlooking the valleys still covered in fog with smaller and larger hills peaking through. I’d much rather show good photos of a place than attempt to describe it, however on an ultra-race I wasn’t about to lug a DSLR camera around. A few phone photos are all that I have, plus of course some photos of me competing in the event.

So, what’s it like running an ultra?

Well, many people experience these huge epiphanies when pushing their bodies to the limit or talk about reaching some inner peace. I wish I could say something as grandiose as that, but I just had a hell of a good time. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll find my woo-woo zen state on something longer… 80K? 100K? 100 miles? Who knows? I simply spent 8 hours and 43 minutes putting one foot in front of the other, shuffling up and down hills while chatting to the other athletes and enjoying the superb views.

In ultras, most people are just competing against themselves and it’s bloody long, so you have much more of a chance to chat to people. I heard a lot of great stories about endurance hiking, crazy races in the Alps, but also just regular tales from like-minded outdoorsy people. But there is also plenty of time to turn inward, think about the world, listen to good music or go a bit mad at yourself for drinking too much shitty isotonic drinks that cause stomach cramps…

The difficult part

Haha, well, all of it? I mean it was all very difficult, but luckily my legs held up pretty well, no blisters and no significant pains and aches other than tiredness. However, about halfway through my stomach started giving me hell. I think the isotonic drinks at the aid station didn’t sit well with my system, so for the next two hours or so I had agonizing stomach cramps and a few… uhmm… unplanned toilet breaks? Too much info probably, but it was manageable in the end and disappeared soon after the last checkpoint.

The last few kilometers were really nice, you could see the finish from about 5k away and slowly descend on comfortable dirt roads. I ended up doing some of my fastest kilometers in the whole race during that last section. Running through the finish line felt awesome and Aisling and my parents were waiting for me. I think I managed to shock them a bit with how coherently I could speak and interact, although I did pass out in the car later. It was great to finish such an event that I’ve worked so hard toward.

Poor Aisling has to put up with my running shenanigans, lame puns and other odd personality traits year-round. Being nice as ever, she came out to meet me at a few checkpoints and cheer me on. My parents were also awesome for driving and coming to see the event.

It was also quite a humbling experience. Thanks to the uphills, my average pace for the route is barely faster than when I briskly walk around my neighborhood. I finished somewhere in the middle of the pack, with the fastest finisher arriving almost 3 hours (!!) before me, but with a comfortable 1 hour 15 min until the cutoff time. I also just barely finished ahead of a middle-aged lady who completed the race in jeans and barefoot sandals. Now that’s badass! I want to be like that when I get older – minus the jeans part. I don’t like wearing jeans!

Conclusion

There is definitely something in running that makes you obsessive and it is something that also plays into my personality. The event itself was amazing and I’m very proud of myself for finishing it, but the important part for me is the journey that got me here. The consistent training, the injuries, the research and all the work. After a few days of agonizing muscle ache I quickly signed up for the spring edition of the same race and another, even longer ultra in May. It was nice to rest for a week or two, but since then it’s been right back into more training.